Wanted33

I'm with State Farm (North Carolina), and have filed twice in the last 10 years, the latest time was last year. Both times they allowed OEM parts. I don't get it, if they have changed their policy since last year I'll drop them like a hot potato.

I can understand if the vehicle is an older model, but a new vehicle is a different story.

STingray1300

Just curious here, is State Farm your insurance company, or the old man's?

He hit YOU. Why is your insurance company involved in this? Shouldn't the old man's insurance company be paying to "make you whole" again? (pre-accident condition, which means OEM parts)

If he was uninsured, you can sue him for whatever extra it costs you (including your deductible) to make your truck "back to the same condition". Then your "Uninsured Motorist" coverage will take care of everything else.

Sad that people have to go through all this garbage because of someone else's negligence.

VolFire

To echo TJPlatinumEB and having been through your situation, TJ is right. Based on the state in which you reside and the particulars of your policy, State Farm is permitted to use "Like Kind and Quality" parts. The downside is that they neve quite seem to fit exactly like the original. With my insurance policy, and in Virginia, you have the right to insist on OEM if you desire however you must pay the difference between what the insurer would have been out for a LKQ part and your new spiffy OEM. There are also other caviats here to this process. For example if your vehicle is less than 1 year old they are required to use OEM but I don't know the rules where you are. With my first repair at the hands of another inattentive driver I got OEM as the truck was less than 1 year old. With my second I got to travel down the LKQ trail which is now why when my passenger headlight bulb burns out I have to put painters tape on the moulding so that the headlight housing doesn't scratch the top of the bumper when I pull it out...grumblegrumblegrumble

Mizzou.Mike

iTrader: (1)

Both of us have State Farm as our insurance carrier. I had used USAA for almost 20 years and switched when a friend from HS became a State Farm salesman. I already told him I am switching back to USAA.

After speaking to a friend of mine who is an attorney I am pretty much at the mercy of State Farm on this one unless I want to come out of pocket for the rest of the cost of the bumper to go to OEM.

Ricktwuhk

There are two companies that always are at the top of any insurance ratings for customer service - USAA and AMICA. Both of them work for the members, not their own bottom lines. Neither is the cheapest - but you get what you pay for.

When I was starting out I went with AMICA and rolled a spare tire on rim down a rental van's ramp - which was rain slicked. I slipped, tire went into an unoccupied apartment window. AMICA contacted the apartment complex and immediately reimbursed them for the repair AND the maintenance guy's time, no questions asked. I've been with them for 35 years now. Never had one issue with them.

As stated prior, each state has different regulations, and the conclusion that if your policy says you have to accept non-OEM parts (or pay the difference) is a correct one. I had a repair on my car here in Michigan and one of the parts was "reconditioned". I was not happy with the description, but the part looked brand new.

TJPlatinumEB

Really hate to say I told you so and I know it sucks, but this is the unfortunate truth of how insurance companies handle things. It's a shame that they get to decide what the definition of "pre-loss condition" is and you have to foot the bill for the difference if you want anything else.

I hope the parts they use will bring it back to what it was before and hopefully won't be something that bothers you later on. Best of luck to you

hendersonjosephl

Sorry to say mike your attorney is wrong. The insurance company reguardless who's have to make you whole. Any one who say different including your policy is wrong. I have worked in a bodyshop for a decade and we have sued plenty of insurance companies and won every one for just this very thing. A ford bumper was ruined not an aftermarket part it must be replaced with oem. If your house burnt and they wanted to replace it with a trailer with the same number of bedrooms would you be fine with that? Aftermarket parts cost less for a reason. Go to a different shop.

21RRF150

iTrader: (1)

As I mentioned before I used to live in MA. And I guess they must have that oem only thing, as well as where I work now in MN.

Here is a state farm job one of the other painters got today.

2009 f150 with 70k miles. Most, if not all other insurance companies would go straight to aftermarket on this due to age and miles. This has all oem parts. (the 2 piece bumper is oem as well, couldn't get a pic as my, boss was like, "hey what are you doing!!" haha! )











I guess it is what it is op. My opinion was based on my experience. And that was all oem, when it comes to state farm.

captj122

SOP. Depends how old your car-truck-is. So be sure to check your policy. Remember, the sin. companies need their profit.

Ricktwuhk

Incorrect. Not trying to start a flame war, but your information is incorrect. State law governs overall. Then companies, when allowed by the state, can specify in the policy what they will use.