There are a lot of automobile terms floating around out there, and the budding enthusiast should have a good idea of what they all mean. We’re going to take a look at the term “aftermarket” today, giving you some insight into aftermarket parts and why they’re so popular.

Hopefully, the information below can give you a better sense of the aftermarket definition, where to get aftermarket car parts, and more. So, what are aftermarket car parts?

Let’s take a look.

What Are Aftermarket Car Parts?

Generally speaking, aftermarket car parts are any parts that you add to the vehicle after it’s been purchased from the dealership. Further, the parts have to be distinct from the dealership itself, serving as an addition to the vehicle that isn’t offered on the manufacturer’s floor.

These parts might make the car a lot fancier or high-performance. You could find a lot of 2016 Honda Accord parts that would make it speedier, better looking, and a lot more powerful than the stock version.

That said, it’s possible to look for aftermarket parts that are purely functional as well. A lot of vehicles might need a little love to keep going, and aftermarket parts can fill those gaps just as well as manufacturer parts can.

Why Purchase Aftermarket Car Parts?

There are a number of reasons that a person might want to use parts that aren’t necessarily made for their specific car. The first one is that you get autonomy when you use aftermarket parts.

You choose the part, you choose who installs it, and having those choices is empowering. Dealerships might lock you into a few specific choices that all cost a lot more money than you would like to pay.

When you have the option to find the part and install it with whomever you like, you can save thousands of dollars on a single repair. Over the life of the car, you could save tens of thousands of dollars with aftermarket parts.

There are some aftermarket parts that cost thousands of more dollars, though, and for good reason. Many parts that you add will make the car a good deal more powerful and fast.

Those are things that the dealership might not be able to allow, and they might not even have people on staff who can install those kinds of parts. The freedom to choose what goes on or in your car extends to how fast and exciting you’d like it to be as well.

You might even purchase some aftermarket aesthetic parts that make your car look a lot better than it did when it rolled off of the lot.

Curious About the Aftermarket Definition?

So, what are aftermarket car parts? They’re any parts you purchase independent of the dealership or maker. There’s a lot to learn about aftermarket parts, though, and it can get confusing.

We’re here to help. Explore our site for more ideas on where to get aftermarket parts, which models of aftermarket parts to invest in, the best cars to soup up, and a whole lot more.