It seems like only yesterday when you’d take your car to be repaired, and you knew it was going to be given the best repair out there. However, cars have changed so much over the years with the implementation of advanced technologies. Repairing your vehicle, “the old way” could cause severe damage to your car. Here’s what you should know about car repair:
What is OEM?
OEM stands for “Original Equipment Manufacturer.” These are the parts that are made by the vehicle’s manufacturer and are the best parts out there for your car. Back in the day, a technician could perform a repair with just a variety of different tools. Nowadays, technicians require a specific skill set to be up-to-date on the latest repairs that follow these OEM repair procedures. OEM repairs are the best repairs you can get for your car because the parts put on your car are straight from the factory. When shops earn the OEM Certification for a car manufacturer, that means they repair those type of vehicles precisely as the manufacturer tells them and uses parts straight from the factory.
What are Aftermarket Parts?
There are several repair shops out there still use aftermarket or salvage parts, which is a fancy way of saying used parts. Salvage parts are simply straight from the junkyard. Insurance companies know you want your car back as soon as possible. They also want the cheapest repair out there, which typically results in repair shops using aftermarket parts.
The biggest reason why insurance companies do this is aftermarket parts are cheap. However, using aftermarket parts in replacement of OEM parts can damage or destroy the safety features cars today are built with. These are known as ADAS, aka “Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.” Typical ADAS systems are blind spot warning, lane departure assist, forward collision warning, parking assist, and much more.
Now, there are specific scenarios where using aftermarket parts on your car are acceptable for the repair. It’s sporadic, so always opt for OEM only parts for your repair.
If it’s the best option for my car, why are OEM repairs so expensive?
Even with the newest technology and equipment, it also takes an experienced and up-to-date technician who can accurately diagnose a repair, devise a repair plan and execute a safe repair on your vehicle. A full-service auto repair shop will have spent hundreds of thousands just on tools and equipment and training to be capable of performing any repair. Depending on the procedure, your car may need to be taken to the dealership to have a recalibration performed. The sensors reset and calibration process can be very involved and labor intensive. An expensive repair for a new vehicle is simply the new norm in the auto repair industry. This is why you want to take your vehicle to an auto repair shop that you can trust.
Who in Southern New Jersey performs OEM repairs?
You want to go to an auto repair shop that has highly trained technicians, follows OEM procedures, and puts your safety as the top priority. We at Autotech Collision Center aren’t looking to make more money that is unfair to you. We are OEM Certified in over a dozen different car manufacturers.
We have been family owned and operated for over 30 years, right here in Southern New Jersey. We will work with your Insurance to make sure you are getting the safest and best repair for your vehicle. Feel free to contact us at any time by emailing us or giving us a call! We look forward to hearing from you!
Our email is info@autotech.com, and our number is +(856) 232-1833
