Choosing between original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, and aftermarket car parts is all about squaring your priorities with your budget.
Each option has its benefits, but how long a part will last and its initial cost can vary widely depending on if you go with OEM or aftermarket parts. Which one you decide to go with will determine the impact on the overall cost of owning your car.
Here’s a comparison of the perks and drawbacks of OEM and aftermarket parts and which is the best option for certain situations.
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What's the difference between OEM and aftermarket parts?
Let’s start with genuine parts, which are parts that were installed in your vehicle by the manufacturer when it was first sold. They often have the logo of the vehicle manufacturer, such as Honda or Subaru, printed on them.
Once you’ve purchased a vehicle and need to make repairs or replace parts for maintenance, the terminology changes to the following:
Original equipment manufacturer, or OEM. These parts are made by the same manufacturer that made the genuine parts in a car, but they’re installed when a car needs a repair. Because the same manufacturer makes OEM parts, they are guaranteed to fit in your car.
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Nerdy Tip
Some retailers use “genuine” to refer to OEM parts. This is a marketing tactic and doesn’t mean that the part will work better. A part is either an OEM part or not an OEM part — regardless of if it is described as “genuine.”
Aftermarket parts. These are made by manufacturers that did not make the original car parts and therefore do not qualify as OEM parts. They can often be used in place of OEM parts, but they carry the potential of not being fully compatible with your car.
Comparing OEM and aftermarket parts
There are benefits and downsides to OEM and aftermarket parts, and a quick comparison shows that OEM parts win for dependability as a longer-term investment. On the other hand, aftermarket parts offer more options and tend to be more affordable.
Here’s a quick comparison of their pros and cons.
OEM parts
Aftermarket parts
Compatibility
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Life span
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Warranty
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Availability
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Options
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Cost
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Pros and cons of OEM parts
In general, OEM parts offer peace of mind, but that comes at a higher cost. Here are a few benefits and drawbacks to buying OEM parts.
Pros
Compatibility. OEM parts are manufactured to fit your vehicle and work like they’re supposed to with your car’s systems.
Longer life. Because they are made in the same way as genuine parts, OEM parts tend to be more reliable than aftermarket parts and last for longer.
Warranty. OEM parts should come with a warranty to protect you if the part is defective or doesn’t work properly. The specific warranty will differ by manufacturer.
Cons
Higher cost. Due to their better quality, OEM parts tend to cost more than aftermarket parts.
Limited availability. With a higher demand, OEM parts can have limited availability and take longer to order and get into stock.
Pros and cons of aftermarket parts
Aftermarket parts tend to go easier on your budget but don’t come with the guarantee that they’ll work for you.
Pros
More options. Aftermarket parts can be made by any company that wants to manufacture car parts, so you have more options when looking for a part.
Cheaper cost. Because there are more options available for aftermarket parts, they tend to be cheaper.
Cons
Inconsistent quality. Car manufacturers do not oversee the quality of aftermarket parts, so there's no guarantee that the part will work well or even fit your car correctly.
Limited warranty. Most aftermarket parts have limited warranties or no warranty at all, which means you’re out more money if the part is defective or doesn’t fit.
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When to use OEM or aftermarket parts
Choosing between OEM and aftermarket parts might come down to what is the most important aspect for you and your budget.
If one of the scenarios below ranks at the top of your list, you’re likely to prefer one option over the other.
You have a warranty
If your vehicle is under warranty, using aftermarket parts could affect your warranty. As long as the aftermarket part works properly, your warranty will probably stay in effect. However, if the part causes an issue that then needs to be repaired, and a dealership can prove that the aftermarket part caused the problem, it could deny warranty coverage for that specific repair.
Consider: OEM parts.
You're on a tight budget
Car repairs can be a big hit to your auto budget. But avoiding a necessary repair is the worst option because it could cause more damage to your car and end up costing you more down the road. So if your budget can’t support the cost of an OEM part for a necessary repair, looking into aftermarket parts might be a better option.
Consider: Aftermarket parts.
You want the most time between replacing parts
Investing in car parts might be the way to go if you're looking to skip extra trips to the mechanic as much as possible. Choosing to install parts that have longer lifespans and tend to be more reliable can help you avoid the potential of more frequent part replacements in the future.
Consider: OEM parts.
You need a quick repair
If you need a repair performed immediately, you might need to consider availability more than anything else. Certain types of parts are more commonly kept in stock, but aftermarket options might be more readily available than OEM parts, depending on the auto shop’s inventory.
Consider: Aftermarket parts.
You want a guarantee that the part will work
Because manufacturers have different standards, not all parts will provide the same quality — and not all manufacturers offer a warranty for their parts. If the possibility of a newly-installed part failing within a year stresses you out, you’ll probably want to go with one that has a warranty in case it is faulty.
Consider: OEM parts.
Where to get parts
The options you’ll have for parts depend on the nature of the repairs and what type of shop you take your car to.
OEM parts are mostly easily available at dealership repair shops, while independent mechanics may be able to offer you a choice between OEM and aftermarket parts. Independent garages that specialize in your type of vehicle and auto body shops will likely be able to order both.
If your repair is part of an insurance claim, the insurer might prefer aftermarket parts to save money. However, you have the option to pay the difference between the insurer’s preferred aftermarket part and the cost of an OEM part.
Depending on the job, the cost of OEM versus aftermarket parts varies. Whenever you’re given the choice, ask to see estimates for both so you can weigh your options.
Any car enthusiast has heard the terms OEM car parts and aftermarket car parts. Everyone has their own opinions and preferences when it comes to purchasing parts, or getting repairs done on their car. If you’re bringing your car into a dealership for repairs, chances are all of your parts are OEM, where as independent repair shops often use aftermarket parts. Is there a difference between OEM and aftermarket parts? Today, we’ll break down the Pros and Cons of each, to help you decide if OEM parts or aftermarket parts are the best choice for you. Which will come ahead in our OEM vs Aftermarket take?
Let’s start with the basics. What does OEM stand for? OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer. By definition, OEM means that whatever car part you’re purchasing, it’s coming directly from the manufacturer of your car. Some parts, however, are not made directly from the manufacturer. Ford, for example, may use spark plugs made by a third-party. This means that those exact spark plugs are considered OEM, despite Ford not technically manufacturing them. OEM is about staying true to the original parts in a car when bought new.
So now we know what OEM means, but what are the advantages and disadvantages of using OEM vs Aftermarket parts.
Cost: One major disadvantage of going with OEM car parts is the cost. Typically, OEM parts cost more than their aftermarket counter parts. Part of this cost has to do with supply of these parts, as well. Aftermarket parts end up competing more, as there are many companies making the same type of part, but if you want to go with an OEM part, there’s only one choice.
Quality: OEM parts typically have great quality. While Aftermarket parts may have better quality than an OEM part, you can always feel safe making a choice of an OEM part for repairs or replacement, because you know the quality will be the same quality as the part you’re replacing. There’s no guesswork when it comes to OEM, you know exactly the standard of quality you’ll be getting. When it comes to manufacturers known for precision, like Audi Parts (link to audi page), you know the OEM part will have a high standard of quality.
Availability: For the casual car owner, the availability of OEM car parts can be tricky. You’re always going to have a larger supply of aftermarket parts. If you’re a car owner who does not typically source their own parts for repair or replacement, which type of car parts you end up with usually is based on where you take your car. If you’re getting your car serviced at the dealer, then you’re going to be getting OEM parts. However, it is not very likely that an independent mechanic is going to be using OEM car parts. You’d be able to ask them to special order the OEM parts in, but this takes time. So unless you’re the type of person to buy parts before a repair, aftermarket parts are more available.
Aftermarket parts can be a great choice for your replacement parts. The definition of aftermarket parts is simply parts made by anyone other than the original manufacturer of your vehicle. Other terms commonly used for aftermarket parts are generic parts, competitive replacement parts, or just Non-OEM parts. There’s sometimes worry that using aftermarket car parts is unsafe, or that the quality will be much worse than OEM parts. Let’s take a look at how aftermarket parts compare to OEM parts.
Cost: Aftermarket parts typically cost less than OEM parts. While you could find expensive aftermarket parts, on average consumers save 60% on aftermarket parts according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. This alone accounts for a major reason why insurance companies often use aftermarket parts, as it saves money on the cost of repairs.
Quality: Quality is the most talked about factor when it comes to OEM vs Aftermarket parts. While you know exactly what quality you’ll be getting with an OEM part, aftermarket parts can vary wildly. Not all car parts are made equal in this world, so it’s important to know what aftermarket parts you’re getting, and not pick randomly. An organization called the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) have been testing and certifying aftermarket parts since 1987. If the aftermarket part is CAPA certified, you’re likely not going to run into any issues of quality. What’s great about aftermarket parts is that their quality can even exceed that of OEM parts. While higher quality parts will likely cost more, not all OEM parts are the best on the market. Going for an aftermarket replacement part could lead to better longevity in your car, depending on the manufacturer.
Availability: Aftermarket parts are extremely available. Most places you’d bring your car for repairs almost exclusively use aftermarket parts unless OEM parts are requested and ordered ahead of time. If you walk into a car parts store you can be assured to find an aftermarket part that will fit your car. The true benefit of aftermarket parts is their availability. However, this can become a problem. For someone without a lot of experience or knowledge in car parts, a huge selection can be confusing and difficult. It can be hard to make a choice on an aftermarket part when there are so many options available, whereas an OEM part is easy to pick, with expected quality and cost.
Are OEM parts better than aftermarket parts? Unfortunately, there’s no true answer. After comparing the differences between OEM and aftermarket parts, both have reasonable advantages and disadvantages. Picking OEM vs Aftermarket parts isn’t easy to do objectively. OEM parts are an easy pick if you just want to replace a part with the exact same part. You’ll know the quality of what you’re getting, but you may end up paying a bit extra for this, and will likely need to order in a part, as opposed to simply bringing your car to your mechanic. Aftermarket parts have a lot of competition, which can bring costs down and quality up, but with so many choices, it can be overwhelming to pick a part that you’ll comfortably know outperforms the competition. What is certain though, aftermarket parts are not unsafe, or made cheaply. Most aftermarket parts are going to work just fine, even if they cost less than the OEM counterpart.
Are you an OEM part person, or do you prefer aftermarket parts? We’d love to hear from you and get your take on OEM vs aftermarket parts.