Insurance companies will often insist on the use of after- market body parts because they are less expensive than original equipment (OEM) parts. However, aftermarket parts are not crash-tested as are OEM parts, they usually don’t have the same corrosion protection, and they often don’t meet the car manufacturer’s specifications for overall quality, weight, fit, and finish. In addition, OEM parts usually offer much better warranty protection than after- market parts.
Many body shops (and other automotive experts) say that aftermarket parts take longer to install because they don’t fit as well and often result in lower-quality repairs that could even reduce a vehicle’s resale value. Insist on the use of OEM parts.