5 Things to Look for When Buying Used Car Parts

Used Car Parts

Are you making repairs to your car or tinkering with an older model vehicle? There are many benefits to buying used car parts instead of investing in brand new ones.

One of the main benefits of buying used is cost savings. Many parts are salvaged from a damaged car which can then save you 20% to 80% off of the price of buying new.

With that in mind, you should also keep an eye out for a few things while you are shopping so you invest in quality parts that work best for you. Keep reading to learn more.

1. Compatibility

When you begin shopping for your used parts you should bring your vehicle’s VIN with you. This way you can make sure that the part you have picked out will be compatible with your make and model.

The salvage yard will be able to run your VIN to find the transmission, engine, or performance parts information for your car. They can also pull up a list of the items that are available to you at their company. This not only saves you time but also keeps you from having to hunt the parts down yourself.

2. Avoid Duplicates

When you are performing a DIY car repair you need to avoid buying duplicated parts. These types of parts are not reliable and more importantly, they aren’t safe for you or your vehicle.

You must inspect each part you are interested in purchasing. Look for signs that it is a duplicate such as a mismatched logo, a typo in the spelling, or it looks different than the new version.

3. Age of the Part

When you are searching for parts at a salvage yard some of them might be a few decades old. These parts are generally cheaper but if they have a lot of miles on them then they aren’t a good investment.

These parts usually fail sooner, since they are older and have had a lot of use, and this could end up costing you more money in the future.

4. Warranty

Most used car parts come with some warranty when purchased from a salvage yard. Before investing in anything you should ask for the warranty agreement.

Before you buy any parts, make sure you’ve read and understood the terms.

5. Verify Paint Color

If you are looking for a car part for the body of your car it is important to know the exact name of the color you have. For instance, if your car is red there will be a difference between cherry red, candy apple red, or ruby red.

This is important because you want the part to match the rest of the car. If the paint color is a tad off, you may end up having to pay for another part in the right color or opt for an expensive repaint for the whole vehicle.

Learn More About Buying Used Car Parts Today

These are some of the many things you should pay attention to when buying used car parts. This is a great way for you to save money while repairing your vehicle or getting an older model back up and running.

The most important thing to remember is to check your car’s VIN to make sure the part is compatible, know the warranty, and the age of the part. These key factors will save you a lot of time and money in the future.

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