Read These 4 Things Before Replacing Body Parts on Your Chevy Car, Truck, or SUV

July 11, 2019

We hope that you never get into a car accident. But if you do, the body panels on your Chevy may have taken some damage. Driving around with damaged body parts can make your car look less attractive, to be sure--but did you know it can also make it less safe?

At Capitol Chevrolet, we want you to be informed about important Chevrolet service questions--including questions about auto body part replacement. That's why we've put together this list of four things you should know before having this service performed.

4. OEM Auto Body Parts Are Best

If you're driving a Chevy that's still in production, or has only recently gone out of production, we may be able to order OEM body panels for you. These parts are held to the high standard for which Chevy is known, and they're also designed to perfectly fit your vehicle. This means that there will be no quality difference between the replacement panel and the rest of the panels on your Chevy, and the ordering process is simple.

3. Consider Salvage Parts

If for some reason you are unable to find genuine Chevy OEM body parts direct from the factory, you may want to consider picking up a salvage panel. Salvage panels are also OEM parts, but they've been taken from vehicles that have been totaled. Generally, the salvage part will be unharmed--but if you find a good salvage part, our technicians will gladly inspect it to give you greater peace of mind before they install it and paint it.

 

2. If All Else Fails, Try the Aftermarket

If you're unable to order new panels or find salvage parts, you may have some luck with the aftermarket. This is especially likely if you're driving a classic Chevy. However, aftermarket parts aren't manufactured or approved by Chevrolet, so you're rolling the dice when it comes to quality and fit. That's why we recommend them only as a last resort.