When you are having repair work done on your car, it’s always better to use original replacement parts instead of aftermarket replacements. OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts are built to a much higher specification and return your vehicle to the way it was when it was new. This rule applies to body parts or mechanical parts.

To save money on body repairs, some insurance companies like to use aftermarket (aka cheap-o) body parts. This is a touchy subject, because aftermarket body parts are usually inferior in terms of strength and rust prevention. Of course, they didn’t mention this when they said they could save you hundreds on your insurance!

One of the biggest reasons that people shy away from buying a car that has been wrecked is that it’s not the same as it was when it was new. However, with the correct parts and repair expertise, that doesn’t have to be true. Don’t avoid buying a car just because it has been in an accident. However, I still recommend taking it by your shop to have them check out the repairs to see if they are quality or not.

If you are having mechanical repairs, once again, OEM is the best way to go. Many aftermarket sensors aren’t calibrated exactly the same as the originals and could make a difference in performance.

This is where you should rely on your shop’s expertise to make recommendations. One of the best ways to measure your shop’s commitment to quality is the weather or not they employ ASE Certified Technicians.

There are many ways to save a few dollars on car repairs, but using shoddy parts definitely shouldn’t be one of them.

For more tips from Mike, visit LetsTalkWheels.com. Be sure to subscribe to the new Let’s Talk Wheels podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Google Play.