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Key Differences Between OEM and Aftermarket Glass
The primary differences between OEM and Aftermarket glass lie in price, quality, and features.
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer
This type of glass is built to the exact specifications as the glass originally installed by the vehicle manufacturer. Although the vehicle manufacturers don’t produce the glass themselves, they contract specialized glass manufacturers to do the job.
These manufacturers create windows and windshields to meet the strict standards set by the vehicle manufacturer. However, the manufacturer may work with multiple glass-makers over time, resulting in two categories of OEM or premium glass:
OEM Dealer Glass: Sourced directly from the original subcontractor through the dealership.
Premium Glass: Supplied by a different glass-maker under contract with the vehicle manufacturer.
Aftermarket Auto Glass
Aftermarket auto glass is produced by manufacturers not contracted by the vehicle’s original maker. Sometimes referred to as OEE (Original Equipment Equivalent), the quality of aftermarket glass can vary greatly depending on the manufacturer.
Some aftermarket can have the equivalent quality of OEM glass and sometime surpasses the quality and safety specifications of OEM glass.
Price
Aftermarket auto glass is often less expensive than OEM glass. Just as some insurance plans require a premium windshield replacement, others want OEE glass instead because of the lower price tag. OEM glass typically costs more but will fit your vehicle perfectly.
If you're in a leased vehicle, your dealer may have problems accepting the car back if you don't have an OEM windshield.
Quality
The difference in quality between different types of windshields is sometimes a very subjective matter. You might think an OEM windshield will have the highest quality standards, but that's not always true. Aftermarket auto glass quality can meet or exceeds the minimum safety standards set by the Department of Transportation. However, they may not be up to OEM standards.
Features
Some windshields have features like ADAS, which stands for Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems. These represent the monitoring and sensor systems many modern vehicles come equipped with. Windshields for cars with ADAS require a lot of calibration and specialized tools when they're installed.
In most cases, cars with ADAS features will want OEM auto glass. Some aftermarket solutions exist that can accommodate ADAS features, but you will likely want to go with auto glass built to a vehicle manufacturer's specific guidelines and made by glass manufacturers that contract with your vehicle's manufacturer.
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