If you’re buying parts for your car, it can be all too tempting to go for what looks like a crazily good deal on brand-name tyres, brakes, batteries and so on. But there’s a strong possibility the parts being sold are counterfeit – and a new campaign by the UK government highlights the scale and seriousness of the fake car parts problem.
The Fake Always Breaks campaign is led by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) which works with the police, trading standards and other enforcement agencies to ensure that goods reaching consumers are the real thing. But, despite their efforts, the illegal trade in fakes is huge. It’s estimated that sales of fake car parts alone generates £1 billion a year which, by definition, reaches the pockets of criminals.
How many fake car parts are sold?
One in six drivers have bought fake car parts in the last 12 months, according to a survey released for the Fake Always Brakes campaign. Those parts are often safety critical items such as tyres, brake discs and pads, batteries, even wiper blades. Most worryingly, some even bought fake replacement airbags. Many of those drivers only found out they had bought fakes when their car subsequently went to a garage.
Because they’re not made to the same standard as original equipment (OEM) parts, and possibly not safety tested at all, fake parts don’t perform as well. Fake tyres provide less grip and traction in poor weather, fake brakes take longer to stop the car, fake wheels are more prone to break on potholes, fake airbags tear to shreds on detonation. Some fake brake pads were found to not actually fit the car they purported to be for. Any of these situations poses a serious risk to those inside a car and other road users.
The videos below show the dangers fake parts can pose in everyday driving situations.
Incredibly, 58% of drivers who admitted to buying fake car parts did so knowingly. Primarily because of the cost savings, and because they felt the fake looked the same as the real thing. While that may be the case, a part’s outward appearance tells you nothing about the quality of the materials it’s made from – and that’s what determines the part’s performance.
What’s being done about fake car parts?
Enforcement action is happening, a lot of it by the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU). In 2021, the PIPCU seized over £20,000 of fake car parts including key fobs and – weirdly – brake pedals, and 500 fake airbags were seized in September 2024.
The Fake Always Breaks campaign highlights useful guidance for both consumers and businesses on how to avoid buying fake parts in the first place. The key points to consider are if the seller is reputable and if the price seems too good to be true. If anything seems amiss, it’s best to err on the side of caution and not go ahead with the purchase. In addition, garages should be wary of customers offering to supply their own parts.
Many car parts manufacturers have online tools that can help you spot of fake. If you find you have bought fakes, you should report it to the IPO. Most car and car parts manufacturers have brand protection teams that should be informed, as well. You can find links and contact details for all of these at the Fake Always Breaks website. It’s supported by industry bodies such as the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation and the Independent Garage Association, plus car manufactures including Mercedes-Benz and the PIPCU.
PIPCU Chief Inspector Emma Warbey said: ‘Counterfeiting safety critical car components like tyres, wheels, airbags and brakes shows the lengths that criminals will go to make money, and their disregard for the safety of people who will end up using these products. ‘We know that the offer of a good deal can be enticing, but it’s vital to know how to spot the signs of a counterfeit car part and to buy from a reputable seller.’
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