Your Rights as a Consumer

As a consumer, you have specific rights regarding collision repair. Generally speaking, and as a matter of law, you have a right to have your car repaired at the shop of your choice. And you have the right to have Original Equipment, commonly referred to as OE parts or, more specifically, Acura Genuine Parts, used in the repair.

Many states have specific laws regarding collision repair and the use of OE or aftermarket (non-OE) parts. For example:

• Some states have disclosure laws instructing body shops to reveal to the consumer when something other than OE parts will be used.
• Some states have disclosure laws which state that the consumer be notified only if rebuilt or remanufactured parts (as opposed to OE parts) will be used in the repair of the vehicle.
• Some states have disclosure laws which state that the consumer be notified prior to the start of repairs, that their vehicle will be repaired with insurer-specified non-OE parts. Other states require that this information be disclosed to the consumer only after repairs have been made.
• Some states require that any use of non-OE parts be equal to or better quality than the OE part. (The equality of an aftermarket part compared to an Acura Genuine part may be difficult if not impossible to determine as American Honda does not make public the engineering specs of its parts.)
• Some states require that consumers be notified that their vehicle will be repaired with insurer-specified parts only during the vehicle's warranty period. Other states use a mileage limitation. Still others use a model-year designation. In any case, once the restriction has expired, the shop is no longer legally bound to the consumer in that manner.
• Some states require that OE parts must be used for the first 30 months of the vehicle's life.
• And some states have no disclosure or consent laws with regard to collision repair.

Protect your vehicle investment. Don't discover, after the fact, that your vehicle's value may have been diminished, or your safety may have been compromised by using something other than Acura Genuine Parts. To access collision repair laws for your state, contact your state representative, state insurance commissioner, or visit your state's official web site.

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