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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 auto parts is how we talk about the “Original Equipment Manufacturer” parts. They are manufactured for specific car models by the automobile manufacturers. These are the exactly-matching parts that your vehicle has. They come with a limited warranty. Car Dealers use your VIN Number to find the correct OEM part for your car.
Quality:
These branded manufacturer parts guarantee top quality and performance.
Warranty:
These automobiles parts always come with a warranty.
Price:
These parts can cost more than comparable aftermarket products.
Availability:
Auto Dealerships generally order specific parts from the manufacturer. If not already in stock, it may take a few days to get it in.
An aftermarket part is any part for a car or truck that is not sourced directly from the vehicle’s maker, or OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). These car parts may be less-expensive for your vehicle’s repair and advancements. Local, independent shops and online retailers generally (though not necessarily) offer a wide variety of aftermarket automobile parts. These parts are designed to function similarly as the OEM versions. However, aftermarket car parts have their own pros and cons.
Quality:
Low prices can suggest a lower quality
Warranty:
Aftermarket parts are not warrantied
Price:
These auto parts can be cheaper than the OEM parts
Availability:
These parts are readily available at most car-repair shops
While most basic part costs range from $150 to $500, some automobile part repairs can break your budget.
The car parts most expensive to fix are:
Always purchase OEM parts for collision repair. Aftermarket auto parts may not fit properly when your car has damaged body panels after an accident. Plus, installing aftermarket parts may void your lease vehicle warranty. So, 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.
Certainly, Amazon is a reputed online marketplace and provides customers with an easy and convenient platform to find quality automotive parts. While most car and truck parts sold by Amazon are from reliable sources, it can be hard for you to know if you’re getting the correct product for your car since you are not dealing directly with an auto service center.
Yes. The dealer is one of the best places to order auto parts. Most car dealerships only sell standard manufacturer OEM parts. Best of all, they can help you find specific parts for your vehicle with its VIN.
You can always bring your own auto parts to a car dealer. The auto dealer, however, will not be able to warranty the purchased part, nor will they be able to guarantee its performance. It is highly recommended to get your vehicle checked by an certified service center at a local auto dealership before buying any parts for installation. The factory-trained technician will also be able to diagnose the problem and suggest the required replacement part, if needed.
Bring your aftermarket car or truck part to a local dealer for installation. Before installation, a service technician at the dealership will check the aftermarket car or truck part to verify if it is suitable for your car, truck, or SUV. Even if they install the aftermarket part, however, the auto dealer can only provide a warranty on the labor.
