An aftermarket part is made by a company other than the vehicle’s manufacturer. Some are excellent and some are not, and from a photo you cannot tell which. Independent certification exists to close that gap. One program does that work for collision parts in the United States today.
CAPA
The Certified Automotive Parts Association is a non-profit founded in 1987 to test aftermarket collision parts. A part earns certification by being compared with the original-equipment part it replaces: the same materials and thickness, the same fit on a real vehicle, comparable coatings and finish. Lamps are also measured for light output, and bumper parts are tested for how they behave in an impact.
A certified part carries a CAPA seal with its own number, on the part itself and not only on the box.
NSF, until 2019
NSF, an independent testing organization best known for public health standards, certified collision parts from 2010 until it closed the program on September 30, 2019. A part made on or before that date keeps its NSF certification for life. Nothing made since can carry the mark, so an NSF label on a recently made part is a reason to ask questions.
What certification is, and is not
- It is a test against the original part. A certified fender has been hung on the car it is meant for.
- It is not an OEM part. The vehicle manufacturer did not make it or approve it.
- The absence of a seal does not condemn a part. Many applications have no certified version at all, and plenty of uncertified parts fit well. A seal removes the guesswork.
When to ask for it
- An insurer is paying. Many insurers call for certified parts when they write aftermarket parts on an estimate. Check the estimate.
- The part does a safety job. Bumper reinforcements, energy absorbers, hoods and lamps are the usual candidates.
- Fit will be judged up close. On a newer vehicle with tight panel gaps, certified sheet metal saves body-shop time.
How it shows up in a part number
Sellers usually mark the CAPA certified version with a C after the Partslink number. So GM2592150 and GM2592150C are the same fog lamp, standard and CAPA certified. How to read a Partslink number.
Ordering from us
Tell us you want certified when you request a part. Where a certified version exists we quote it next to the standard one, so you can see the difference in price before you choose.