How to spot counterfeit car parts as £1 billion worth of counterfeit parts are imported into Britain every year
- Batteries, airbags, wheels and brake discs are among the most sold counterfeit parts
Motorists are being warned to avoid counterfeit car parts that are sold at a fraction of the price of genuine parts.
A government-backed poll has revealed that one in six motorists have bought counterfeit parts in the last 12 months, as rogue sellers import more than £1 billion worth of counterfeit parts into Britain.
Below, the Intellectual Property Office – the government agency that manages companies’ trademarks and copyrights – provides five tips for identifying whether an item sold online is real or fake.
A new government campaign is warning of the dangers of motorists buying counterfeit car parts, which could be life-threatening. It comes after City of London police last month raided a property in east London selling fake Mercedes-Benz airbags
The government’s new ‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign launched this week aims to warn motorists of the life-threatening dangers of buying counterfeit car parts.
It has received support from the automotive industry, including repair organizations the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation and the Independent Garage Association, and car manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz.
London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit has also supported the campaign recently seized 500 counterfeit car airbags during a stabbing in East London.
“Fake airbags are not manufactured to industry standards, so there is a real chance they will not inflate in a road traffic accident, or accidentally deploy,” Chief Inspector Emma Warbey warned after the explosion. Last month, a large number of fake airbags were detected.
Which car parts are often counterfeited?
Many of the most commonly purchased counterfeit car parts pose ‘significant safety risks’ if defective.
This includes batteries (bought by 25 percent of drivers who admit to buying counterfeit parts), tires and rims (23 percent) and windshield wipers (19 percent).
About one in seven (14 percent) drivers who have purchased counterfeit car parts have purchased counterfeit airbags, while more than a tenth (12 percent) have purchased counterfeit brake pads or discs.
While the report shows that many purchases are made unknowingly, most (58 percent) say they did so knowing that the part was likely not a genuine manufacturer part.
Most people who chose to buy counterfeit items said they did so because they felt there was ‘no discernible difference in appearance’ from the genuine item (34 percent), while a similar number said this was simply due to at the lower price (31). percent).
For those who unknowingly purchase counterfeit parts, many only discover this after it has caused a problem.
More than two in five drivers (45 per cent) who bought and fitted a counterfeit part thinking it was genuine, discovered it was not the genuine part after taking it to a garage because it was defective.
Another 30 percent only become aware of it when their vehicle is taken for a routine maintenance check.
Miles Rees, deputy director of enforcement at the IPO, said: ‘It is illegal to sell counterfeit car parts and these are very dangerous to motorists and other road users.
‘While they may look the same, they are often made of inferior materials and have not been tested for safety.
‘This increases the risk of failure and can lead to life-changing or life-ending consequences – a risk not worth taking.’
Miles went on to say that at this time of year it is even more important to ensure you only buy genuine parts.
‘As we enter the darker, colder and icier months, driving can become more dangerous. “That’s why it’s now more important than ever to raise awareness of the dangers of counterfeit products to motorists and help make every journey as safe as possible,” he added.
IPO’s five tips for spotting fake car parts
1. Be wary of the price
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
2. Research the seller
If you are not familiar with the company selling the product, look at previous customer reviews and do some background research
3. Check the specifications
Counterfeit parts are often ‘one size fits all’ and not made for your vehicle. This can be dangerous and cause irreversible damage.
4. Look for evidence
Original parts come with an original equipment certificate. If it isn’t there, it’s probably fake.
5. Do you suspect it’s fake? Report it
It is illegal to sell counterfeits and sellers must be reported to Crimestoppers.