Choosing an Auto Repair Shop and Parts after a Claim

Auto insurance claims are never a fun experience, but you can help make the process go smoothly and quickly. If you need to get your car fixed, there are a few issues you need to be aware of.

Some auto insurance companies will only pay for a certain percentage amount of the cost of OEM or original equipment manufacturer parts. This is because original equipment manufacturer parts can costs double the price of aftermarket parts. Aftermarket parts are not salvaged, they are new identical parts, but not made by the actual car maker.

Many times choosing original parts will mean you pay the difference between aftermarket part costs and original equipment parts. Sometimes, it is necessary to utilize OEM parts because the car is leased, or using non-original parts would adversely affect its value.

Auto insurance companies have many auto repair shops that they work closely with, but you are not required to go to an affiliated auto insurance shop. If you have a mechanic that you trust, you may want to go to that auto repair shop even if it is not affiliated with your auto insurance provider. The choice is up to you and will not adversely affect your auto insurance claim and future auto insurance rates.