Owning a car is a significant investment for many. Whether one chooses to purchase a pre-owned or brand-new car, keeping it well-maintained is important to ensure one gets the most out of their money. Regular maintenance is crucial for optimal performance, and this involves frequent checks of the auto parts and repairing or replacing certain damaged parts if necessary. To ensure the best results, make sure to purchase auto parts from a reliable dealer.

Where to buy auto parts
While buying auto parts, you have two options; either you can buy Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) auto parts from authorized dealers, or you can buy aftermarket parts made by a manufacturer who is not the original manufacturer of your vehicle. You can easily buy aftermarket auto parts locally from a nearby auto dealer, local mechanic, or gas station in your area. However, OEM parts may not be easily available where you live, and you may have to order them. Although, you have the options to buy auto parts for your car from two different sources, how to do you decide which one is better for you?

One of the biggest advantages of buying aftermarket automotive parts is that they are less expensive. The price will vary according to the brand. Ensure that you do your research on various brands of aftermarket auto parts to get a good idea about the best price of the specific part you want to replace. Also, be wary of brands that offer very heavy discounts and have very low prices. Ensure that you check their quality thoroughly. However, if you are lucky, you might get aftermarket auto parts whose quality is equivalent to or better than OEM auto parts. Another great advantage of buying aftermarket auto parts is the variety of brands that give you more options at competitive prices.

One of the major downsides of buying aftermarket auto parts is that they have no warranty. However, this is not true for all brands; some aftermarket auto part brands do provide a warranty on the parts. When you buy OEM automotive parts, you can be ensured of its warranty. Also, since the OEM parts come from your vehicle’s original manufacturer, you have guaranteed quality assurance. Although there is a lack of wide range of selection (which is offered by aftermarket auto parts), choosing becomes easier since there will be only one type of the part you are looking for and you do not have to compare quality and price among various brands. One of the biggest disadvantages of buying OEM parts is their high cost, which is due to the guarantee of a quality superior to aftermarket parts.

The requirement for OEM auto parts and aftermarket auto parts
Auto parts that require frequent replacement can be easily bought from aftermarket auto parts dealers. This is because buying OEM auto parts in these cases may increase your expenses needlessly. For example, tires, automotive batteries, motor oil, car covers, and light bulbs require frequent changing and replacement due to their relatively shorter life. You can easily buy them through aftermarket auto parts dealer by checking the quality and reliability of the parts.

Buying OEM parts is a safe bet when you have to make any collision repairs to your car. This is especially true for replacing body panels since aftermarket body panels may lack appropriate crumble zone required for crash safety and they may not properly fit your car’s body. Also, if you lease your vehicle, OEM parts are preferable since using aftermarket parts decreases the book value of the vehicle. This may put you at the risk of losing out your security deposit.