“OEM endorsement coverage” is an optional coverage on your auto policy. This coverage means that if your car gets in an accident, damaged parts will be replaced with parts designed by the company that manufactured the vehicle. With this coverage, new OEM products will be used across the entire repair of your vehicle when possible. If you did not have this coverage, and you got into an accident, your vehicle may be repaired with parts produced by a third party, not the original manufacturer.
Now the question is.. what’s the difference?
People sometimes prefer to use OEM parts because they do not need to worry or spend time researching the quality of different brands of third-party parts. People also usually prefer OEM parts because they tend to work exactly as you already know them too, providing comfort in their performance and familiarity. One of the cons to wanting OEM parts though, usually they can only be bought at the dealership. So even though you may be working with a local mechanic, they will need to request the parts, which in turn could take longer to have the vehicle repaired.
Aftermarket parts are parts that come from third-party vendors and manufacturers. These types of parts are usually less expensive and sometimes can even have greater quality than OEM parts. With aftermarket parts, you have more choices in which brand/type you, leaving you the option to choose one even better than you had before! These parts usually are more widely available, leaving your car in the shop for less time than with OEM parts. With aftermarket parts though, quality is not always promised, even if the reviews say otherwise. It is very possible that one person can have a great experience with one brand, but you have a terrible one.
When can you opt for this coverage?
- OEM coverage is often only available for vehicles that are three to seven years old (age of acceptable vehicle depends on the carrier)
- Your car will usually need to have active collision-and-comprehensive coverage or comprehensive-only insurance to qualify for OEM coverage
If you are interested in learning more about this optional coverage, feel free to visit our website, keslarinsurance.com, or give us a call at (603) 273-0953. We are always available to give you a free quote, or just to be a resource!
