Choosing Aftermarket Car Parts or OEM Car Parts

When you are involved in a car accident, there are many issues that you will need to work out with your auto insurance company. Will you need your medical expenses paid by your insurer? Do you need a rental car? How long will it take to repair your car? There is a litany of issues to consider and these questions just touch the surface. Something you may not have thought about when purchasing your car insurance policy is what replacement parts will be used to fix your vehicle after a collision?

This is a very important decision that you must make. There are basically two types of parts, aftermarket parts and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. Aftermarket car parts are substitutes for the original parts the car was built with. These types of parts are much less expensive than original equipment manufacturer parts, sometimes 50 percent less than the OEM parts. Which type of part you choose depends on a few factors.

• Policy Terms: Your insurance policy may specify that only aftermarket parts are covered in a collision claim. If you want to buy only dealer-manufactured parts you will need to pay the difference. If your auto insurance company pays for an aftermarket parts and it does not fit correctly, they will likely pay the cost of an OEM part without additional charge to you.
• Vehicle's Lease: If you are leasing your car, the dealer may specify that it be returned as close to its original condition as possible. This may prevent you from using cheaper substitute parts.
• Resale: If you plan to eventually sell your car, you may want to use OEM parts. Some car's market value can be extremely affected by not using original parts and this can affect the resale value.
• Personal Value: If you have a classic car you may also want to consider OEM parts. Often owners of recently purchased cars are interested in keeping the car like new, so they prefer to pay extra for original equipment. If the car is older and does not have a special meaning to you, aftermarket parts may suit you just fine.

As you can see, there are many factors that you must weigh when getting your car repaired after a crash. Many studies have shown that aftermarket parts performed similarly in tests. Of course insurers prefer these because they are cheaper, but the choice is really up to you. Before you purchase an auto insurance policy, ask the agent if the auto insurer specifies using aftermarket parts or OEM parts. In general, policies that pay for OEM parts may be a little more expensive than those that only pay for aftermarket parts, but this is not always the case. Each policy you consider should be examined carefully. Remember to ask the car insurance representative about any questions you may have.

Sources

1. Can my insurance company require me to use certain types of auto repair parts? Retrieved April 15, 2008, from http://www.iii.org/individuals/auto/file/generic/
2. Little-Known but Important Car Insurance Issues, Erin Mahoney. Retrieved April 15, 2008, from http://www.edmunds.com/advice/insurance/articles/45093/article.html