PARTS EXPLAINED

ABOUT PARTS

Choosing the correct parts for your collision repair is extremely important when it comes to the value, quality, and safety of your vehicle.

Your vehicle is designed and engineered to protect you when involved in a collision.

When the wrong parts are used for the repair of your vehicle, it can not only significantly affect the crash-worthiness of your vehicle in subsequent collisions (resulting in unnecessary bodily harm), but also the fit, function, and appearance of your vehicle.

WHO TO TRUST

Not all repair facilities and insurance companies have your best interest in mind.

Some shops are influenced by the higher margins that can be made by using:

• Used junk yard parts

• Copycat aftermarket parts

Some insurance companies also benefit financially from using these cheaper, substitute parts.

All vehicle manufacturers have very clear and strict guidelines about parts usage for the repairs of their vehicles.

These guidelines are written by each manufacturer’s engineers to ensure a safe and properly repaired vehicle is returned to you.

All of these guidelines are readily available to:

• You

• Your repair facility of choice

• Any insurance company

COLLISION REPAIR REPLACEMENT PARTS

OEM PARTS

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts are replacement body, mechanical, or electrical parts manufactured by:

• The original manufacturer of the vehicle, or

• A licensed, approved subcontractor of the original manufacturer

Genuine OEM parts are identical to the originals and preserve the:

• Quality

• Safety

• Value

of your vehicle.

AFTERMARKET PARTS

Aftermarket parts are replacement body, mechanical, or electrical parts NOT manufactured by the original manufacturer or an approved subcontractor.

These parts are typically:

• Cheaper than OEM parts

• Not built to the same exact standards

SALVAGE PARTS

Salvage parts, commonly referred to as “like kind and quality” (LKQ) by insurance companies, are:

• Used parts

• Removed from damaged vehicles

These parts may come from:

• Vehicles deemed beyond repair

• Junk yards

They are not new and may have unknown history or wear.

REMANUFACTURED PARTS

Remanufactured parts are:

• Used parts that have been repaired, re-machined, or rebuilt for resale

It is common for these parts to be sourced from:

• Junk yards

• Leftover damaged parts

• Other repair facilities