What Are OEM Parts, And Why Are They Important?
If your vehicle is involved in an accident and needs serious repair work done, one of the last things that you want to worry about is the vehicle decreasing in value.
Now imagine how much harder it would be to trade in or privately sell a vehicle with a replaced door that’s not quite the same colour as the rest of the car, or a replaced spoiler that’s clearly an aftermarket part.
One sad but common practice in the insurance industry is insurance companies forcing repair garages to seek out the cheapest parts available when fixing vehicles after a partial loss. Not only does this include aftermarket parts, but it also often means parts pulled from scrap yards.
This problem is one of the many reasons why the demand for OEM parts has become popular among many automobile owners. Short for “Original Equipment Manufacturer,” OEM parts are ones made directly by the vehicle’s manufacturer.
There are a few different perks to ensuring that your vehicle is repaired using OEM parts.
First, as touched on earlier, OEM parts can also help to protect the investment you made in your car, truck or SUV. If you decide to sell or trade-in your vehicle in the future, well-trained eyes can notice whether important parts are OEM or aftermarket, leading to a tougher sale or reduced dollar figures in an offer.
Another perk is that you get the peace of mind of knowing that the parts were originally intended to fit the specifications of your vehicle make and model — in other words, that they’re the exact parts that the manufacturer wanted to be used.
How Obvi can help
Don’t get stuck owning a one-year-old vehicle with parts from a junkyard.
Customers who purchase a New Car Replacement Insurance policy from Obvi have the choice of adding on OEM parts protection to their coverage. This option pays up to $2,500 per year in additional costs to ensure that OEM parts are used in your vehicle. And with coverage for up to five years, you’ll ensure that your vehicle investment is protected for longer.