The letters on page two
Your estimate has a column nobody explains. Next to some parts there are letters: A, LKQ, RECOND, OPT OEM.
Those letters decide what goes on your car. Most people never read them. Then months later a bumper cover sits proud of the fender and nobody knows why.
The four kinds of parts
OEM. New, from the carmaker. The same part that came on the car. Usually the most expensive.
Aftermarket. New, made by another company. Quality runs from good to poor. Some carry a third-party quality seal, CAPA being the common one. Many carry nothing.
Recycled, often written LKQ. A used carmaker part off another car of the same model. It fits because it is the same part. Its condition depends on the car it came from.
Reconditioned. A used part that has been repaired and refinished. Common on bumper covers and wheels.
Why your estimate says aftermarket
Cost. A new carmaker bumper cover can cost several times what a copy costs, and the insurance company writes the estimate it is willing to pay.
Read your policy. Many say the company pays for parts of "like kind and quality," which is the language that puts copy parts on your estimate. Some policies carry an OEM parts add-on that you paid extra for. If you have it and the estimate still says A, say so in writing.
Where a copy part is fine
Splash shields, inner liners, trim clips, and brackets nobody sees. These bolt on and hold their shape. Fighting over a splash shield wastes goodwill you may need later.
Where fit matters most
Bumper covers. A cover that is slightly off will still bolt on, but the gaps show. If it holds parking sensors or a camera, those mounts need to sit where the carmaker put them.
Headlights. Cheap copies can scatter light and haze over fast.
Doors and outer panels. Gaps and body lines are what people notice. A panel that does not line up looks like a repair.
How to push back
- 1.Ask for the estimate in writing, with the parts codes.
- 2.Point to your policy language. An OEM add-on is a document, not an opinion.
- 3.Ask the insurance company to put any refusal in writing, naming the part and the reason.
- 4.If you and your insurance company disagree on the amount, check your policy for an appraisal clause.
And remember who picks the shop. Texas Insurance Code 1952.301 says you do. Your insurance company can tell you what it will pay for. It cannot tell you where to take the car.
Got an estimate and no idea what the letters mean?
Text us a photo of it and we will take a quick look. Or stop by the shop in Lewisville for a free estimate of our own.
Been Hit? Your Shop Is Your Call.
Texas Insurance Code 1952.301 lets you choose your shop. Text us photos for a quick look, or stop by for a free estimate.
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