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Does Car Insurance Have to Use OEM Parts?

By AutoInsuranceBundle.pro · Published November 6, 2026 · Reviewed November 6, 2026

Short answer: Auto insurers often pay for parts of like kind and quality, which can include aftermarket or recycled parts instead of original equipment from the car's maker. That is a policy and estimate question, not a single national rule. Some drivers are told they may pay the difference if they want OEM parts. Washington's motor-vehicle claim rule, WAC 284-30-390, treats failure to prepare or accept an estimate that restores the vehicle to its condition prior to the loss as an unfair practice. That language is about pre-loss condition. It does not, on its face, say every repair must use factory OEM parts. Read the estimate, ask which parts are OEM, aftermarket or recycled, and get the answer in writing.

A crash estimate has two fights hiding inside it. One is the labor hours. The other is whether the bumper, hood or headlight will be a factory part or an aftermarket copy.

What people on X are saying

The public posts split between surprise and a blunt counter-argument.

@cowboyupcarlos said they learned, after a crash that was the other driver's fault, that the insurer paid for aftermarket parts rather than a factory bumper. The frequency they named is one person's description, not a national parts statistic. @TexasMichael42 asked whether an insurer should make an exception for a brand-new car, said their company insisted on aftermarket parts, and said they were free to pay the difference for OEM. @PaulCayley1 said an insurer sent them to a captive shop, denied OEM parts, and pointed to a Washington rule about restoring a car to its pre-loss condition. @JakeOrlando15 argued the other direction: why would a company pay for OEM parts on a nine-year-old car, and that recycled or aftermarket parts can be fine.

Those posts are useful as the question drivers actually ask. They are not a parts catalog, and a named company's estimate in one file is not a national OEM rule.

Shop choice is a related fight. See Can I Choose My Own Auto Body Shop?. If the whole car is being totaled instead of repaired, see Negotiate a Total-Loss Payout. If the claim is refused, see Car Insurance Claim Denied: Next Steps.

What the policy and one state rule actually say

Collision and comprehensive, when you have them, pay to repair covered damage minus the deductible. The Insurance Information Institute explains what those coverages are for. They do not, by themselves, promise factory parts.

Many policies say the company may use parts of like kind and quality. That phrase can include new aftermarket parts or recycled parts from another vehicle. Some policies sell an OEM parts endorsement. If yours does not, the estimate may list aftermarket pieces even on a late-model car.

Washington's WAC 284-30-390 defines unfair practices in motor-vehicle claim settlements. Among other things, it says it is unfair to fail to prepare or accept an estimate that will restore the loss vehicle to its condition prior to the loss. It also covers communication with the claimant's chosen repair shop and unreasonable travel to a specific shop. The text we opened does not say, on its face, that every repair must use factory OEM parts. One public post treated "pre-loss condition" as an OEM requirement. That is the poster's reading, not a sentence we can invent into the rule.

Other states write their own parts and estimate rules. The North Carolina Department of Insurance tells consumers a company cannot require a particular repair shop. That shop-choice answer is not the same thing as an OEM-parts mandate.

Before you argue about parts, make sure you understand any recorded statement the adjuster wants. See Recorded Statement to an Insurance Adjuster.

What to do if the estimate uses aftermarket parts

1. Ask the shop for a printed estimate that labels each part as OEM, aftermarket or recycled.
2. Read the parts section of your policy, including any OEM endorsement.
3. Ask the adjuster, in writing, whether you may pay the difference for factory parts.
4. If you live in Washington and the company will not restore the car to its pre-loss condition, ask how its estimate meets WAC 284-30-390.
5. If you live elsewhere, ask your state insurance department how parts disputes are handled.
6. Do not authorize repairs until you understand which parts will go on the car.
7. Keep photos of the damaged original parts if quality later becomes a dispute.

:::template Subject: Written parts list for my repair estimate

Hello,

I received an estimate for repairs on my insured vehicle. Please confirm in writing which parts are original equipment, aftermarket or recycled, and whether my policy allows me to pay the difference for OEM parts.

If any part will not restore the vehicle to its condition prior to the loss, please explain that in writing and cite the policy language you are using.

Thank you. :::

Edge cases and common mistakes

Do not treat one person's "95 percent of the time" comment as a statistic.

Do not assume a brand-new car automatically receives OEM parts. One public post described the opposite.

Do not cite a state rule you have not read. Washington's text is about pre-loss condition and fair claim handling, not a one-line OEM mandate.

More answers built from public X questions are collected at X Answers.

If the estimate swapped factory parts for aftermarket pieces and you want the policy language read plainly, a licensed agent can go through that section with you.

FAQ

Does car insurance have to use OEM parts?

Not as a single national rule. Many policies allow parts of like kind and quality, which can include aftermarket or recycled parts.

What does like kind and quality mean?

It is policy language that lets the insurer use parts that are comparable, not necessarily factory original. Ask the adjuster to explain how the estimate meets that standard.

Can I pay extra for OEM parts?

Some companies say yes. Get the difference and the authorization in writing before the shop orders anything.

Does a new car change the answer?

Not automatically. One public post described an insurer that still insisted on aftermarket parts on a brand-new car.

What about Washington's pre-loss condition rule?

WAC 284-30-390 treats failure to restore the vehicle to its condition prior to the loss as an unfair practice. It does not, on its face, require factory OEM parts on every repair.

What if the other driver caused the crash?

The other insurer may still write an estimate with aftermarket parts. You can still ask for a written parts list and compare it with your state's claim rules.

Will aftermarket parts lower the car's value?

That is a separate dispute from whether the policy allows those parts. If you are worried about value, ask both the shop and the adjuster to put any value discussion in writing.

What if I disagree with the estimate?

Ask for the reasons in writing. You can also ask your state insurance department how estimate and parts disputes are handled.

Important: This article is general information, not legal, tax, or insurance advice, and coverage rules vary by state, insurer, and policy. AutoInsuranceBundle.pro is a free, independent insurance comparison and referral service. We are not an insurance company, we do not issue policies, and we do not provide insurance advice. Calls to the number on this site are routed to licensed insurance agents or agencies in our partner network, who may receive compensation. Calling is completely voluntary and there is no obligation to buy. Rates, discounts, and availability vary by carrier, state, and individual eligibility; not all carriers, products, or discounts are available in all states. Calls may be recorded for quality and compliance purposes.