Last week my wife was hit by a rock, on Rt 128-the windshield was smashed.
I called our insurance company, and brought the car down to the glass shop-they replaced the windshield.
I then looked at the window-it had no manufacturere’s mark or “e number” (which would indicate the country of origin).
So, I have a question: in MA, is the insurace carrier obligated to replace a window using the OEM part (GM)? Or can they use a cheaper replacement part, of unknown origin?
If I find that the shop has installed a Chinese-made windshield (and billed for an OEM windshield), do I have an issue?
Certainly if they billed the wrong amount to insurance that is fraud.
Most auto insurance will make repairs with aftermarket parts that are equivalent to the OEM parts. You’ll need to comb through your own policy or call your agent to find out your carrier’s policies.
As Bijou said, if the glass shop billed your insurance for, and got paid for an OEM part but used a generic aftermarket part, they could be charged with fraud by your insurance co.
Replacement OEM glass is usually extremely expensive and/or hard to find, so I would be very suprised if your policy required it. A lot of dealers even farm out most of their glass work to local glass shops that use nothing but aftermarket stuff because it’s (usually) just as good as the OEM. I don’t know if a lack of markings on the windshield suggests a down market brand, but (running outside for a moment) of the glass that’s not original on my cars, about 3/4 of it is label-less and has all held up just fine.
Unless there’s funny buisness going on with the billing or some other reason to suspect the glass is subpar, I wouldn’t worry about it.
In MA shops are pressured by insurance companies to use the cheapest parts available. They often refuse payment to shops that use the better parts.
Combined with in MA you have a right to use a repair shop of your own choosing and insurance companies are required to pay all reasonable expenses, result in much argument between the insurers and the repair places.
In my experience what you get is entirely dependent on what the shop is willing to fight for.
My favorite auto body shop has a wonderful old lady who runs the office and is extremely good at bullying the insurers into paying out.
The front office has the relevant laws printed out and pinned to the walls along with clipping of court cases finding against insurance companies.