Blog · Insurance
OEM vs Aftermarket Parts in a Collision Repair
What the parts codes on your estimate mean, why the insurance company cares, and how we decide which part goes on your vehicle.
Somewhere on every collision estimate there is a code next to each part that says where it is coming from, and on an insurance job that code is often where the shop and the carrier disagree. Here is what the options are, why the carrier has an opinion, and how we decide what goes on your vehicle.
The four kinds of parts
- OEM (original equipment manufacturer). The same part the vehicle was built with, from the manufacturer's dealer network. Fits the way the original did, because it is the original.
- Aftermarket. Made by a company other than the manufacturer to fit the vehicle. Quality ranges from excellent to poor. Some carry a certification that they have been tested for fit and finish; many do not.
- Recycled (used, LKQ). A part taken from a salvage vehicle of the same model. It is an OEM part that has been on another vehicle. Common for doors, hoods, tailgates, and assemblies where the part is expensive new.
- Reconditioned. A damaged part, usually a bumper cover or a wheel, that has been repaired and refinished for resale.
Why the carrier cares
Cost. Aftermarket and recycled parts are cheaper than OEM, and a carrier's estimating system will often specify them by default when they are available. A policy may say the carrier will pay for "like kind and quality" parts, which is the language that allows an aftermarket or used part to go on.
Whether that is acceptable depends on the part, the vehicle, and you.
Where the difference shows
On some parts it does not matter much. A recycled OEM tailgate for a common pickup is the same tailgate, and a reconditioned wheel that has been properly checked is a wheel. On other parts it matters a lot:
- Bumper covers and fenders. Aftermarket versions can fit slightly differently, and a panel gap that is a little off is visible for the life of the vehicle. Some aftermarket covers fit well. Some need to be worked to fit, which costs labor the estimate did not include.
- Headlights. Aftermarket headlight assemblies can differ in beam pattern, seal quality, and how they yellow. A recycled OEM light is often the better cheap option.
- Anything with a sensor in it. Bumper covers with parking sensors, grilles with radar, mirrors with cameras. Aftermarket parts here can affect how the sensors work. We are careful with these and will tell you why.
- Structural parts. Reinforcement bars, radiator supports, rails. We do not cut corners here, and neither should anyone else.
How we decide
We write the estimate with the part we think is right for the vehicle and the repair. On an insurance job, the carrier may come back specifying a cheaper alternative, and then it is a conversation: sometimes the alternative is fine and we say so; sometimes it is not and we explain why with photos of the fit or the problem. Most of that gets resolved between the shop and the carrier. When it does not, you have options, including paying the difference for the OEM part yourself, and we will lay them out plainly.
On a cash job, you decide. We will tell you the price of each option and our honest opinion of the difference.
Your policy may already answer this
Some policies include an OEM parts endorsement, which means the carrier pays for original parts regardless of cost. Some specify aftermarket where available. Read your policy or ask your agent before the repair starts; it is easier to know going in than to argue afterward. See what to bring for an insurance repair.
Leased and newer vehicles
If the vehicle is leased, the lease may require OEM parts, and a turn-in inspection may check. If the vehicle is under a manufacturer warranty, an aftermarket structural part can complicate a warranty claim later. Tell us at the estimate. Fleet units on lease are a common case.
What we will always tell you
Which kind of part is on the estimate, why, and what the alternatives are. The code is on the sheet; here is how to read it. If you have a preference, say so before parts are ordered. Once a part is on the vehicle and painted, changing it is a second repair.
FAQ
Are aftermarket parts always worse?
No. Some are as good as the original. The problem is that you cannot tell from the box, and fit problems show up on the vehicle, not in the catalog. We use what fits.
Can I insist on OEM parts?
Yes. If your policy does not cover the difference, you can pay it. Tell us before ordering.
Do recycled parts come with a history?
They come from a salvage vehicle of the same model. We inspect them before they go on, and if one arrives damaged it goes back.
Does the part type affect the paint?
Every replacement panel gets refinished and blended the same way regardless of where it came from. The estimate is free and we will go over the parts with you at the counter.