Is insurance obligated to use original parts?

Are you in doubt whether your car insurance requires you to use original parts if you need any repairs? Follow this article and find out what insurance obligations are when making repairs to your vehicle.

Unforeseen events happen and, as the name suggests, they are unexpected.

If you have car insurance, you can count on it at these times.

Whether in cases where the vehicle is considered a total loss, or in situations where a partial loss is found, it is then possible to carry out repairs to get the vehicle back on the road.

Some accidents, such as a collision, small fires, thefts in which the damaged vehicle is recovered and others, are considered partial losses and generally make it necessary to replace parts in the car.

And, at these moments, a question may arise: do insurance companies use original or parallel parts during repairs?

In this article, we will answer this question and talk a little more about the subject and the recent changes in the law requiring the use of original parts, follow along.

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Is insurance required to use original parts for repairs?

Until recently, all companies were obliged to use only original – and new – parts when repairing your vehicle.

This was a rule imposed by SUSEP – Superintendence of Private Insurance, the body responsible for regulating the insurance market, and no company could fail to comply with this item.

However, this rule was changed in August 2019 through a circular that SUSEP distributed among insurers.

It is specified that insurers can now use original or non-original parts, new or used, national or imported, in the repair of insured vehicles, without violating the CDC – Consumer Protection Code.

This circular was made based on an opinion from the Federal Attorney's Office, which intends to reduce problems with legal uncertainty among insurers, since lawsuits with compensation against the insured for the use of non-original parts were becoming common.

In addition to providing the possibility of cheaper services and products for consumers.

This will allow policyholders to have access to coverage up to 10% cheaper as there will be the possibility of using second-hand and non-original parts to repair their vehicles.

In the new regulation, the Attorney's Office makes it clear that the use of non-original parts, and within the other characteristics mentioned here, does not go against article 21 of the CDC, as long as these parts are in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and the insured is informed of clearly on the subject at the time of hiring.

In other words, the insured must be aware of the possibility of using non-original, used, national or imported parts when contracting or renewing the insurance and agree with this.

Can auto insurance use second hand parts?

With SUSEP releasing insurers from using original parts, there is also the possibility of using second-hand parts.

Previously, this permission was only granted for insuring old cars.

Since it was more difficult to find new and original parts for these models.

This coverage for old vehicles was known as popular insurance and allowed the insurer to use used and non-original parts to repair vehicles that were no longer manufactured, always with the consent of the insured.

With the current change in the rule, where SUSEP exempts the use of original and new parts for all insurance companies and coverage, the use of second-hand parts is now allowed, without violating the Consumer Protection Code.

Thus, the insured can decide whether to use used parts (that are not original) and thus be able to guarantee faster repairs in the event of an accident and cheaper car insurance as well.

With this, the insurer will be able to replace the windshield, headlight repair, rear view mirror repair or others, as well as the used motorcycle parts.

How exactly does insurance work with used parts?

If the insured opts for insurance with used and/or non-original parts, in the event of an accident, the insurance may resort to legal dismantling shops and other sales outlets to find the parts needed to repair the vehicle. Chevrolet, Fiat, Renault or others.

It is important to know that this also works in the case of used motorcycle parts.

Whether new or used, the only condition is that, in addition to the customer agreeing with this choice, the parts used in the vehicle are compatible with the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations.

The possibility of using used car partin addition to making insurance cheaper and consequently the insurance market more competitive, it will also make it more difficult for accidents to occur that result in total loss due to lack of original and new replacement parts.

Until now, cases of total loss due to lack of original and new spare parts were common, especially in older or imported vehicles.

But with this change, this situation will be easier to resolve, avoiding greater losses for insurance companies.

Without the consumer's right to car parts in vehicle insurance is violated.

Some drivers end up choosing to take the vehicle to the insurance company's own workshop, such as Porto Seguro workshop or authorized Renault workshop to repair the bodywork, windshield, repair of headlights or others. But this is not a rule.

Photo by Zeeshaan Shabbir on Pexels

Are there car insurance contracts that already require the use of alternative parts?

Yes, insurers offer a modality in which the contractor already signs the policy aware of the possibility of using alternative parts.

But, as we mentioned, it needs to be in the policy. In other words, the contract must contain this clause in a legible form.

This way, the customer will have no doubts and will be able to close the contract with the company knowing what they are signing up for.

However, it is worth noting that for common contracts, this is not a mandatory alternative. Therefore, the client can choose to contract or not.

Therefore, if you opt for a contract with the possibility of the insurer using a used car part, it cannot require the use of original Fiat parts, for example.

It is important to know that vehicles with more than 10 years of manufacture may be blocked by insurers from traditional contracts.

In this case, drivers can opt for popular car insurance, whether for Chevrolet, Fiat or other cars.

The contract already stipulates the use of used parts, as this is a model that may sell out new parts.

So, if you need to replace a car part, replace a windshield, repair a rear view mirror, repair a headlight or others, the insurance company can include a used car part.

When hiring protection, it is important to check which partner workshops are available and whether there are any rules about opting for one of your choice. After all, many drivers feel more comfortable taking the vehicle directly to an authorized Renault workshop, for example.

But, according to the insurance company, they have their own location, such as the Porto Seguro workshop, in case you need to change car parts.

Can the insurance company recover damaged parts?

Another issue that can confuse consumers' minds with the current changes in the rules for using car parts for vehicle repair through auto insurance is whether the insurer can recover parts damaged in the accident.

The answer to that question is yes. After all, a second-hand piece is a recovered piece, or rectified, as many people call it.

It is even common for companies to carry out bodywork and painting dented bodywork, do you agree?

So, if there is the possibility of recovering an original part from the vehicle itself and using it again, insurers can do so, as long as the insured agrees.

In other words, the driver will know about the car part that will be reused. Including using original Fiat parts, original Chevrolet parts or others.

Now that you know that insurers can use non-original and used parts to repair vehicles as long as the insured agrees and that these parts meet the vehicle manufacturer's requirements, it will be much easier to get car insurance with affordable prices. more affordable!

Is the insurer obliged to warn the customer about the use of used car parts?

When making an insurance quote, the driver can now opt for a contract using used or even non-original car parts. Therefore, the insurer does not need to inform about the use, but the driver can always seek information, whether it is for the repair of motorcycles, cars, among other vehicles.

It is possible to contact directly the company that is carrying out repairs on the vehicle, be it the Porto Seguro workshop, an authorized Renault workshop or others. It is up to the insurance company to pay attention to used auto parts stores that will sell the necessary parts to avoid problems.

Understand how to order each car, whether for a simple headlight repair or major problems.

So, now you know if insurance is required to use original parts. Have you already contracted protection?

*Published in 2014 and updated on 02/24/2023.