Sometimes, in order to have your truck run or look exactly the way you want it to, you need to have custom parts installed. These parts may be purchased online, at auto parts stores, or made in a shop to your specifications. This means they are not OEM. While it is important you are happy with your truck, there are a few things you need to consider before you make any changes to it.

Insurance

Anytime you have custom truck parts, you need to understand that the cost of these parts will not be considered if there is ever a reason you need to file an insurance claim. In other words, if you spent $2,000 on an exhaust system and it is damaged in an accident, your insurance will only pay what it costs to have the original parts replaced or repaired. However, it is possible to buy extra insurance to cover custom parts. You can add this coverage in different amounts, so be sure whatever you buy will be enough to replace the parts you buy, adding to it as necessary.

Warranty

Another thing you want to consider is the vehicle's manufacturer's warranty. Depending on the parts involved, they could create problems with different parts of the warranty. Adding chrome bumpers is probably not going to affect anything. However, if you are swapping out internal parts in an effort to increase the performance or fuel efficiency of the truck, it may mean that the manufacturer is no longer responsible for anything to do with that system. While this is not always the case, if the shop has a reasonable concern that the part you had put on was the cause of the failure, they can deny your warranty claim. For this reason, it is important that any performance custom parts on your vehicle are installed by a professional you trust and that it is done properly. If you have a modification done to an existing part, this could also cause problems with the warranty.

While aftermarket, custom truck parts may not be covered by your insurance and could possibly create warranty issues, this does not mean you should avoid them. Just be aware of the problems and be sure to do your best to prevent them in the first place. Read both your insurance policy and the vehicle's warranty and then take the appropriate action to protect your new investment.