Original, aftermarket or copy: what you are paying for

Shops in Georgia usually offer three kinds of the same part. The words they use differ, so ask plainly which one you are getting.

• Original: made by or for the car's maker, in the maker's box. The most expensive.
• Aftermarket from a known brand (Bosch, Denso, Valeo and the like): often the same factory, a lower price.
• Copy: no brand, or one you cannot look up. Cheapest, and the quality is a guess.

Where a copy is fine, and where it isn't

A copy of a mirror cover or a mudguard does little harm. For brakes, steering and suspension, pay for original or a known brand. A cheap part that fails at speed costs more than the difference.

How to tell

• Ask for a photo of the box and the label.
• Look the part number up on the brand's own website.
• A price far below every other shop is a sign.