Read a repair estimate closely and you'll see notes next to the parts: OEM, aftermarket, used, or recycled. Those words decide a lot about how your car fits together, how safe the repair is, and what the vehicle is worth afterward, and most people have never had them explained. We'll explain what they are, and tell you where we stand.
What each type means
OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer. These are the same parts the automaker used to build your car, made to its exact specifications. Aftermarket parts are made by a third party to fit your vehicle, and quality ranges widely, from acceptable to poor. Used parts, sometimes called recycled or LKQ parts, are OEM parts salvaged from another vehicle, carrying whatever wear and history came with it. Knowing the difference matters because it's how you read an estimate and understand what's actually being proposed for your car.
"Like kind and quality," explained
You'll often see the phrase "like kind and quality" on an estimate or in a policy. In plain terms, it's the standard an insurer uses to decide what it will pay for, a replacement part meant to match what was on the car before the damage. It's worth understanding because it's the language behind a lot of parts decisions, and it's often where an insurer's preference for a cheaper part gets justified. On a late-model car, matching the original condition points to new OEM parts, because that's what the manufacturer built the car with.
Why OEM is our standard
We use OEM parts. That's the short version, and it's deliberate. OEM parts are engineered to line up exactly, where aftermarket parts can need coaxing to fit and behave differently in ways you don't notice until later. On anything structural or tied to crash performance, the part has to meet the manufacturer's specifications, which matters most on the aluminum and mixed-material bodies our note on aluminum body repairs gets into. Resale rewards it too, because a repair history built on genuine manufacturer parts holds up when a buyer or a dealer looks closely. On certified repairs OEM parts are often required outright, and meeting that standard is part of what the certification protects.
What that means when you're claiming
Insurers may prefer a less expensive part, and they're allowed to express that preference. What you should know is that you have a say in what goes on your car, and you can ask for OEM and ask why a particular part was specified. We make that case for you. We work with both dealerships and insurers regularly, and we'll repair your car to manufacturer standard with the parts that meet it.
When you get an estimate, read the part column and ask about anything you don't recognize. The parts on your car affect how it drives, how safe it is, and what it's worth later, which is exactly why our standard doesn't move off OEM.
This article is general information, not insurance advice. For what your policy covers on parts, check with your licensed broker.
