What are Aftermarket Parts and LKQ Parts? Do I have to accept these parts?

Aftermarket parts are manufactured by a different company other than the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of your vehicle. These parts are made to “resemble OEM standards” and are often less expensive than OEM parts.

LKQ stands for “Like Kind in Quality”. These are undamaged parts salvaged from a car deemed irreparable.

What is the difference between OEM and Aftermarket parts and quality? The original manufacturer does NOT make aftermarket (A/M) parts; typically, they are made overseas and shipped to the U.S. as replacement parts for various vehicles.

No, you do not have to accept them. Although insurance companies aren’t required to use Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts, such as GM or Ford, you have the final choice of which parts will be used to fix your own vehicle.

However, if your Insurance Company requests non-OEM parts and you request more expensive OEM parts, you may have to pay the difference.

For more info on OEM parts and why you should use them, go to CrashRepairInfo.com.