Industry News
The Parts Cuts Hiding in Plain Sight
In 77% of part disputes we analyzed, insurers substituted a part instead of denying it outright.
When an insurer cuts a part on your estimate, it doesn’t always remove the line. Often, it swaps the part you specified for a cheaper alternative.
We analyzed 312 short pays from collision shops using Reclaimr through Sept. 30, 2026. Here’s what we found:
1 out of 3 short pays involved a part swap
In 105 cases, the insurer replaced at least one original equipment manufacturer (OEM) part with an aftermarket, used or certified alternative. The median disputed amount for those parts was $400 per short pay.
77% of part disputes involved swaps, not denials
Across 173 part disputes, insurers substituted parts 77% of the time, reduced prices 14% of the time and denied parts outright just 6% of the time.
The line stays on the estimate, making these substitutions easy to overlook.
Aftermarket parts were the most common substitute
New aftermarket parts appeared in 56% of part disputes, used parts in 40% and certified parts, such as CAPA, in 21%. Some disputes involved more than one type.
One swap can mean thousands of dollars
On a 2021 Porsche 911, the shop specified a $10,935 headlamp. The insurer substituted a used one priced at $3,249 – a $7,686 difference.
On a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the insurer substituted a $175 used rocker molding for the shop’s $423 OEM part. The problem? It was the wrong style for the vehicle.
In both cases, the shops pushed back, and the revised estimates restored the OEM parts at the shops’ prices.
What your shop can do
When the insurance estimate comes back, don’t just look for missing lines. Compare every part on the insurer’s estimate against your original. Watch for LKQ, RCY, Non-OEM, CAPA and A/M designations, along with changed part numbers.
Support your position with the automaker’s guidance on non-OEM parts, document fit or compatibility issues, and include any additional labor required for used parts.
The takeaway: A part doesn’t have to disappear from the estimate to cost your shop money.
See the full breakdown, real-world cases and automaker position statements.
Source: Reclaimr analysis of 312 short pays from collision shops using Reclaimr, through September 30, 2026. Case examples compare the insurer’s estimate before and after the shop responded.