3 Ways to Save Money Buying Your Car Parts

BY Editor

Whether you are in the process of fixing or modifying your car, auto parts can be expensive.  If you’re working with any kind of a budget, saving money on car parts will allow you to get much more work done in the long run.   There are a variety of options available for buying inexpensive new or used car parts, and written below are a handful of tried and true methods for the frugal motorist.

1. Dismantlers and Wrecking Yards

Buying your parts used is an excellent way to save money on car parts, sometimes allowing you to get parts at a minor fraction of their retail price.   There are dismantlers and wrecking yards around the country that part out the cars in their lots and even allow customers to walk through their yard and pull out the parts they need.  Pick-n-Pull is a well-known business that works on this type of model, offering tremendous savings on the parts you need.  Businesses of this type generally purchase old or broken down vehicles at a low cost and use them to fill their yard for customers to peruse.  The only downside with this method is that there is no guarantee that they will have your make and model car in stock.  Still, if you call around to dismantlers in your area, it’s likely that you will be able to find what you’re looking for.

2. Buying From a Warehouse

If you can’t find the right type of car at a dismantler or wrecking yard, or if you’re looking for a specialty aftermarket part, your best bet is to look online.  There are a number of sites available for finding both new and used auto parts at discounted rates.   For example, if you are looking for parts for a GM or Chevrolet, GMPartsNow has a huge selection at warehouse prices and have an easy to navigate part seeking interface on their website.  One of the greatest benefits of purchasing your parts from a warehouse is their large selection.  A warehouse will generally have a massive inventory and/or the ability to order out for specialty parts.  Some warehouses will even sell at discounted rates as low as wholesale or a little bit more.  If you can find an overstock sale, you may be amazed at the types of deals you can get.

3. Online Auction Sites

Another great option for buying online are auction sites like eBay.  Auction sites can be a great place to find both new and used parts for a variety of vehicles and give you the opportunity to really shop around on prices.  Plus, if it is a specialty or rare vehicle that you are trying to repair, chances are that you will be pleasantly surprised by the availability of the parts that you’ll find on an auction site.   Another benefit of buying your parts on an auction site is that they are used by businesses and individuals alike, offering you the chance to search through new part listings from a business’ inventory as well used parts from individuals parting out their own cars.  The downside with buying at an auction site is that there is a chance you could end up with a faulty part and have no way of getting your money back.  Most auction sites work with a rating system which is pretty effective at ensuring quality on purchases, but cannot be considered fool proof.  However, if a seller has an exceptional feedback rating with a very large number of recent sales, chances are definitely in your favor for getting the item as it’s described.  Either way, if you’re going to be spending a relatively large amount of money, make sure that the seller offers a return policy.  This way, if something goes wrong and you receive the wrong part or a broken one, you will have the option of getting a replacement.  Sellers have the option to offer refunds or replacements but are not necessarily compelled to do so.  Make sure to do a little bit of research on a seller’s account before making any big purchases.