When it comes to keeping your vehicle in top condition, choosing genuine car parts is crucial. However, in a market full of options, it can be difficult to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit parts. In this guide, we provide you with essential tips on how to identify genuine parts and ensure your car receives the best care.
1. Label and packaging
It is important that before you look at the part you are replacing, you stop to check its packaging. The packaging in which it comes can give you clues as to whether the spare part is original or not.
To do this, look for the manufacturer’s logo and the spare part number printed on the box.
2. Spare part manual
All original spare parts must have an instruction manual, so make sure that your part has one. This will be an indication that your spare part is original.
On the other hand, you should check if the manual is well written, well printed and complete, as it can also be susceptible to counterfeiting.
3. Similarity with the original part
One of the simplest and most obvious steps is to compare the original part of the car with the one we have bought. In this way, we will compare each of the parts of both. If the spare part is original, it should match perfectly with the car part we want to change.
Often, these parts usually have markings or engravings, if the part to change has one, the spare part you have purchased should also have one.
4. Very low prices
How much cheaper is better? In this case maybe not. The quality of the original spare part is unequaled to any other spare part, so this guarantee and reliability must be paid for. Therefore, do not trust if the price difference is very large, it may be a fake part.
These are some of the steps we recommend you to follow to find out if the spare part you have is original or not.
These are some of the steps we recommend you to follow to find out if the spare part you have is original or not.
But what if it is the workshop that orders the part and replaces it? Here are three tips to ensure that these parts are original.
- 1. Choose a workshop or dealer you trust, where you know they work with original spare parts. This way, you will be sure that you are not acquiring copies.
- 2. Even if the part is not manufactured by the vehicle manufacturer, they make sure to put labels or their own logo on parts that are manufactured by others under their standards. This is easier to spot on exterior parts such as the window of the car.
- 3. You can always ask your repair shop to show you the invoice for your part. This way, you will be able to check where the part was ordered from and know if that company works with original spare parts or not.