Original Parts or Aftermarket - What's the Difference?

For those who are supplying vehicle parts independently, you would surely hear them say that all parts are the same. They simply want to tell that the generic parts, also known as the Aftermarket Parts, are the clones that look perfectly like the parts that came from the automakers or what they call as the Original Equipment Manufacturer.

With the introduction of the aftermarket parts the OEM prices decreased by as much as 30 percent. It is not only the car owners who would like to spend less for their vehicles who are fond of aftermarket items. The IIHS or Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also thinks that it doesn’t matter if the car parts are aftermarket or OEM as long as its work perfectly fine. There are tons of car insurance companies who are also using aftermarket parts as well so that they would be able to offer low premiums and able to maintain low cost for the expenses of the damaged vehicles at the same time. The CAPA or Certified Automobile Parts Association are trying to exert some effort to stop the selling or at least decrease the customers of these products. Unfortunately, the market has increased by as much as 15 percent.

The Auto Body Parts Association established the CAPA way back in 1987. Most of the funds of the CAPA came from the experts in collision repair as well as the insurance industry. Moreover, there are also 14 members who are included in the Board of Directors as well so that they could give the association the advice that they need.

It was in 1999 that the major setback in the aftermarket products happened. It was the case of the State Farm versus the Avery where it involved the purchasing and using of the aftermarket products for the vehicle. The State Farm was proven to be liable for the damages worth more than $400 billion. Moreover, the State Farm also gave a $730 billion worth of penalty for the other damages as well.

Those who have filed for the petition said that the State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Company never told them (the policyholders) that they are using aftermarket products that came from independent auto repair shops. This resulted to the violation of the consumer fraud laws. Aside from that, the plaintiffs also claimed that the parts that were used did not restore the pre-cash condition of their automobiles as well. Therefore, the State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Company did breach their contract with their policyholders.

Because of this, many insurance companies have avoided the aftermarket vehicle parts after the case. As a result, the automakers have gained once again the captive market. The insurers, as well as the policy holders, weren’t able to save money.

But just a few years after the State Farm case, the advocacy group called the Public Citizen spearheaded by Ralph Nadir claimed that the rule must be condemned. The monopoly of the OEMs truly does not serve the needs of customers. Instead, it cost the insurance companies which will be passed to their policyholders as well.

It is likely, however, that insurers will be wary of using aftermarket parts in the near future, unless more judgments are overturned or there is legislation clearing the way for aftermarket parts. CAPA produced model legislation introduced by the National Council of Insurance Legislators in 2002. That legislation was tabled until Winter 2005, so the status quo remains for now. Were this legislation passed, CAPA says, it would protect the public from both an expensive monopoly and substandard parts.