Aftermarket Auto Parts

When consumers buy auto parts, they can be faced with many choices. One of the biggest choices is deciding whether to purchase aftermarket auto parts or OEM (Original Equipment Manufacture) auto parts. Which one is best for you is ultimately your decision. But this guide can help you understand the pros and cons of each.

Aftermarket versus OEM

Depending on the type of vehicle you drive, its age and its make, you may or may not care whether your auto parts are aftermarket or OEM. And you may not even know the difference between the two types. Sometimes, you won't be able to tell the difference - and other times, it might matter to you. Ultimately, it's your decision whether to purchase aftermarket auto parts or OEM auto parts.

An OEM part means Original Equipment Manufacture. Theoretically, it means that it's the same part that came with the vehicle when it was made. So an OEM part for a 2006 Honda Civic is identical to the one it had when it shipped from the factory. OEM parts are sometimes seen as preferable because they are, quite literally, the original product used on the car. But it doesn't always mean they're the best.

Think of OEM parts and aftermarket parts like prescription medications. You can buy a brand-name drug or a generic drug. The generic drug came to the market a few years after the brand name lost its proprietary rights. The generic doesn't have the marketing appeal of the brand name, but is essentially the same chemical structure and makeup. It's the same drug. Well, the same is true for aftermarket parts and OEM parts. The OEM parts have the brand name and the marketable cache. But the aftermarket part can be just as reputable, have the same quality (perhaps better) and might be a more affordable choice.

Aftermarket parts for older cars

But another important factor when it comes to aftermarket auto parts is the age of your vehicle. Let's say your car is from 1999. It runs great. You took excellent care of it. You still love it, it's paid for. It's your baby. But it needs a part. Chances are that the OEM part might not be available anymore or if it is, it's very old and has been in a warehouse ignored for a decade. Or, you could purchase the aftermarket equivalent part, which was designed with the OEM in mind and, possibly, improved upon. The aftermarket part is newer and has likely been sitting on a warehouse shelf for far less time.

As your car ages, it's important that you remember that original parts could be hard to come by - or could come at quite a premium. And as technology improves, you might be able to do better than OEM. If you buy an aftermarket part with improved technology, you're essentially making your car newer and more advanced than with the OEM part.