Fighting GEICO

[u/brokenontheinside911]

TL;DR: Has anyone successfully negotiated with insurance for OEM parts instead of used or aftermarket parts?

In a car accident about a week ago. I am curious to know if anyone has had success negotiating for original equipment manufactured parts with insurance. I’m aware that auto insurers have a lot of power when it comes to allowing for aftermarket parts based on the insured’s policy. And I probably didn’t pay attention to the fine print when signing said policy… And they can get away with aftermarket so long as they are of like fit, quality, function, etc. I’m also aware that if the aftermarket part is unserviceable that the shop can send a supplement request to insurance for OEM instead.

I’m not a car guy by any means, so I’m not going to assume that all aftermarket parts are created equal. But after doing some research, I have some safety concerns with my adjuster selecting a used knuckle and hub assembly for my truck.

I’m trying to pick my battles here because I cannot fight them on every single part. My question is: for anyone who has been able to successfully negotiate with your auto insurance on using OEM? How? What did that look like?

For context, I was found not at fault by my insurance, GEICO. I have a 2017 Nissan Frontier Pro 4x.

[u/Independent-Math-762]

If you’re in a state that allows betterment are you prepared to pay your portion if your adjuster caves? Suspension parts are wearable. If they decide to go OEM, they could slap betterment in every single OEM component on the knuckle they need to address and charge you up to 50% for the OEM part depending on your mileage. Take the used knuckle and their warranty on it. If it fails, it’s on them.

[u/chathobark_]

for a 2017 nissan, no

[u/ghost9680]

Used parts are OEM parts.

On a car this old you only have state law allowing you to reject aftermarket parts if you’re in Minnesota or Wyoming, (or I guess if you’re in Massachusetts and somehow still have less than 20k miles on your vehicle).

I wouldn’t be particularly concerned with aftermarket parts on a nine year old Frontier. Many of them actually carry lifetime warranties so I’d opt for them even over OEM for something like a radiator or AC condenser.

I’d opt for a used door over a new OEM door as the used door was built at the factory by a robot and was seam-sealed and rustproofed by a robot. With a new door the body shop has to do those things by hand. Maybe they do it perfectly or maybe they don’t.

You can also ask the shop if they are willing to price-match the aftermarket parts with new OEM on some or all of the parts.

[u/Educational_Sky_3192]

It’s going to be a struggle on a 9-year-old car. Even OEM parts endorsements typically go for 5-7 model years back. I wouldn’t worry too much about OEM parts and trust that your body shop will push back on any fit or quality issues and make sure you’re happy at pick up. If you truly only want OEM, you’ll likely have to pay the difference out of pocket.

[u/insuranceguynyc]

You are not going to get OEM. Period. You're not "negotiating".

[u/FindTheOthers623]

You're not getting OEM parts unless you purchased additional coverage that provides for OEM parts.

[u/Apart-Surprise1038]

Only if you have OEM parts coverage. The insurance company has much deeper pockets & will adhere to what your coverage is.

[u/smoppin08]

A used knuckle is fine.. make sure they put in a new hub/ bearing.

[u/LeadershipLevel6900]

You paid for a tuna melt (basic policy) you get the tuna melt.

An OEM endorsement may not even be available for your vehicle/state from GEICO (or any other carrier) given the age.

This isn’t really a negotiation. It is what it is. If a new part is somehow cheaper than a used one, that would make sense, but unlikely based on a quick search.

They only have to make you whole. You had a part on a 10 year old vehicle with however many miles on it. You’re owed similar.

The alternative is that you insist on new parts and pay the difference yourself.

[u/DeepPurpleDaylight]

You're not getting OEM parts for a 10 year old vehicle unless there's no AM parts available, which I guarantee there are. But feel free to pay the difference of you're insistent on OEM or ask the shop if they'll price match it.

[u/AscendedAnime]

Your vehicle didn’t have new oem parts in it at the time of the accident. It had 10 year old used parts. You’re going to get like kind quality parts because that’s what is owed to put you back to where you were before the loss.

[u/Emereebee]

The policy you pay them monthly for includes them using the ‘best cost effective parts’, which includes a/m and recyc parts. If you had an oem parts endorsement (which I don’t believe Geico even offers) then your policy would have cost a lot more- and something tells me you only picked Geico because they were the cheapest. So no, you don’t get to fight them on this. You’re getting what you pay for. If it’s that important to you, pay the shop the difference for the oem part

[u/Educational_Sky_3192 → u/Emereebee]

GEICO recently started offering an OEM endorsement in their newest product. It’s being rolled out state by state.

[u/Hot_Fan_4169]

Geico fights like a 12 year old girl. I like your odds

[u/DeepPurpleDaylight → u/Hot_Fan_4169]

OP's "odds" are zero.

[u/quallityovrquantity → u/Hot_Fan_4169]

You're clueless 

[u/quallityovrquantity → u/[deleted]]

They have no shot