Can insurance force you to use used parts?

Asked by: Shad Lesch  |  Last update: December 11, 2022
Score: 4.6/5 (37 votes)

You have the right to request your insurance company use original equipment manufactured parts rather than aftermarket parts to repair your vehicle. If the insurance company deems these costs unreasonable, however, it might deny your claim.

Does aftermarket parts void insurance?

Modifications a standard policy will/won't cover

Vehicle modifications or customizations (the terms are often interchangeably used in the industry and basically mean the same thing) not made at the factory, as well as aftermarket parts, are typically excluded from standard policies.

Can an insurance company force you to use the body shop?

Selection of Body Shop

It is illegal for an insurance company to steer, force, require or pressure you into using a particular shop. You should never take your vehicle to a body shop based solely on the recommendation of an insurance company. Not even if it is your own insurance company.

Does modding a car void insurance?

Your Mods May Not Be Covered

You will need to declare these changes to your insurance company to ensure that the full value of your investment is covered. You will need to have comprehensive insurance to cover any damages to your car, and you will need Custom Parts and Equipment coverage to protect the mods you make.

Will insurance cover something that happened before?

With prior acts coverage, the insurance company will then cover any claims filed for events that occurred after the retroactive date up until the point of active coverage (even if those events took place when the business or entity involved was covered by an insurance policy from another provider).

OEM vs After Market Parts on Auto Insurance Claims

43 related questions found

What pre-existing conditions are not covered?

Health insurers can no longer charge more or deny coverage to you or your child because of a pre-existing health condition like asthma, diabetes, or cancer, as well as pregnancy. They cannot limit benefits for that condition either.

What are considered pre-existing conditions?

A medical illness or injury that you have before you start a new health care plan may be considered a “pre-existing condition.” Conditions like diabetes, COPD, cancer, and sleep apnea, may be examples of pre-existing health conditions.

What happens if I don't tell my insurance about modifications?

DECLARING CAR MODIFICATIONS

If you don't declare all modifications to your insurer and later need to make a claim, your policy could be declared invalid. The insurer may refuse to pay out or give you a reduced rate.

What modifications do not affect insurance?

Okay so what car modifications don't insurers like?
  • Modifications to the engine, such as supercharging.
  • Altered exhaust systems.
  • Bodywork, including flared arches, spoilers, valances and bumpers.
  • Upgraded brakes.
  • More expensive wheels, such as light weight alloys.

Should I tell my insurance my car is modified?

No, you don't have to tell your car insurance company your car is modified. And if you have just liability coverage, you may not need to. But if you have comprehensive or collision coverage, the modifications you paid for won't be covered if you're involved in an accident.

Do I have to use my insurance repair company?

You have a legal right to choose who repairs your car, even if you're making a car insurance claim for it. According to legislation known as the Block Exemption Regulation, your insurer can't force you to use their repairers and they'll still pay out for the repairs if your claim's accepted.

Do you have to use insurers garage?

The simple answer is no, you don't have to take your car to your insurance provider's approved garage. Taking your car to a garage which isn't on their official approval list doesn't invalidate your insurance – your claim will still go through in the same way.

Is it worth repairing a car after an accident?

You can pay for the repairs out of your own pocket, especially if the damage is minor. But if the damage is significant, you could be looking at a significant amount of money. Your car will have lost value after being involved in a collision, but it may have more value than you think despite the damage.

Can I take aftermarket parts off my totaled car?

Can I Remove Aftermarket Parts from a Totaled Car? You can remove aftermarket parts from your totaled car as long as you replace them with the original factory part. If the aftermarket part is not replaced, then the insurance adjuster can subtract the cost of the missing part from your total loss value.

How do you insure aftermarket car parts?

How do aftermarket parts work with insurance? After an accident, most insurance companies include the use of aftermarket parts in estimates for repairs. Aftermarket parts that you install yourself as a vehicle modification may also be covered up to a certain limit on a standard auto insurance policy.

What aftermarket parts will void warranty?

The manufacturers might want you to believe this but nothing is further from the truth. Aftermarket replacement parts will not void your new car's warranty. However, modifying or tuning your car might run afoul of your car's warranty coverage.

What counts as a car modification?

Performance car modifications include altering your suspension, changing the wheels, increasing horsepower, turbo upgrades, re-engineering your engine, chip tuning and remaps, intake and exhaust upgrades, handling modifications, lowering the suspension, fuel upgrades and transmission modifications.

Does aftermarket exhaust void insurance?

Modifications to the engine or vehicle mechanics – such as the exhaust system, transmission, or air filter – must definitely be declared to your insurance provider. If you have added a turbo or supercharger to your engine, for example, it can increase the risk of accident, which will affect the cost of your premium.

Is Debadging a modification?

Should you debadge your car if you're under warranty? It shouldn't matter, as it's not a modification that'll really affect much. Debadging your vehicle shouldn't affect your warranty.

What happens if you get pulled without declaring modifications?

Your insurance will be void if you don't declare the modifications to an existing plan. You will be committing fraud if it's not declared at the point of application as you have not provided accurate information deliberately.

Do people tell insurance about mods?

Any attempt to improve the way your car looks or performs can dramatically alter its value and increase the risk of it being involved in an accident. This is why insurance companies request that you tell them of any modifications to your car so they can factor these into your policy.

What happens if you have undeclared mods?

If you were discovered with undeclared mods and your insurance company cancelled your policy, you need to declare the cancelled policy for life and it will push up quotes similar to a drink driving conviction for life.

How do insurance companies know about pre-existing conditions?

Medical Check-up:

In case you have a pre-existing disease, the insurance company might ask you to go for a medical check-up. The insurance premium will be based on the test results.

What are exclusions in insurance?

Exclusion — a provision of an insurance policy or bond referring to hazards, perils, circumstances, or property not covered by the policy. Exclusions are usually contained in the coverage form or causes of loss form used to construct the insurance policy.

What is the difference between existing and pre-existing?

A. You can use pre- in ways that are redundant, but it's a valid prefix, and preexisting has its own meaning. For instance, if you want to describe dinosaurs in relation to humans, existing doesn't work, but preexisting does.