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

Buying replacement parts for your car is an unavoidable consequence of vehicle ownership. You’ll have an accident or a part will wear out and you’ll need to get it fixed. What are you going to use OEM vs Aftermarket parts?

The decision may seem simple, but there are some things you need to keep in mind. What kind are the differences between the two types? Read on to learn more about the differences between OEM and Aftermarket car parts!

Who Made Them?

One of the biggest differences between OEM parts and aftermarket parts is who made them. First, OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. This means the company that made the car, made the parts.

In this case, you can be sure the new parts fit your car like a glove. When you order an esr1917 for your Land Rover, you are getting the exact hose that matches your car. You are ensuring the best possible compatibility when you use OEM parts.

Aftermarket parts are parts not made by the carmaker. They can be made in the same factory as your car, though commissioned by a different company. They are made to fit more than one type of car, so the fit may not be perfect, but they work just as well.

How Much?

When you take your car to the dealership for repairs, you will get OEM parts. Because of things like dealer markup, they are going to cost you more. In some cases, you are paying for the manufacturer’s logo on the part.

If you take your car to a local repair shop, you’ll be getting aftermarket parts and will pay less for them. Keep in mind, the parts may have come from the same company that sold the parts to the dealership. This means you’re still getting top-quality parts for your car!

Which Is Better?

Whether you go OEM or Aftermarket for your car parts is going to depend on a few things. One is a personal preference. If you are a car enthusiast, collector, or racer, then you might want to stick to OEM parts for the best performance.

For everyone else, the difference is academic. While Aftermarket parts are made in bulk to fit many different vehicles, this doesn’t mean they are bad or have a higher rate of failure. It is part of the reason they are cheaper.

There are situations where you need to go with one over the other. Sometimes your insurance company will need your car repair to be done with only OEM parts. Then there are times where they would need you to use Aftermarket parts because they are cheaper.

Keeping all this in mind, Aftermarket parts will not perform any better or worse than the OEM version. OEM parts are great if you don’t mind spending the extra money. Otherwise, Aftermarket parts for your car repair will work just as well.