Aftermarket parts are simply any vehicle parts that weren’t manufactured by or sourced directly from the original manufacturer of your car. If you put a part on your Chevy that wasn’t made by Chevy, then you’ve installed an aftermarket part.
The aftermarket parts industry is a huge one, with hundreds of brands producing thousands upon thousands of aftermarket parts for just about every possible system and vehicle. Meanwhile, mechanics and auto repair shops thrive on the use of aftermarket parts. These parts allow them to keep their costs down, profits up, and in some cases even pass along those savings to their customers. In fact, it’s estimated that as many as 80% of repair shops use aftermarket parts.
Service departments at your vehicle’s dealership, however, will always use OEM parts on your vehicle.
In this article, we’ll explore all of the answers to the most common questions we receive about aftermarket parts.
- What are aftermarket parts?
- What are manufacturer original or OEM parts?
- What’s the difference between aftermarket parts and OEM parts?
- Types of aftermarket parts
- Pros and cons of aftermarket parts
- When to use aftermarket parts
- Warranty information about aftermarket parts
What are Manufacturer Original or OEM Parts?
To answer this question, we first have to answer this question: What exactly are OEM parts?
OEM simply stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. It refers to parts that came on your car off the assembly line, or replacement parts purchased directly from the original manufacturer themselves. They aren’t universally better or worse than aftermarket parts, but they do generally tend to be more expensive, and you know that they’ll be at least the same quality as whatever part was originally installed on your vehicle.
Aftermarket Parts for Vehicle Repairs
One of the most significant areas of concern for aftermarket parts comes when you drop your vehicle off for repairs at a mechanic or independent auto repair shop. As an informed car owner, you probably want to know what parts are being used on your vehicle— including whether they’re OEM or aftermarket parts. Even further, if your mechanic is using aftermarket parts, you want to make sure they’re sourcing them from trusted, high-quality brands and not poorly constructed budget options.
Unfortunately, while 80% of independent mechanics use aftermarket parts in repairs, not all of them are required to tell you about it. Regulations about disclosing the use of aftermarket parts to customers is regulated on a state-by-state basis.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with a mechanic using aftermarket parts— after all, one of the advantages is that it helps keep your repair costs down. However, you should know up-front before a repair whether the mechanic plans to use aftermarket parts, which parts they plan to use, and which brands they’ll be sourcing them from.
Generally, aftermarket parts are split into two categories— cosmetic and structural.
Cosmetic parts are those that don’t influence the function or safety of your vehicle. They’re focused on looks, and can include paints, decorative pieces, and more. Using aftermarket parts for these shouldn’t void your vehicle’s warranty or affect its function or safety, so any reputable brand should be fine.
Structural parts, however, affect your car’s function and safety. Always ensure that your mechanic is using CAPA certified parts for structural repairs. The Certified Automobile Parts Association assesses parts like these to certify that they are functionally equivalent to OEM parts, meaning they perform the same in safety and usage tests.
Pros of Aftermarket Parts
What are they good for? Here are some of the reasons why you may consider it.
Cost
In general, aftermarket parts cost less than OEM parts. This will obviously depend on specific brands and parts themselves, but you can generally expect to spend less for aftermarket parts— a great plus if you’re completing a DIY repair project or looking to keep costs down at the mechanic. Just remember that it’s possible to go too low on prices. Aftermarket parts that seem to be priced too low are probably poor quality and not worth the savings.
Opportunity
People often say that aftermarket parts are lower quality than OEM parts, but that’s a silly oversimplification. With hundreds of aftermarket brands producing hundreds of thousands of different parts, to say that they are universally lower quality is ridiculous. Because there’s so much available, you have a chance to find a part that may actually be better than the factory original and improve your vehicle in some key ways.
When car manufacturers design a part, they’re accounting for the full scope of the manufacturing and sale of a car. They have to account for how all the parts balance together, including their costs and customer expectations.
But when an aftermarket manufacturer designs a part, they can often focus exclusively on that part, and sometimes this results in a part that improves on the original in key areas that you might love based on your personal preference.
Variety
The variety of aftermarket parts available is simply massive. From niche manufacturers creating specific parts for very specific purposes to huge names that make every single part you can imagine, you’re guaranteed to find more variety when searching for aftermarket parts versus OEM parts. That said, all that variety can be a downside, too. If you don’t know what to look for when it comes to quality, reputation, and fit, choosing from the hundreds of brands and options available can be pretty daunting. Seek help from someone you trust who knows cars and parts and you’ll come out the other side with the perfect parts.
Availability
Because there are so many brands making such a wide variety of aftermarket products, you’re more likely to find a part you need in the average auto parts store, mechanic’s shop, or even a local gas station than you are to find an OEM part that’s just right for your vehicle. This availability is what makes aftermarket parts a go-to option for minor fixes for many car owners and mechanics. You don’t have to go to a specialist mechanic or your car brand’s auto dealership just to take care of a minor repair or replacement if you opt for aftermarket parts that are available just about anywhere.
Cons of Aftermarket Parts
Because they can often be so much cheaper than OEM parts and offer more variety and availability, what are aftermarket parts doing wrong to make many people so suspicious of them? Often, that skepticism is overblown. But there are some downsides to aftermarket parts on your vehicle that you should consider.
Range of Quality
While some aftermarket part manufacturers produce quality parts consistently, others are much less committed to quality. Generally, you tend to get what you pay for when it comes to 3rd-party manufacturers. After all the opportunity for anyone to get into the business of car part manufacturing? That means that while you’re sure to find brands that match or even exceed the quality of OEM parts, you’ll also find those that use cheap materials, poor manufacturing methods, and a lack of commitment to customer service. Try to stick to brands that you know and trust, or those recommended by a mechanic or car expert that you know and trust.
Lack of Warranty
Many aftermarket part manufacturers are in the business of keeping their costs as low as possible so they can keep prices low and turn a higher profit. As a result, they sometimes won’t offer a warranty on their parts. As-is parts can be a risky bet, because if they break down or experience issues immediately after installation, you’re still out of luck. Keep this in mind when you’re considering purchasing a more expensive aftermarket part for your vehicle.
Effect on Value
In many cases, installing aftermarket parts can sometimes affect the market value of your vehicle or its ability to be resold. While a private seller may not mind aftermarket parts and may even like the customization in some cases, selling your car to a dealership or returning your leased vehicle to a dealership may be a different story. They want cars they resell to have the broadest possible appeal to their buyers, and that means being able to tell them that the vehicles they’re selling are all factory-original OEM parts.
When to Use Manufacturer Original Parts
If you’re having your vehicle repaired after a collision, always use OEM parts. Body work on a damaged vehicle should use the same parts as the original manufacturer, as aftermarket parts may not fit properly or have the same level of safety.
You also almost always want to use OEM parts on leased vehicles, in order to keep their market value as high as possible and avoid losing out on money when you turn the vehicle back in.
But with most mechanics using OEM parts and only half of all states requiring them to disclose it, how can you know you’re getting factory originals? One of the safest bets is going to your manufacturer’s local dealership service department, where OEM parts are the standard. It may cost you more, but you’ll know you’re getting OEM parts when it matters.
Conclusion
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