When you bring your Chevy in for repairs, you may assume that your mechanic uses genuine Chevrolet parts. However, he may have powerful incentives to use aftermarket parts instead. According to one auto insurance industry insider, many insurance companies direct mechanics and auto repair shops to use aftermarket components instead of OEM parts when doing repairs because aftermarket components are generally less expensive. Unless you live in one of the few states that require the mechanic to tell you he used aftermarket parts, you'll never know that your car repair wasn't done with OEM Chevrolet parts.
Genuine Chevrolet auto parts are made specifically to fit your make and model of car. Most aftermarket items are designed to fit a wide range of car makes and models, so they may require modifications for a proper fit. Because OEM parts are made to the same exacting specifications as the original parts in your car, you can be assured that they meet safety and quality standards. In a newer Chevrolet, in fact, using anything but genuine Chevrolet parts can void your warranty and leave you open to unexpected expenses if something goes wrong down the road. You definitely want to avoid that situation. And if something goes wrong with the repair or the replaced part is defective, there's no one to hold accountable with an aftermarket part. When the repair shop uses genuine Chevrolet auto parts, Chevrolet stands behind it because they oversee the making of components with their name on them.
Why Some Mechanics Use Aftermarket Items
Aftermarket components are generally cheaper than OEM parts, so your mechanic can save money by using these instead of genuine Chevrolet parts. It's also frequently easier to get aftermarket parts - many repair shops have the most frequently used parts in stock because they fit a variety of cars. And, says one California consumer watchdog group, auto insurance companies often pay a "kickback" to repair shops that use aftermarket parts because using non-OEM Chevrolet parts saves them money. In fact, some car repair shops use reconditioned salvage parts that may or may not meet safety standards.
Unfortunately, consumers in most states have no way to know whether their mechanics use OEM parts or aftermarket parts unless they ask. What's worse, if a consumer requests that the shop use only genuine Chevrolet parts, at least one major auto insurer requires the car owner to pay the difference between the aftermarket part and the OEM auto part.
If you live in Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Kansas or West Virginia, the car repair shop must tell you that they have used aftermarket parts, or, in some cases, get your consent before installing anything but OEM Chevrolet parts in your Chevy. Indiana and Rhode Island go even further to curb insurance company collusion with the practice of using aftermarket parts. Both states forbid insurance companies from directing auto shops to use aftermarket parts in auto repairs if a car is less than five years old in Indiana or 30 months in Rhode Island.
If you live in any other state, the only way to know for sure that your car repair shop is using genuine Chevrolet parts when they fix your Chevy is to request it before they do the repairs. If you don't, you're may get substandard aftermarket parts.
Author Resource:
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the world's MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
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