‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign launches to warn of dangers posed by counterfeit parts

The UK Government has launched a national awareness campaign warning of the dangers of buying counterfeit vehicle parts.

The ‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign, launched in October 2024 by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), alerts drivers to the life-threatening danger posed by counterfeit parts, such as fake brakes, headlights and air bags.

The campaign highlights how counterfeit vehicle parts are not subject to the same rigorous testing as legitimate products. It also points out they are illegal, and a criminal offence to sell them, making them distinctly different to non-genuine parts which are legally available for sale through reputable suppliers.

A key part of the campaign is the signposting of new guidance advice for consumers and the motoring industry, published by the IPO, on how to spot and report a fake, which has been developed in partnership with the motoring industry.

The ‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign was also launched with a consumer survey conducted by the IPO, which found that one in six motorists who responded, admitting they had bought a counterfeit part in the past 12 months alone.

According to the IPO survey, the most commonly-purchased counterfeit car parts in the UK are car batteries, bought by 25% of motorists who admit to buying counterfeit parts, followed by tyres/wheels (23%), windscreen wipers (19%) – while over a tenth (12%) had bought fake brake pads or discs.

The survey also revealed that getting parts for a lower price was a significant factor among those intentionally buying a fake part, with three in ten (31%) citing cost savings as a reason. A third (34%) of motorists who admitted to buying fake parts said they did so because they felt there was no discernible difference in appearance.

Miles Rees, IPO Deputy Director of Enforcement said: “This is a serious campaign with a very serious message. 

“We want to raise awareness that the trade in counterfeit vehicle parts not only harms legitimate traders while enriching criminals but can also lead to life-changing or life-ending consequences for road users.

Our ‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign seeks to arm motorists and the vehicle repair and servicing industries with the awareness they need to help spot a fake, avoid the risks and report sellers. It reinforces a clear message that – as with all counterfeiting and piracy – this is anything but a victimless crime.”

Adam Hockley, Volkswagen Group Parts Product Manager, said: “We welcome the IPO’s new ‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign as it gives Government backed credibility to raising awareness of a serious issue that harms both the automotive industry, legitimate businesses and their customers.

“The campaign’s aims and objectives will play a significant role in helping garages and customers to understand more about the dangers posed by counterfeit parts and the false economy of fitting to them to vehicles.

“It’s also important to understand the difference between illegal counterfeit parts, and legitimate, non-genuine parts. As with all counterfeit goods, the fake parts will be claiming to be something they are not, are illegal and therefore will only be sold by non-legitimate traders.

The non-genuine parts, while available at a lower price point in the market than Genuine Parts for instance, will have been tested to industry standards and most importantly can be bought through legitimate sources.

“When purchasing parts the best overall advice to garages and their customers is to always ensure you source them from recognised business like TPS. By purchasing parts in this way, you will know that you are buying legitimate parts. Specifically, Genuine Parts are built to the highest standards, covered by extensive warranties, and are safe when the vehicle is out on the road.”

Within the wider automotive industry, the ‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign is also being supported by a range of organisations in the aftermarket, vehicle repair and servicing sectors. These include the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation and the Independent Garage Association.

Stuart James, Chief Executive Officer at the Independent Garage Association (IGA) said: “We are pleased to support the IPO’s campaign that aims to raise awareness of the severe safety risks that counterfeit vehicle parts pose to all road users.

“Garages should ensure that they avoid using customer supplied parts and fit parts from trusted suppliers and reputable vehicle parts distributors. This practice not only enhances the safety of vehicles but also reassures customers that all components meet the required specifications.

“We actively encourage any garage that identifies counterfeit parts to report them through the various channels highlighted in the IPO advice. Together, we can combat this issue and contribute to safer roads for all.”

Each year the global trade in counterfeit parts brings in over a billion pounds worth of profits for dishonest market players and plenty of problems for garages and their customers. The major difference between genuine parts and counterfeit parts is in the quality, which is not always visible to naked eye. For those looking to spot the difference instantly, product packaging can provide a more visible clue for spotting fake parts, but ultimately the quality of the part – developed through rigorous laboratory testing – is the key point of difference.

For a more detailed understanding of the differences between Genuine and Counterfeit Parts read TPS Insider’s Countering the counterfeiters – why buying Genuine Parts is the best fit’ at //tps.trade/insider/genuine-vs-counterfeits -  first published last year.

For more information on the IPO’s ‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ipo-campaign-highlights-dangers-of-counterfeit-vehicle-parts