OEM parts are guaranteed to fit and almost always come with a manufacturer-backed warranty. They may cost more than what the aftermarket offers, but the trade-off is a likely simpler purchase process. If you're looking for a fast, simple experience and don't mind paying extra, OEM is often the way to go.

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer, and indicates that the manufacturer was the original producer of the part – fenders, quarter panels, headlight cover, grills, etc – when the car was built. In car lingo, original parts are used to refer to the parts that the car is assembled with in the factory.

The main reason why OEM auto parts are expensive is because of their limited availability. Even though they are available through dealerships and online, it is rare to find one that has the parts that you're looking for at the moment. There are instances when you have to wait for weeks or months before you can get one.

OEM Parts Explained As we mentioned above, OEM stands for “Original Equipment Manufacturer”. Should your vehicle require replacement parts due to a mechanical breakdown or a collision, OEM replacement parts will be identical to those installed on your vehicle when it was initially built.