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There can be many times that you need or want to buy new auto parts for your car, truck, or SUV. To help you decide, we’ve asked our automotive service and parts team a few frequently asked questions. Here’s is what they had to say.
OEM parts is how we talk about the “Original Equipment Manufacturer” parts. They are manufactured for unique car or truck models by the automobile manufacturers. These are your vehicle’s exact-matching parts. They come with a manufacturer’s warranty. Certified Service Centers use your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to source the right OEM part for your car.
Quality:
These manufacturer product parts provide top performance and quality.
Warranty:
These automobiles parts come with a limited manufacturer warranty.
Price:
These auto parts can cost more than comparative aftermarket parts.
Availability:
Dealers typically order specific parts from the manufacturer. This may take a few days if it is not already in stock.
An aftermarket part is any part for a car, truck, or SUV that does not come directly from the vehicle’s maker, or OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). These auto parts are certainly less-expensive choices for your vehicle’s repair and upgrade. Local, independent shops and online retailers most likely (though not necessarily) offer a selection of aftermarket car parts. These automobile parts are made to function similarly to the OEM versions. Aftermarket automotive parts, however, have their own pros and cons.
Quality:
Low price can signal a lower quality
Warranty:
These parts are not warrantied
Price:
These automobile parts are less expensive than manufacturer parts
Availability:
These parts are readily available at most car-repair shops
While basic automotive parts range from $150 to $500, some automobile part repairs can actually break an average typical budget.
The most costly automobile parts to fix are:
Always purchase OEM parts for collision repairs. Aftermarket auto repair products may not fit securely when your car or truck has damaged body panels after the accident. Plus, an aftermarket part installation may void your lease vehicle warranty. As Such, always use OEM parts for all lease vehicle repairs.
A comprehensive auto manufacturer’s warranty necessarily doesn’t cover every single part. Car buyers, however, can always choose something like a bumper-to-bumper warranty, factory warranty, and an extended warranty for the most comprehensive coverage. Even with an extended warranty, all your vehicle’s parts will likely not have coverage. Here is a list of what’s covered and what’s not.
Covered Under Powertrain Warranty:
Covered By Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty:
Extended Warranty Coverage:
Not Covered By Warranty
Craigslist is not an auto retailer; but on this online platform, third-party vendors sell automotive parts. For this reason, the quality cannot be guaranteed. If you are buying car parts from this source, make sure to research, verify, and compare before the purchase.
Unquestionably, Amazon is a reputed online marketplace that provides customers with an easy and convenient platform to shop for quality car parts. While most automotive parts sold by Amazon are from trusted sources, it can be difficult to know if you’re getting the correct item for your vehicle since you are not dealing with an automobile service center directly.
Yes, you can always shop for auto parts at the dealership. Most car dealerships only sell standard OEM manufacturer parts. Most of all, they can help you find specific parts for your vehicle with its VIN.
You can always bring your own auto parts to an auto dealer. However, the auto dealership will not be able to issue a warranty on the purchased part, nor can they guarantee its performance. It is highly recommended to get your vehicle checked by an certified service technician at a local auto dealer before purchasing any auto parts for installation. The auto-experts will also be able to diagnose the actual problem and order an appropriate replacement part, if needed.
Bring your aftermarket car part to a local car dealer for installation. Before installation, a service technician will check the aftermarket car or truck part to verify if it is suitable for your vehicle. Even if they install the aftermarket part, however, the car dealership can only issue warranty on the labor.
