After market car parts is a fast growing business in the USA. Many car enthusiasts love to make their car unique and stand out from the crowd by making modifications to the original. Though due to the limited options given by car manufacturers some look elsewhere. That is where aftermarket car parts come in.
When purchasing a new car from an auto dealer, there is something commonly known as “stock” which are the standard options provided by the dealer. These standard stock options include the essential components such as engine, transmission, wheels and also performance part. The stock can also include interior car parts such as lighting. Though many dealer do provide upgrades to a certain extent these are still limited for many car enthusiast, some extras can include alloy wheels, satellite navigation and other extras. Thus many people look elsewhere to truly modify there vehicles.
Some people may purchase aftermarket car parts for safety reasons such as xenon headlight upgrades which provide brighter and whiter light and therefore greater visibility. Other people may just want their cars to look good and have that exclusivity and would purchase styling parts and accessories like body kits and alloy wheels to make their cars stand out from the crowd. For many car enthusiasts purchasing aftermarket parts and modifying their cars is a real pastime and may spend thousands on performance upgrades, interior & exterior styling as well as other cosmetics.
Many car modifications (or mods, as it is often referred) made to a vehicle are made using aftermarket car parts. So what are aftermarket parts? Simply put, aftermarket parts are those which have been made by a company other than the original manufacturer of your car. Manufacturers parts are commonly known as Original Equipment Manufacturer. So why buy parts from someone other than that of your car manufacturer? It’s like in any market if a company are making only certain kind of products they may have more knowledge than the original manufacturers therefore they have the ability to provide better and larger range of products such as a company specializing in performance car parts may provide better parts. Aftermarket car parts contain wide range of product types such as light bulbs to air filters and turbo kits and chrome wheels. Some aftermarket parts can be installed by the car’s owner with minimal or no knowledge about cars while other parts may require you to seek a professional to install the part. You should seek advice from a knowledgeable person before purchasing an aftermarket car part.
There are certain criteria which one must be aware of before going out to buy aftermarket car parts. Firstly you need to be aware that installing an aftermarket car part may null your vehicles warranty, if there is any. Therefore, be sure to check your warranty documents before proceeding to install a car part. Secondly ensure you know your car make, model and year as these are the common criteria used to check whether a part is compatible with your car. Finally be sure to check your local laws as installing a certain type of part may be deemed illegal in your area of residence.
