Aftermarket Parts Pitfalls

[Machloop]

Hi all,

As we all know aftermarket parts are widely available at often hundreds of pounds below manufacturer originals.  These are copies of course and come with various tolerance and material differences.  The temptation to fit them as a DIY mechanic is great.  However if you do use a copy part that is not registered as manufacturers spec for your car, then you are changing your cars "design" from its manufacturer specification no matter how good the aftermarket part may be !  By changing your cars design it then becomes essentially "your design" !  This could cause you to be severely exposed should you have a large third party insurance claim against you.  Insurance companies always ask on the proposal form "has your vehicle been modified" ?  If you say no and fit aftermarket parts you are invalidating your insurance cover.  Accident investigators will look vert carefully at your car especially if a fatality is involved.   Insurance assessors get big bonus payments if they can find reasons their company should not pay out.  I find that the good independent non dealer garages will always fit dealer parts to protect themselves from liable claims.  I was enlighted to this design thing after discussions with a member of Her Majesty's Inspectorate concerning tweaking a companies computer programme !  So there you have it !  The choice is yours to make ?

[NGRhodes]

Aftermarket parts are vary rarely anything but OE compatible pattern parts built to the same design and specifications and do not need to be declared by insurance companies.

Insurance companies approve the use of non OEM parts for their repairs.

[FROSTYBALLS]

As above, insurance companies use third party parts to keep their costs down. An obvious example is vehicle glass - insurers contract with glass fitting companies and windscreens/other glass used by them is usually a third party product (eg Guardian)?

Aside from that the insurer approved repairers often carry out assessments themselves and then e-mail the assessments through, rather than the insurer becoming directly involved.