While searching for auto glass repair services, you may have come across such terms as “OEM” and “Aftermarket Glass”. You may have found yourself wondering what these expressions mean, and in fact it’s both useful and important to understand the difference between the various types of auto glasses. Of course, by choosing our services you will always get the best materials at the most competitive prices; but still, you may want to be informed about these terms. It may sound confusing at first, but it’s actually quite simple and straightforward. Simply put, when looking for auto glass, there are essentially three main sources to choose from: dealer, OEM and aftermarket.
Dealer auto glass is the type of material than can be purchased directly from a authorized automobile dealership. This type of glass bears the stamp from the respective vehicle’s manufacturer, but it’s usually the most expensive. And it’s not necessarily the best quality; in fact, OEM glass (Original Equipment Manufacturer) follows exactly the same specifications as the glass you can get from auto dealers: it features the same durability, thickness, color, and of course the same size and shape. In practical terms, it’s the exact same glass… except for the absense of a maker’s brand, and the fact they weren’t made by the same company as dealer glass. However, it was made following the exact same specifications the manufacturers originally established in their automobiles.
Aftermarket auto glass (also known as OEE – Original Equipment Equivalent), on the other hand, is created by companies unrelated with the original car manufacturers. As such, it doesn’t feature the exact same specifications as dealer glass, and it may be of inferior quality. This is why most car dealers won’t take leased cars back which windshields that have been replaced by aftermarket variants; however, they will take cars with OEM glasses.
If you’re looking to source your own auto glass, the choice is obvious: you should look for OEM glass, since it’s just as good as the original manufacturer’s glass, except for being less expensive. By choosing our auto glass repair and replacement services, you don’t have to worry about these technicalities, since we always source our auto glass from reputable OEM glass distributors: that’s why we can always guarantee the best possible price and quality in our auto glass repair quotes.
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