Have you ever had to change a part of your vehicle that was damaged or reaching the end of its life? Then the thought of going for the occasion must have crossed your mind. Much cheaper than original parts, recycled parts for the automotive sector today represent a rapidly growing market that offers many advantages. But can we insure second-hand parts of a vehicle and remain protected in the event of a claim?
Are used parts suitable?
This is what the decree of October 8, 2018 and applied on April 1, 2019 stipulates in response to article L.224-37 of the Consumer Code. For the sake of ethics and the circular economy, garage owners and auto professionals are now required to offer used auto parts when replacing or repairing. You should therefore obtain, during your visit to your repairer, two quotes, one made with new parts, the second with used parts. It’s up to you to determine which one suits you best! Garage owners must also inform their customers of their right to request re-use parts and have the obligation to display it in their establishment, specifying the categories of parts concerned.
Can we insure our used parts?
With the entry into force of the decree of April 29, 2009, insurance companies can now estimate the cost of repairing a damaged car based on second-hand prices. The final cost of repairs can therefore be significantly reduced if used parts are recommended in your insurer’s report. If your vehicle is declared an VEI (economically irreparable vehicle) following a report from your expert who estimates that the repair costs are higher than the monetary value of your car, then it will risk becoming unusable. . To avoid the systematic sending of vehicles to the scrapping, some insurers offer to use second-hand parts which will lighten your estimate. You are also entitled to contest the VEI status of your vehicle if you present a lower quote that mentions the use of second-hand parts to your insurance company. In addition, from 2023, re-used parts will no longer be supplied solely by car manufacturers, as shown by article 32 of the climate and resilience law for the sake of ecology. This would also help support the purchasing power of the French. To find the best expert near you, you can consult and rely on an auto insurance comparator !
Are all used parts eligible?
Although reuse is becoming more and more democratic, your insurer will not be able to cover all of the costs if your vehicle is fully reconstituted with used parts. In general, the parts supported by your insurance company are not mechanical or technical. In fact, as a precaution and safety, your expert will only accept “external” parts such as body parts, windows or optical units. In addition, the use of re-used parts implies certain conditions to be respected. Not all are acceptable. They must be recovered from end-of-life vehicles by approved recyclers who carry out a general check before redistributing them to repairers. So be careful about where your parts come from!
