OEM vs. Aftermarket Car Parts: What's the Difference?

Were you aware that buying car parts requires choosing between OEM and aftermarket manufacturers?

Many people have the misconception that aftermarket car parts are worse than OEM parts. However, you can find high-quality parts from both types of manufacturers if you understand the difference between them.

Both OEM and aftermarket car parts come with unique benefits. We’ll outline all the necessary information you need to help you get the best car parts without spending too much.

Read on to learn about the difference between OEM and aftermarket car parts!

What Are OEM Car Parts?

Whenever you hear someone say their vehicle is equipped with OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts, they’re talking about parts directly from the manufacturer. OEM car parts are designed to fit a certain vehicle and function without any problems.

Many car manufacturers equip their vehicles with both OEM and aftermarket parts. OEM car parts are often more expensive because they’re limited to certain vehicles. Aside from that, they’re backed by the manufacturer, so you can often get warranties if something goes wrong with them.

What Are Aftermarket Car Parts?

Unlike OEM parts, aftermarket car parts are designed by third-party companies. These companies aren’t associated with manufacturers, though their parts can work on a variety of vehicles.

Aftermarket car parts are typically much more affordable than OEM parts because they’re not designed to fit perfectly to a vehicle. In some cases, manufacturers will work with an aftermarket part manufacturer to make OEM car parts. When buying from a third-party company, you may end up getting OEM-equivalent parts at lower values.

Choosing the Right Parts for Your Vehicle

When you’d like to purchase car parts, you’ll find many options for both OEM and aftermarket car parts. Choosing between the two can be difficult, but you can think about several things to help make the decision easier.

Your Budget

One of the main things that’ll affect what you buy is your budget. Getting the best car parts will require a lot of money, so unless your budget is decent, aftermarket car parts will be better.

Keep in mind that aftermarket car parts aren’t bad, you’ll need to spend more time looking at different companies. If you check out a company like Left Hand Garage, you can find high-quality Jeep accessories at affordable rates. They also offer aftermarket car parts for other vehicles.

Your Vehicle

The next thing that’ll affect what you get is the type of vehicle you have. Unless you have a new vehicle or are a car enthusiast, you won’t have much of a reason to get OEM car parts. The only ones that should prioritize OEM parts are those that have just purchased a vehicle.

Like mentioned, OEM manufacturers often provide warranties. Should you purchase a vehicle, you may not be responsible for replacing anything if an OEM part breaks.

Longevity

If you want to purchase car parts that’ll last for as long as possible, it’s best to get OEM parts. Not only will they be designed solely for your vehicle, but the warranties will help you reduce expenses. The only downside is that the OEM car parts will come with higher upfront costs.

Those that want to invest in aftermarket car parts should see if a provider offers warranties and other forms of protection. OEM parts will last a lot longer, but you can still get coverage for aftermarket car parts.

How to Start Buying Car Parts

You can purchase car parts within minutes if you know where to buy them. Fortunately, it doesn’t take long to find a reputable seller. All you need is the internet and an idea of what you want.

Decide What You Want

Before buying anything, ensure you decide between OEM and aftermarket car parts. Having an idea of what you want will make it much easier to find a seller that offers exactly what you need.

If you’re replacing a broken part, deciding what you want will be simple. Those that want to make upgrades to their vehicle should spend more time thinking about the parts.

Look for Several Sellers

After deciding what you want, you must look for several sellers, which can be done by searching for them on the internet. Using online customer review sites, you can find a plethora of sellers with positive reputations.

If you’re not in a rush, you can look at online sellers to find more parts. However, you shouldn’t have a problem finding what you need at a local seller.

Compare Rates

The last thing to do when buying car parts is compare the rates between sellers. Depending on where you buy from, you may get lower rates than another seller.

Some of the extra costs of buying car parts are shipping, warranties, and taxes. You’ll need to find out what the values are at each seller before settling with one to ensure you get the best deal.

Now You’re Ready to Buy Car Parts

After reading this article, you now know all you need to know about OEM car parts and aftermarket car parts. We encourage anyone buying car parts to reference this info to make the process simple.

Buying the best car parts doesn’t require breaking the bank if you can find a reputable seller. If you’re patient and research various parts, you won’t have a problem finding the right things for your vehicle.

Check out our other articles to learn more about car parts and different topics!

Featured image: Adobe Stock royalty-free image #203092873, ‘Cash Money For Your Car’ uploaded by Tomasz Zajda, standard license purchased from https://stock.adobe.com/images/download/203092873; file retrieved on October 11th, 2019. License details available at https://stock.adobe.com/license-terms – image is licensed under the Adobe Stock Standard License