Yeah, niche cars are a whole different ballgame. I had a buddy with an old Saab and neither company wanted to touch OEM parts—kept pushing aftermarket. Did you have to push hard for OEM, or did State Farm just approve it? I’ve heard some folks get lucky if their car’s still under warranty, but otherwise it’s hit or miss. Curious if anyone’s actually had a claims process that didn’t drag on forever...
State Farm gave me a bit of a runaround on OEM parts for my Mazda—kept saying aftermarket was “just as good.” I had to push back, but eventually they caved since my car’s still under warranty. Claims process wasn’t fast, though... definitely dragged out longer than I hoped.
Had a similar headache with State Farm a couple years back when my Honda got rear-ended. They tried to push aftermarket parts on me too—said it was “industry standard.” I get that they want to save money, but honestly, I don’t buy the “just as good” line either. OEM parts exist for a reason, especially if your car’s still under warranty.
I’ve heard mixed things about USAA. My brother swears by them—he’s military, though, so maybe they treat those customers better? He got his claim sorted in less than a week, OEM parts and all, barely had to argue. Meanwhile, my State Farm claim took almost a month, and I had to call three different adjusters before getting anywhere. Maybe it’s just luck of the draw, but I’ve noticed State Farm always seems to drag their feet when it comes to paying out.
If you’ve got the option, I’d lean USAA, but keep your paperwork tight either way. Insurance companies aren’t really in the business of making things easy for us, from what I’ve seen.
Yeah, I’ve had my share of headaches with State Farm too—especially when it comes to higher-end or newer cars. The whole aftermarket parts thing is a dealbreaker for me. I mean, if you’re driving something where resale and warranty actually matter, why risk it? I get that USAA seems to have a better rep, but like you said, maybe it’s different if you’re not military. Either way, totally agree about keeping your documentation airtight. Insurance always seems to find a way to make things complicated...
That’s a good point about aftermarket parts—honestly, I’ve always wondered how much that really impacts long-term value, especially if you’re planning to keep the car for a while. I’ve heard mixed things about USAA’s process too, like some folks say it’s super smooth, others mention delays. Has anyone actually compared how each company handles OEM parts requests? I’m curious if it’s just policy or if adjusters have any leeway there...
