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Which car insurance companies use OEM parts for repairs?
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Will any car insurance providers guarantee to use original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts in case of a repair? One of our readers reached out to ask us, because if their car is damaged they want it to be fixed with OEM parts.
To provide the most accurate picture for 2026, we have analyzed the latest 2025/2026 policy booklets for over a dozen of the UK’s most popular car insurance providers. Our review focused specifically on updated clauses regarding the use of non-OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts, the growing integration of 'green' (recycled) parts, and how insurers are adapting their repair standards for electric vehicles.
Car insurance
As of early 2026, it remains a standard industry practice for insurers to utilize high-quality non-OEM parts where appropriate to manage repair costs.
In our updated panel of providers, Chubb continues to be the notable exception, maintaining its guarantee to use only original equipment manufacturer parts for repairs. However, even with Chubb, this is typically subject to parts being available within a reasonable timeframe, particularly as global supply chain pressures continue to affect the availability of certain vehicle components.
Chubb is typically targeted at higher-end vehicles and is only accessible through a broker. Prices can be higher than you'd find elsewhere. But those with a luxury car might be willing to pay up to get features like guaranteed OEM parts.
The table below lists how the different insurers compare. Will they use aftermarket parts? Might they use recycled parts? We've also pulled the exact text from their policy booklets so you can see their language around the topic of repair parts. Companies are listed in alphabetical order.
| Provider | Verified 2026 Policy Language & Terms |
|---|---|
| Chubb | Still the primary outlier. Their Masterpiece policy explicitly states they will pay for "original manufacturers' parts" if available. If not available, they pay for the cost of the part plus any shipping. |
| Admiral | Policy wording (Section: Repairs) states they may use "parts that are not made by the manufacturer" provided they are of a "similar standard." They have also added a specific clause regarding the use of "certified |
| Aviva | Now includes a prominent "Sustainability/Green Repairs" clause. They reserve the right to use "recycled parts" for non-safety critical repairs (like body panels) and non-OEM parts for general mechanical repairs. |
| Direct Line | Wording specifies they may use "non-original parts" or "recycled parts" provided they are "guaranteed for the life of the vehicle" while you remain the owner. |
| LV= | Terms state repairs may be carried out using "parts of a similar standard to those being replaced" which may not be from the vehicle's manufacturer. |
| NFU Mutual | Unlike many standard insurers, NFU wording is slightly more flexible, but they still state they may use "parts of a similar standard" to expedite repairs if original parts are backlogged. |
Does is matter if your car insurance company guarantees OEM parts?
We spoke to our local car repair shop. We wanted to ask if they think it's important that insurance companies cover OEM parts and also to ask if their customers seemed concerned with the use of aftermarket parts. Here's what we found out.
It may not matter that your car insurance company doesn't guarantee the use of OEM parts
A lot of the mechanical parts of a car aren't made by the car manufacturer. They're made by manufacturing companies like Bosch, who supply parts like batteries, hoses, filters, radiators and much more. The car repair shop we spoke to said that 75% of a car can actually be composed of parts produced by Tier 1 suppliers like Bosch, Continental, and Denso, rather than the car manufacturer itself. Don't hold us to that figure—but it shows that a significant number of car parts are not actually produced by the manufacturer.
And this is especially true for electric vehicles (EVs), where specialized battery and powertrain components are almost exclusively sourced from external tech giants. In many cases, a 'non-OEM' part is actually identical to the OEM part, simply missing the vehicle manufacturer's branded packaging.
The car manufacturer does make some parts—these tend to be parts like body panels and doors that are unique to a particular car make and model.
Why is this important? Well, there is a big aftermarket for common mechanical parts (e.g. the parts made by companies like Bosch) but there isn't a big aftermarket for the unique items like body panels and doors that are made by the manufacturer.
Aftermarket parts (also called 'replacement parts', 'generic parts' or 'non-OEM parts') are made by a manufacturing company (e.g. Bosch) that is NOT your vehicle's original manufacturer (e.g. VW). Aftermarket parts perform the same function as an original part and can be used as replacements for a car's original parts when doing repairs.
So, if a Mercedes needs a new battery or fuel hose, these types of parts were likely not made by Mercedes to begin with and can easily be replaced using aftermarket parts. But if a Mercedes door and body panel are needed to fix damage after a road traffic accident, the repair shop likely only has one option: to order the door and body panel direct from Mercedes. In other words, even if your car insurance doesn't guarantee they'll use OEM parts for a repair, they're likely to HAVE to use OEM parts where it matters (e.g. for the parts like doors that were originally made by your car manufacturer) since they probably won't be able to find these parts elsewhere.
You may be able to arrange for OEM parts (for an additional cost)
If there are OEM parts available for a repair but your insurer's repairer is proposing using a cheaper aftermarket alternative, it may be possible for you to pay the difference to get the OEM part if you really want it. So just because OEM parts aren't guaranteed by your insurer doesn't mean that you can't get them, where available. It just might cost a bit extra.
For example, if an authorized repairer intends to use a high-quality aftermarket water pump priced at £480, but you prefer the branded OEM version costing £625, you may be able to pay the £145 difference yourself. These updated 2026 price estimates reflect recent inflation in automotive parts and the increased complexity of thermal management systems in modern internal combustion and hybrid engines. However, this option isn't usually discussed in policy booklets, so may have to be negotiated at the time of repair.
If you have any other insights into this topic, please leave a comment below. We particularly welcome any thoughts from any of our readers with professional car repair experience and expertise!
If you're also curious about how repair guarantees vary by insurance company, check out our article here.