By Collision Week
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says it does not recommend the use of aftermarket structural parts because there is no system in place to guarantee that they would perform the same way the original parts would in a crash.

David Zuby, chief research officer for the IIHS, was quoted in Consumer Reports Thursday saying, “The vehicle structure is part of a complex system designed to protect people in crashes, as well as hold up the engine. There’s a lot of engineering that goes into making a crash protection system. You can’t willy nilly change those parts, because the system won’t work the way it was designed.”

The consumer Reports article was prompted by reports from Ford about possible safety problems with some aftermarket structural parts. Following its demonstration at the Collision Industry Conference on Wednesday condemning unsafe aftermarket parts (see related story below), Ford motor company released its findings to mainstream media outlets.

The IIHS told Consumer Reports that it has not crash-tested aftermarket bumpers, frame rails, or other safety related parts, however, “it does not advocate their use because there is no system in place to guarantee that they would perform the same way the original parts would in a crash.”

“There’s too much unknown to recommend them,” Zuby told Consumer Reports.

Read the full story in Consumer Reports

Myth: In many cases, the consumer believes that the insurance company and body shop are in bed with one another and do not have the best interests of the customer at heart. Consumers often feel that the insurance company wants their vehicle fixed as cheap as possible and that the repair will be below standards.

Fact: Even though the body shop has a contract with the insurance company to follow the insurance company’s repair guidelines in regards to parts and labor rates, the body shop also has a contract with the vehicle owner to repair their vehicle per the manufacturer and I-Car certification standards. What this means is that any respectable body shop worth their salt will not let any insurance company dictate how the vehicle should be repaired. Especially if that body shop holds the liability on those repairs.

Myth: Consumers often believe that DRPs will use inferior parts and products when repairing their vehicles in order to keep the repairs cheap and make the numbers that insurance companies keep them to every year.

Fact: There are basically 3 different types of parts: OEM, non-OEM or more commonly referred to as aftermarket and LKQ or used/refurbished parts. OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts are parts provided by the actual vehicle manufactures. Non-OEM parts are parts provided by a variety of aftermarket vendors. The third type can be refurbished OEM or used parts from a salvage yard.

The body shop can only repair your vehicle with the type of parts that are stated in your insurance policy. It is very important that you review your policy and go over what that shop will use on your vehicle.

Myth: Consumers believe that they have no choice as to where they can get their vehicle repaired.

Fact: While insurance companies will refer you to a DRP, it is still ultimately the consumers choice as to what shop they go to.

In closing, whatever body shop or collision repair center is chosen, it is their responsibility to the consumer to repair the vehicle to pre-accident condition, meeting all state and federal laws as well as manufacturer’s standards and any certifications. No insurance company can tell a shop to do otherwise.