Unique Auto Ins

Car owners face quite a dilemma when they’re forced to get their vehicle repaired. That is, should they use OEM parts or stick to aftermarket goods to get the job done? Will it affect their in car insurance?

It will, but not in ways that you’d expect. It’s not that tough a decision once you learn a few things and take the cost of OEM parts versus aftermarket into account.

The companies that produce the cars – and by extension the OEM parts for those cars – insist that there is a greater amount of quality in OEM parts. Therefore it’s worth the extra punch to your insurance to get OEM parts because they’ve been certified with the car and will therefore invariably work better.

But OEM parts usually cost upwards of twice what your standard aftermarket parts do. More, insurance companies will fully refund any replacement aftermarket parts that are needed to effect repairs in your car; but they won’t cover OEM parts (likely because they’re so expensive). You’re left to get the cash if you insist on getting OEM parts.

There is actual statistical proof gathered by insurance bureaus that prove aftermarket parts do not degrade a car’s safety quotient any more than if OEM parts were installed. Therefore there’s no real point in going for OEM parts if you’re just looking to repair your car, as the in car insurance will cost a great deal less and cover more of your vehicle.

That said, priorities come into play when choosing between OEM and aftermarket parts. The resale value of your vehicle will generally fall – sometimes substantially – if it is not repaired with OEM parts. So keep your priorities in mind when choosing which set of parts to go with on your vehicle. If resale is in mind then you’re going to be forced to pay a substantial part of your repair bills by yourself, as your insurance company isn’t likely to step in and lend you a hand on any OEM parts you may need. If not, though, then feel free to go aftermarket and revel in saved money.