Last Updated on September 8, 2026
Written by licensed insurance agent Andy walker
Reviewed by the Alias Insurance editorial team.
If an original equipment manufacturer part is unavailable after a car accident, the repair does not always stop. The body shop and insurance company may look for another OEM supplier, a recycled OEM part, an aftermarket part, or another approved repair option. Whether the insurer will pay for a different part depends on your policy, the type of part, the repair plan, and the law in your state.
An unavailable OEM part does not automatically let an insurer install any substitute it chooses. It also does not always let the owner wait for a new OEM part at the insurer’s expense. State rules and policy wording control the decision.
For a used vehicle, federal law does not generally require collision repairs to use only OEM parts. NHTSA says aftermarket parts are not prohibited on their face for used vehicle repairs, but a repair business must not knowingly make a required safety system inoperative. States can add their own repair and insurance rules.
State rules can add extra protections. California sets quality and disclosure standards for certain non OEM crash parts, while Oregon has consent and certification rules in some cases. Drivers should check their own state rules.
Most claims follow one of four paths. The shop finds the OEM part elsewhere, the insurer approves another part, the vehicle waits for the OEM part, or the repair plan is reviewed again.
What Does OEM Mean in Collision Repair?
OEM means original equipment manufacturer. An OEM replacement part is supplied under the vehicle manufacturer’s parts system and is intended for a specific make and model.
Collision estimates may also list other part types. Knowing the difference helps you understand what the shop and insurer are proposing.
| Part type | What it usually means | Common use after a crash | Main question to ask |
| New OEM | New part supplied through the vehicle manufacturer’s parts network | Newer vehicles, safety related areas, model specific parts | Is the part in stock and does the policy pay for it? |
| Recycled OEM | Original part removed from another vehicle | Body panels, doors, lamps, and other suitable components | What is the condition and history of the part? |
| Aftermarket | New part made by a company other than the vehicle manufacturer | Common exterior crash parts and other replacement items | Does it meet state rules, repair needs, and fit requirements? |
| Reconditioned | Existing part restored for reuse | Some lamps, wheels, and other repairable components | Who repaired it and what warranty applies? |
Ask the repair shop to identify the source and condition of each replacement part before you approve the repair plan.
What Happens First When the OEM Part Is Backordered?
The shop normally confirms whether the part is unavailable from its usual supplier. A good repair planner may then check other dealers, regional warehouses, alternate OEM suppliers, or parts networks.
Parts sourcing matters because modern collision repairs often involve many replacement items. CCC Intelligent Solutions reported that repairable claims averaged 13.0 replaced parts in 2025. CCC also reported a 1.8% decrease in OEM part dollars and a 1.7% increase in aftermarket part dollars during 2025. Those figures do not prove that shortages caused every substitution, but they show how often part selection affects the repair process.
If the unavailable part is not required to begin every repair operation, the shop may continue with disassembly, structural work, refinishing, or other approved work. If the missing part affects measurements, electronics, restraint systems, sensors, or final assembly, the shop may need to stop until the correct solution is approved.
A repair estimate can also change after teardown. The California Department of Insurance explains that if additional damage is found during repairs, the shop may contact the insurer for approval of added repair costs. Texas gives similar consumer guidance: if the repair costs more than the first estimate, the shop can send a new estimate and the insurer can review the added amount.
That updated estimate is often called a supplement. A supplement can include added damage, a changed labor operation, a different part source, calibration work, or a price change.
Does Car Insurance Have to Pay for OEM Parts?
Not always. The answer depends on the policy and state law.
Many auto policies allow repair with parts of like kind and quality rather than promising new OEM parts for every covered loss. Virginia’s insurance guide says that unless a policy has a special OEM provision, an insurer may repair a vehicle with like kind and quality parts, including used or aftermarket parts. Wisconsin also tells consumers that they may request OEM parts but may be responsible for the price difference.
Some policies or endorsements give broader OEM protection. The Insurance Information Institute notes that some policies specify OEM parts, while other policies do not. An OEM endorsement may also include an availability condition, which matters when the original part cannot be sourced.
Before arguing about a part, ask the adjuster for the exact policy language that applies to replacement parts. Do not rely only on a phone summary. The wording in the policy, declarations, and endorsements is more useful than a general statement such as “we do not pay for OEM parts.”
Drivers who want a clearer explanation of the claims process can also review how to deal with an insurance adjuster after a car accident.
Can the Insurance Company Use an Aftermarket Part If OEM Is Unavailable?
It may be allowed, but the answer can change by state, policy, vehicle, and part.
Federal law does not create a blanket rule requiring OEM parts on used vehicles. NHTSA says aftermarket parts may be used in a used vehicle repair as long as the repair business does not knowingly make a required safety system inoperative. NHTSA also notes that some replacement equipment, including lamps, glazing, brake hoses, tires, and seat belt assemblies, is subject to federal motor vehicle safety standards.
State laws can add stronger requirements. California says an insurer may not require certain non OEM crash parts unless the parts meet standards for kind, quality, safety, fit, and performance, along with identification and disclosure rules. Oregon restricts an insurer from requiring certain aftermarket crash parts without the owner’s consent unless the part has independent certification showing equivalence in listed areas.
The safest question is not simply, “Is aftermarket legal?” Ask whether the exact proposed part is allowed under your policy and state law, whether it matches the repair procedure, and whether it affects any safety or electronic system.
What If the Missing Part Is Connected to ADAS or Safety Systems?
Part choice deserves extra care when the damaged area includes cameras, radar units, parking sensors, air bag related components, structural parts, lamps, or other systems that interact with vehicle safety features.
NHTSA’s repair guidance focuses on preserving required safety systems. Modern vehicles can also require diagnostic scans and calibrations after collision work. Mitchell reported that battery electric vehicles averaged 1.70 calibrations per estimate in 2025, compared with 1.54 for vehicles with an internal combustion engine. Mitchell also reported that OEM parts accounted for 86% of parts dollars on repairable battery electric vehicle estimates, compared with 62% for internal combustion vehicles.
Those figures do not mean every electric vehicle needs OEM parts in every repair. They do show that vehicle technology and part selection can be closely connected.
Ask the repair shop three direct questions:
- Does the vehicle manufacturer publish a repair procedure for this damaged area?
- Does the replacement part affect a camera, radar unit, sensor, restraint system, or calibration?
- Will the shop document required scans, calibrations, measurements, and final system checks?
If the shop believes a proposed substitute cannot support the required repair procedure, ask it to put that concern in writing and send it to the adjuster.
What If You Want to Wait for the OEM Part?
You can ask to wait, but payment for the extra delay is not automatic.
Your insurer may agree to keep the repair open while the part is backordered. It may also ask the shop to search for another OEM source or consider a suitable alternative. If your policy does not promise new OEM parts, the insurer may approve another part type and limit its payment to that repair option, subject to state law.
The largest cost risk during a long wait is often transportation. Rental reimbursement commonly has a daily limit and a total limit. The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner warns that repair delays can exhaust a policy’s rental limit before repairs are finished. The California Department of Insurance also explains that rental reimbursement is commonly limited by a daily amount and a maximum period.
A claim against an at fault driver’s insurer can work differently. Texas says the other insurer may pay for a rental for a reasonable repair period and may extend that period when a shop has parts delays, depending on the facts.
If rental costs matter to your budget, read whether car insurance covers a rental while your car is being repaired before you agree to a long wait.
If you prefer a more expensive OEM part when the insurer owes only for an allowed lower cost option, you may be able to pay the difference. Ask for both prices in writing, confirm the OEM part is actually available, and separate that extra cost from your deductible. Wisconsin and Massachusetts regulators both describe situations where a consumer may choose OEM parts and owe the added cost.
Your deductible is a separate claim cost. See how a car insurance deductible works for a simple explanation.
Will an Aftermarket or Recycled Part Void the Car Warranty?
Not by itself. The Federal Trade Commission says a vehicle warranty remains in effect when a consumer uses aftermarket or recycled parts. A manufacturer or dealer may deny warranty coverage for damage caused by a defective part or improper installation, but it must connect the problem to that part or repair rather than voiding the entire warranty only because a non OEM part was used.
That federal warranty rule is different from an insurance policy’s parts rules. A warranty dispute asks whether the manufacturer must cover a later defect. An insurance claim asks what the auto policy must pay after a covered loss.
Keep the final invoice, part numbers, repair procedures, calibration records, and warranties. Those records can help if a later problem appears in the repaired area.
Could a Parts Shortage Cause the Car to Be Totaled?
A backordered part does not automatically make a car a total loss. The insurer normally compares the cost and feasibility of repair with the vehicle’s value and applicable state rules.
California consumer guidance says a standard physical damage claim generally pays the lesser of the amount needed to repair the vehicle or its actual cash value, subject to the policy. Virginia says an insurer may consider a car a total loss when repair cost approaches or exceeds its actual cash value.
A parts problem can still affect that review. If the only available replacement is much more expensive, added damage is found, storage charges grow, or required operations increase the repair cost, the insurer may recalculate the claim. That does not mean the shortage alone caused the total loss decision. The updated repair economics may have changed.
If the insurer changes from repair to total loss, ask for the valuation report, repair estimate, and explanation of the decision.
What Should You Do If OEM Parts Are Unavailable?
Use a written process. It reduces confusion between the shop, insurer, dealer, and rental company.
1. Ask the shop to confirm the part status
Get the part number, supplier, order date, and current availability status. Ask whether the part is backordered, discontinued, restricted, or simply unavailable from one dealer.
2. Ask whether another OEM source exists
A part may be unavailable locally but available through another dealer or distribution center. Ask the shop whether it has checked more than one source.
3. Request the insurer’s parts decision in writing
Ask which part the insurer will pay for and which policy language supports that decision. If the proposed part is non OEM, ask what disclosure or consent rules apply in your state.
4. Ask the shop about repair procedure concerns
The shop should explain whether a substitute changes fit, corrosion protection, sensor function, calibration, structural repair, or another required operation. Keep the answer focused on the exact vehicle and damaged area.
5. Request a supplement when the repair plan changes
If the first estimate listed an OEM part and the final plan uses a different part, or if added operations are required, ask the shop to send the updated estimate to the insurer before installation.
6. Track your rental limit every week
Write down the daily allowance, total dollar cap, start date, and expected end date. A long parts wait can leave you paying rental costs yourself after the policy limit is reached.
7. Keep every document
Save estimates, supplements, invoices, emails, text messages, part status updates, photos, towing bills, rental receipts, and calibration records.
8. Escalate a claim dispute in writing
If the insurer rejects a repair cost or part request, ask for the reason and the policy language. If you believe the claim is being handled improperly, contact your state department of insurance. Washington’s regulator states that claimants should receive clear coverage decisions, clear payment explanations, timely responses, and timely payments.
If a claim is denied rather than delayed, review what to do when auto insurance denies your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can request OEM parts, but your insurer may not have to pay the full OEM price. Your policy and state law decide whether OEM parts are required, optional, or subject to a price difference.
The shop and insurer may search other OEM sources, consider an allowed alternative, or keep the repair open. Ask how the delay affects rental limits and get any changed repair plan in writing.
It may be allowed when the policy and state rules permit recycled parts. Ask about the donor part’s condition, part number, warranty, and suitability for the repair. Rules can differ for safety related components and newer vehicles.
Only according to the applicable coverage or liability claim rules. First party rental reimbursement usually has a daily and total limit. Washington warns that repair delays can exhaust that limit. Some third party claims may allow a reasonable rental period that can be extended for documented parts delays.
No, not by itself. The FTC says a warranty cannot be denied simply because an aftermarket or recycled part was used. Coverage for a later problem can be denied if the warrantor shows that the substitute part or its installation caused the damage.
State rules differ, but several state regulators say consumers may choose their repair shop. The insurer can still review what it owes under the policy and applicable repair standards.
Final Takeaway
When an OEM part is unavailable after an accident, focus on the exact part, the written repair procedure, your policy language, state rules, and the cost of waiting. Ask for written part status, a clear estimate, any supplement, rental limits, and the reason for each substitution. Do not assume that OEM is always required or that any aftermarket part is automatically acceptable. If you are shopping before a future claim, Alias Insurance can help you compare car insurance quote options from available providers so you can review price, coverage terms, deductibles, rental protection, and parts provisions before choosing a policy.
Sources and References
- California Department of Insurance: Standards for Non OEM Crash Replacement Parts
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: OEM and Aftermarket Parts in Vehicle Repairs
- Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner: Filing an Auto Insurance Claim
- Texas Department of Insurance: Auto Insurance Claims and Repair Guidance
- Federal Trade Commission: Auto Warranties and Auto Service Contracts
- Mitchell: Electric Vehicle Collision Claims and Repair Trends
- CCC Intelligent Solutions: Crash Course 2026 Report
- Oregon Legislature: Insurance and Aftermarket Crash Parts Requirements
- Massachusetts Division of Insurance: Auto Insurance Claims FAQs
- Virginia State Corporation Commission: Virginia Auto Insurance Guide
- Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance: Auto Insurance Claim Information
- Insurance Information Institute: Direct Repair Programs and Generic Auto Parts
