When you’ve been in an accident, getting your car back into the condition it was in, is one of your top priorities. You don’t want to spend an arm and a leg to do it. But, when your repair specialist asks if you want aftermarket or factory parts, you might not know the difference to answer that question.
Here is more information and 5 things you should know to make this decision.
There is a Difference Between Them
Aftermarket parts are parts sourced from anyone other than the car’s maker. Factory parts are parts that come from the car’s original manufacturer. Aftermarket is often cheaper, but factory (or OEM) may be a necessity in some cases.
There are some advantages of aftermarket, aside from price. Including a wide availability, more variety, and they can be equal to or better than factory in quality. There are also some disadvantages of aftermarket. These include the fact that the quality can vary, there can be an overwhelming selection to choose from, and it may not have a warranty.
Advantages of factory are that it’s easier to choose your part, you can be assured of the quality, and most of the time, it comes with a warranty. Disadvantages are that the parts are more expensive, on average, about 60% more expensive. The quality may not be superior to that of aftermarket and they must be ordered from the dealership. Ordering from the dealership can be a big disadvantage, because this also means it will take longer to repair your car.
You Need to Consider Warranties
First, some aftermarket manufacturers don’t provide warranties with their parts. This means that, if you get a lower quality part or it malfunctions, you’re going to be paying for a replacement. Second, you need to know whether your car is still under warranty. If you are still under warranty, you need to find out whether that warranty will be voided if you use aftermarket parts. If your warranty requires OEM parts, then you will want to make sure to request OEM.
Insurance May Only Cover Aftermarket
Insurance companies don’t want to pay out any more than they need to. So many companies will specify that aftermarket can only be used. If you want auto manufacturer parts, you may have to pay an extra fee to your insurance company. Or you may need to pay the difference between aftermarket and OEM car parts.
Auto Manufacturer Parts May Be Better in Collision Repair
While you can swap out oil or air filters, or a transmission, when you’re dealing with collision repair, it’s a different story. Collisions damage the vehicle’s body. Aftermarket panels may not fit your car the right way. They could also have proper crumple zones for safety purposes. Resale value will drop if the car’s visual appearance is affected by the quality of the parts put on it, too. When it comes to appearance and safety, it could be worth it to spend the extra money to ensure the parts fit. As well as keep you and your family safe in the event of another accident.
A Dealership’s Body Shop Won’t Give You a Choice
An independently owned body shop will work with you to use aftermarket or OEM parts as you wish. Though, if you go to the dealership for collision repairs, they won’t give you a choice. They will use parts from the factory. This means more money out of your pocket or from your insurance company. It will likely take the dealership longer to finish the repairs as well, leaving you without a car or driving a rental for longer.
When you’ve been in an accident, getting your car repaired and back on the road as quickly as possible is important. At the same time, you shouldn’t compromise quality or pay more to get good quality. You should be able to trust your repair specialist to give you honest, accurate information about what you need to put your car back to the condition it was in before the accident.
The specialists at Liberty Collision are your Reno car collision experts. If you’ve recently been in an accident, we’re happy to take a look at your vehicle and give you a free estimate. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or get more information.
