The Fight Over Genuine vs. Generic Parts After Your Car is Wrecked.
My Insurance Wanted to Repair My New Honda with “Junkyard” Parts.
After my brand-new Honda was in an accident, I was horrified when the body shop told me my insurance company would only pay for “aftermarket” and “salvage” parts to repair it. They were trying to fix my factory-fresh car with generic, knock-off parts and parts from a junkyard. I had to fight tooth and nail to get them to use genuine, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts. It was a stressful battle over the quality and integrity of my repair.
How Insurance Companies Save Money by Forcing “Aftermarket” Parts on Your Car.
A Billion-Dollar Strategy to Cut Costs at Your Expense.
The reason is simple: money. Aftermarket parts are significantly cheaper than genuine OEM parts. For an insurance company that is repairing millions of cars a year, the savings from using these cheaper parts adds up to billions of dollars. A standard auto policy gives them the contractual right to use parts of “like kind and quality,” a vague phrase they use to justify using these generic parts. It is one of their most effective and controversial cost-saving strategies.
OEM Coverage: The Rider That Guarantees Your BMW Gets Repaired with BMW Parts.
The Simple Endorsement That Ends the Fight Before It Starts.
After my bad experience, I added an “OEM Coverage” endorsement to my auto policy. It’s a simple rider that cost me about $50 a year. This rider contractually obligates the insurance company to use only genuine, Original Equipment Manufacturer parts when repairing my car. It takes the fight off the table. Now, if my BMW is in an accident, I have a legal guarantee that it will be repaired with real BMW parts, not cheap, generic imitations.
Is the “Quality” of Aftermarket Parts Really as Good? A Mechanic’s Honest Opinion.
Sometimes It’s Fine. Sometimes It’s a Disaster.
As a mechanic, I can tell you that the quality of aftermarket parts is all over the map. Some are perfectly fine. But many others, especially body panels like fenders and bumpers, are a disaster. They don’t fit right, the metal is thinner, and the welds are weaker. They may not have the same crumple zones or safety ratings as the OEM part. For a critical safety component, I would never, ever choose an aftermarket part over the one designed and tested by the car’s actual manufacturer.
Why OEM Coverage is a Must-Have for Any Leased or New Vehicle.
Protect Your Investment and Avoid Lease-End Penalties.
If you are leasing a car, OEM coverage is an absolute must-have. When you turn in your lease, the manufacturer will inspect the vehicle. If they find that it has been repaired with inferior, aftermarket parts, they can hit you with massive penalties for violating the lease agreement. For any new car in its first few years, using OEM parts is also critical for maintaining its resale value, its structural integrity, and its advanced safety systems.
The Small Premium for OEM Coverage Can Save You Thousands in Resale Value.
A Visible Difference That Buyers Can Spot.
When it comes time to sell your car, a savvy buyer or a trained mechanic can easily spot the difference between a high-quality OEM repair and a cheap aftermarket one. The panel gaps might be off. The paint might not match perfectly. This can lower the resale value of your car by thousands of dollars. The small extra premium you pay for an OEM coverage endorsement is a wise investment that pays for itself by protecting the long-term value of your vehicle.
How an Aftermarket Bumper Can Mess With Your Car’s Safety Sensors.
The High-Tech Risk of a Low-Tech Part.
Modern cars are packed with advanced safety sensors for things like blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking, many of which are located in the bumpers and side panels. An aftermarket part may not be manufactured to the exact same tolerances as the OEM part. This can interfere with the calibration and performance of these critical safety systems, potentially making your car less safe than it was before the “repair.”
Don’t Let Your Insurance Company Downgrade Your Car’s Parts.
You Paid for a Genuine Car. You Deserve Genuine Parts.
You bought a car from a specific manufacturer because you trusted their engineering, their quality, and their safety standards. When your car is damaged, you have a right to have it restored to its pre-accident condition using parts that meet those same standards. Allowing your insurance company to use cheaper, generic parts is allowing them to downgrade the quality of your vehicle. You can and should fight for the genuine parts your car was built with.
A Tale of Two Repairs: One with OEM, One Without. The Difference is Visible.
The Crooked Smile of an Aftermarket Bumper.
My neighbor and I had similar front-end accidents. I had OEM coverage, and my new bumper and grille fit perfectly. The car looked brand new. My neighbor’s insurance used an aftermarket bumper. The body shop struggled to get it to fit. To this day, you can see that the gaps are uneven and the whole front of the car has a slightly “crooked smile.” That visible difference is a constant, frustrating reminder of the battle between quality and cost.
Demand Original Equipment Manufacturer Parts. Here’s How.
Be Your Own Best Advocate.
If you don’t have an OEM rider, you can still fight for the right parts. First, tell your claims adjuster and the body shop, in writing, that you demand OEM parts. Second, if they refuse, check your state’s specific laws, as some have regulations about the use of aftermarket parts. Third, be prepared to pay the difference in cost between the aftermarket part and the OEM part if necessary. It may be worth a few hundred dollars of your own money to ensure the quality and safety of your repair.