Auto Crash Parts Under Investigation

Many auto insurance companies use generic auto crash parts to replace and repair automobiles that have been involved in a car accident. Crash parts, which are sometimes referred to as cosmetic parts, are all those pieces of the car that are replaced when in an accident, but the pieces are those that make the car look good. Things like fenders, hoods, door panels, etc.

When the auto insurance companies choose the parts, they have two sources to get them. They can go to the auto manufacturers, and get the specific parts for their cars – Toyota parts for a Camry repair, etc., or they can get aftermarket, generic crash parts suppliers. The original manufacturers obviously charge more for name brand parts, so many auto insurance companies started using the generic parts instead.

Because the auto insurance companies started using the generic parts, it drove down prices on the original ones by about 30%, so State Farm was the first sued for hurting the original parts manufactures. Because of that lawsuit, many other auto insurance companies stopped using the generic parts as well.

Critics say that the generic auto parts are not as safe as the original ones, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says that is not true. The IIHS says that other than hoods, there is no reason to have any doubt that the generic parts are not as safe as the originals, and even then they don’t see a real problem with hoods either.

They have done numerous safety tests and have found them to be just as safe as the originals, so there is no reason not to use them. In fact, the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) said that the generic automotive parts are just as safe, and that they are usually made by the same companies that make the name brand ones.
 

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