If your car is damaged in an accident and needs parts replaced, your insurance will usually cover the costs. But here’s the catch: the parts used might not be made by the same company that manufactured your car. Instead, they could be aftermarket parts from other companies, which means they might not function correctly or be a perfect fit.
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts, however, are made by the same company that made your vehicle. They’re specially designed for your make and model—so they’ll fit and function exactly as they should. Using OEM parts is the best way to ensure your car is fully restored to factory standards with all safety features intact.
Fortunately, there is a way to guarantee that only genuine OEM parts are used in your repairs: OEM insurance coverage.
What is OEM Insurance Coverage?
When you purchase auto insurance, most policies won’t specify using OEM parts for repairs. If you want to make sure your vehicle is repaired to factory standards, you can opt for additional coverage that includes OEM parts.
OEM coverage is like having an extra layer of insurance for your car. However, there are several important points to consider:
- As vehicles age, OEM parts become less available. As a result, OEM coverage is only for vehicles that are less than seven years old.
- Without OEM coverage, your repair shop might use aftermarket parts; when aftermarket parts aren’t available, they may opt for OEM parts. If you have OEM coverage, your repair shop will use OEM parts whenever possible.
- For your vehicle to qualify for OEM coverage, it must have active collision-and-comprehensive coverage or comprehensive-only coverage.
- OEM coverage doesn’t extend to all parts of your vehicle; tires, aftermarket hardware, and customized modifications typically fall outside of the scope of OEM insurance.
Additional Benefits of OEM Insurance Coverage
Beyond ensuring your replacement parts fit and function perfectly, OEM insurance coverage offers several other benefits:
- Safety and Reliability: Since OEM parts are specifically designed for your vehicle, they contribute to its overall safety and reliability.
- Preservation of Factory Warranty: Many manufacturers require or recommend using original parts to maintain the warranty; choosing OEM repairs ensures compliance with these guidelines and safeguards your warranty coverage.
- Maintaining Resale Value: By using OEM parts for repairs, your vehicle stays in its original factory condition. This can boost its resale value since many buyers prefer cars that have been repaired with genuine parts.
- Parts Warranty Assurance: Some OEM parts come with manufacturer warranties, which provide extra peace of mind after repairs.
For Quality OEM Repairs, Visit European Collision Center
OEM auto insurance is a wise investment for drivers who would like to maintain the originality, quality, reliability, and value of their vehicles. If you’d like to make sure that only OEM parts are used in your repairs, review your insurance policy or contact your insurance provider to confirm whether your current coverage includes OEM parts.
If you need OEM auto body repairs, visit European Collision Center! Although we hold OEM certification for BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, Rivian, and Tesla, we prioritize OEM parts and adhere to factory repair processes on every make and model we service. We’re committed to maintaining the safety and reliability of your vehicle, and OEM parts are the best way to ensure that after an accident. We even provide complete insurance coordination to make the repair process as convenient and seamless as possible. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us today at (415) 551-9700.