Insurance and collision work.

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

I had some collision work done through insurance which is a whole another horror story (not the insurance but the body work).
I had a chance to now hold OEM engine mount and an aftermarket one side by side, it was comparing apples to rotting fish heads soaked in PCB oil.
Can the body shops really get away with replacing OEM parts with aftermarket stuff?(in this case the aftermarket engine mount was 1/3rd the price and it shows).

 

[bdcardinal]

I had some collision work done through insurance which is a whole another horror story (not the insurance but the body work).
I had a chance to now hold OEM engine mount and an aftermarket one side by side, it was comparing apples to rotting fish heads soaked in PCB oil.
Can the body shops really get away with replacing OEM parts with aftermarket stuff?(in this case the aftermarket engine mount was 1/3rd the price and it shows).

It is all in how your insurance policy is written and applicable state/local laws.

 

[CKN]

It is all in how your insurance policy is written and applicable state/local laws.

This^^^^^
Most policies have wording to "make you whole" but that means in many cases non OEM parts.
The OP has zero recourse at this point.
Many policies are 50 pages or so and nobody reads them.

 

[Johnny248]

Years ago when I was working in a collision shop, I can't remember the exact details but I believe it was either AAA or Allstate that would only use OEM if available due to some sort of class action suite against them. I can't remember if it was only certain parts, or all of them.

 

[TheOilWizard]

Look up your state laws. Some states give claimants the right to request OEM parts for repairs. However, even if that is the case for you, the work is already completed...

 

[JeffKeryk]

Aftermarket parts are the norm after your vehicle is a few years old. I think you can pay the difference in some cases if you want the OE parts. My niece's '15 Oddy was rear ended; they used aftermarket body panels and they fit like crap. She complained; they did the job again with Honda parts, repainted, etc. I was pretty surprised.

Squeaky wheel for the win!

 

[GMBoy]

Usually, but not always, OEM parts are allowed when the vehicle is 1yr old or say 12-15k miles or less and then after that LKQ/aftermarket is stated in the insurance policy to be used first before OEM.

 

[bdcardinal]

Years ago when I was working in a collision shop, I can't remember the exact details but I believe it was either AAA or Allstate that would only use OEM if available due to some sort of class action suite against them. I can't remember if it was only certain parts, or all of them.

Generally AAA wants OEM either new or used over aftermarket.

I sell a lot of collision, well not as much anymore because there is no profit in it and I would rather focus my attention on sales that make the company money. A lot of shops, even the national chain ones, will pull the bait and switch with parts regularly. They buy from us, then get a Keystone or junkyard part, bill insurance for ours, and then return the part to us. I put a stop to that when I flat out refused sheet metal returns and put a 30% restocking fee based on list price on every return.

The way it ended up being, I could sit on my barstool at work and hand out warranty oil changes all day and make more profit than doing $5-10K body orders all day.

 

[JHZR2]

Something is rotten in auto body. When you see the allowable rates it’s clear they aren’t real. $35-50/hr as a burdened rate of labor (taxes and benefits included)?!? Nope.

The insurance companies are thieves too. They work to steer you into their direct referral shops who are willing to accept a lower rate. That rate then becomes their “proprietary” wage system that is their going in estimate for labor. Go to a non-direct shop that has a higher labor rate and they’ll fight of course, because their “proprietary” wages are less. They won’t stand up in court, BTW, because the industry publications tell the actual labor rates.

Aftermarket parts are garbage and becomes another fight. I get the balance - a car that is old and not worth much may be less likely to be repaired. But the firing labor for the garbage parts won’t compensate the shops properly. So a subpar job on many fronts is the result.

Auto insurance is really a horrible industry. Where else are you allowed to discriminate based upon gender, race, education, credit, where you live, etc? And then pull stupid stunts like insuring a number of cars for a two driver household, and giving a minimal discount when only two of the three cars could ever possibly be on the road. But the public is stuck because it’s mandated by law in most places, and you don’t want to not have it in the case that something bad does indeed happen. What a mess.

 

[b_b]

insurance is expensive because cars have become expensive. car have become expensive because people want safe, efficient, technologically advanced cars. that all cost money in r&d and manufacturing. when was the last time you heard someone shopping for a new car and say they bought a car because it was unsafe or got worse fuel economy or because it was simpler car. it doesn't happen. these are the consequences.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

I had a chance to compare ford OEM enginge mount next to an anchor mount and I shuddered in horror when I realized which one would go in my car in case of collision.

 

[opus1]

Generally insurance specifies after-market or, if you want OEM, the part has to be the same age as the part being replaced. At least that's how our policies read. So, when we had to replace the gas tank in Mom's 2002 Mercury after an accident in 2020, it was either a new aftermarket part or an 18-year old tank from the salvage yard - IF they could find one.

 

[CKN]

Something is rotten in auto body. When you see the allowable rates it’s clear they aren’t real. $35-50/hr as a burdened rate of labor (taxes and benefits included)?!? Nope.

The insurance companies are thieves too. They work to steer you into their direct referral shops who are willing to accept a lower rate. That rate then becomes their “proprietary” wage system that is their going in estimate for labor. Go to a non-direct shop that has a higher labor rate and they’ll fight of course, because their “proprietary” wages are less. They won’t stand up in court, BTW, because the industry publications tell the actual labor rates.

Aftermarket parts are garbage and becomes another fight. I get the balance - a car that is old and not worth much may be less likely to be repaired. But the firing labor for the garbage parts won’t compensate the shops properly. So a subpar job on many fronts is the result.

Auto insurance is really a horrible industry. Where else are you allowed to discriminate based upon gender, race, education, credit, where you live, etc? And then pull stupid stunts like insuring a number of cars for a two driver household, and giving a minimal discount when only two of the three cars could ever possibly be on the road. But the public is stuck because it’s mandated by law in most places, and you don’t want to not have it in the case that something bad does indeed happen. What a mess.

OR-conversely-you could get rid of some of your cars. Especially if the collector value is near zero. No matter how good a Buick Lasabre 3.8 is...they are not worth much-collectable...or otherwise.

 

[RAVL]

I had some collision work done through insurance which is a whole another horror story (not the insurance but the body work).
I had a chance to now hold OEM engine mount and an aftermarket one side by side, it was comparing apples to rotting fish heads soaked in PCB oil.
Can the body shops really get away with replacing OEM parts with aftermarket stuff?(in this case the aftermarket engine mount was 1/3rd the price and it shows).

Recently I was rear ended by a Geico policyholder. Damage was superficial but I needed a rear bumper cover and the hitch mount. Of course they wanted to go aftermarket. I spoke to the adjuster at length and he said if the aftermarket doesn’t fit correctly, the shop could send photos and they would pay for original. I have worked with the shop before and the went through the rigamarole of demonstrating the parts didn’t fit and I was able to get original parts. I get really annoyed at the prospect of aftermarket parts because I generally only use original parts when I repair the cars on my own nickel.

This approach, if your body shop
Is amenable, might be helpful for others.

Also our vehicles are insured with Erie because generally they allow the use of original parts. We found this out a number of years ago when my wife was rear ended by an Erie policyholder. Much nicer experience and we switched to them not long thereafter.

Hth you or others.

 

[GMBoy]

Something is rotten in auto body. When you see the allowable rates it’s clear they aren’t real. $35-50/hr as a burdened rate of labor (taxes and benefits included)?!? Nope.

The insurance companies are thieves too. They work to steer you into their direct referral shops who are willing to accept a lower rate. That rate then becomes their “proprietary” wage system that is their going in estimate for labor. Go to a non-direct shop that has a higher labor rate and they’ll fight of course, because their “proprietary” wages are less. They won’t stand up in court, BTW, because the industry publications tell the actual labor rates.

Aftermarket parts are garbage and becomes another fight. I get the balance - a car that is old and not worth much may be less likely to be repaired. But the firing labor for the garbage parts won’t compensate the shops properly. So a subpar job on many fronts is the result.

Auto insurance is really a horrible industry. Where else are you allowed to discriminate based upon gender, race, education, credit, where you live, etc? And then pull stupid stunts like insuring a number of cars for a two driver household, and giving a minimal discount when only two of the three cars could ever possibly be on the road. But the public is stuck because it’s mandated by law in most places, and you don’t want to not have it in the case that something bad does indeed happen. What a mess.

You are absolutely correct in all you said. My first job WAY back in the day was in insurance auto adjuster and they ripped people off then and still do today except the premiums are higher.

 

[GMBoy]

OR-conversely-you could get rid of some of your cars. Especially if the collector value is near zero. No matter how good a Buick Lasabre 3.8 is...they are not worth much-collectable...or otherwise.

That does not make any sense nor matter at all. The chance of a claim is far less than the low cost of operation and having that 3rd car. Now just carrying liability insurance would make sense on a car with low value - that I would agree on.

 

[CKN]

That does not make any sense nor matter at all. The chance of a claim is far less than the low cost of operation and having that 3rd car. Now just carrying liability insurance would make sense on a car with low value - that I would agree on.

No...what makes no sense is having a collection of 10 cars with a minimum value and paying insurance on them. If you own a bunch of beaters-the insurance companies assume you are going to drive them. We are not taking collectable cars here-but beaters. There on several on here that have a fleet of literal beaters. Pay to play.....

 

[GMBoy]

No...what makes no sense is having a collection of 10 cars with a minimum value and paying insurance on them. If you own a bunch of beaters-the insurance companies assume you are going to drive them. We are not taking collectable cars here-but beaters. There on several on here that have a fleet of literal beaters. Pay to play.....

I agree on pay to play but that is a personal choice and if a person can pay to play why not? I have 14 cars, while most are classic/collectible I do have a low value (but excellent shape) 2008 CTS that I pay way too much for the value of the car but you know what? My choice.

 

[alarmguy]

If someone damages your car, you can demand OEM parts. There are no restrictions on what you can ask or sue for.

 

[JHZR2]

No...what makes no sense is having a collection of 10 cars with a minimum value and paying insurance on them. If you own a bunch of beaters-the insurance companies assume you are going to drive them. We are not taking collectable cars here-but beaters. There on several on here that have a fleet of literal beaters. Pay to play.....

As was noted your point makes no sense.

It’s not your say what is valuable or not. And you have no idea what the value of anybodys cars, or collection thereof is.

And regardless of if it was a collection of rusted Yugos and Chevy cavaliers, or pristine, low mileage muscle cars, the reality is this - the liability exposure per vehicle is way lower the more you have.

Classic car insurers understand this. Standard insurers milk the public.

So let’s just look at three cars, and two drivers. Sure, the insurance company wants to assume that the third car is out and being used at all times. They want to assume, and bill you, for that liability exposure. Which is based upon a bad assumption if not a lie.

Reality is that three cars between two people should result in the other vehicle having a near zero insurance bill. If it’s in use, one other car in the household can’t be used by the two drivers. It’s just mathematically impossible. So other than some minor comprehensive loss exposure, there is nothing worth a dime. Yet the premium is 70-90% of the primary vehicle. It’s just theft.

Add more cars to the fleet, and the reality is even more ridiculous. Yet the premiums don’t really go down commensurate with the reduced liability.

That does not make any sense nor matter at all. The chance of a claim is far less than the low cost of operation and having that 3rd car. Now just carrying liability insurance would make sense on a car with low value - that I would agree on.

Exactly right.

Reality is that car liability insurance should go with the driver, not the vehicle. But the insurance companies could pool as much imaginary risk and turn as much profit.