Review Car

The Best Place to Buy Used Auto Parts

With the economy in an extended state of recession, car owners are trying to extend the useful lives of their present automobiles as much as possible. In addition, those with access to used and reconditioned auto parts are looking for new ways in which to sell parts to car owners who want to save money on parts for their older cars. This has led buyers and sellers alike away from swap meets and garage sales and to the Internet as a means of dealing in used car parts.

Once you find the parts you need to get your used car running in peak condition, enter your ZIP code to get quotes and find the very best price on a new insurance policy that will protect you as you enjoy driving it for years to come.

Using the Internet

Choices for used auto parts sales online include major auction sites, fixed price general merchandise sale sites, and sites catering to auto enthusiasts in general or sites that specifically target owners of certain makes and models of cars. Consumers may find the best selection and prices for used auto parts on any of these online sites, depending upon what parts they need and in what condition they need them. You can also find wrecked car classifieds, which may have parts for sale that are still in good condition.

Auction Sites

Car enthusiasts, parts refurbishers and wholesale reconditioned parts dealers often establish presences on major auction sites in order to make themselves known to the buying public by using the auction sites to sell their stocks of particularly low-priced, high-demand or unusual parts. Since major auction sites offer assistance with customer satisfaction issues, purchasing used car parts from sellers who list parts on such sites presents less risk than other ways of obtaining similar parts.

Fixed-Price Sites

Fixed price general merchandise sales sites often attract sellers who have large quantities of used and refurbished car parts available on a regular basis. Here, too, consumers have the advantage of a site-wide consumer protection policy that forces the seller to refund money or exchange defective parts in order to avoid negative feedback or removal from the site.

Auto Enthusiast Sites

Some auto parts re-sellers who specialize in buying and restoring used parts advertise or post their contact information on auto enthusiast sites. Still others have their own sites or are the major sponsors of informational sites that they set up to boost their sales and make connections with potential repeat customers. As with all private businesses, consumer reviews, including Better Business Bureau ratings, should be checked before making large purchases from used parts dealers that advertise on unregulated and unmonitored auto enthusiast sites. While the sites themselves provide no buyer protection, consumers may be able to obtain recourse against unscrupulous sellers if they pay with credit or debit cards or payment services such as PayPal that offer buyer protection services.

Make and Model Specific Sites

Car owners who need used parts for particularly popular cars, or for niche cars such as antique cars or older sports cars can often find them by participating in discussions and posting their needs on forums or blog sites that specialize in the make or model that they own. Usually, the parts offered by participants on these sites are offered on a friendly, fan-to-fan, basis. In many cases, there is no real commercial motive on the part of the seller, who often just happens to have a particular part available and wants to help a fellow enthusiast by selling it at cost or even trading it for another part or related item. The drawback to these friendly transactions is that the part offered may be a truly used part that has not been refurbished in any way, and the buyer will then need to restore it to usable condition.

Car enthusiasts who enjoy rebuilding their cars are usually well aware of this need, and they are either able to perform the necessary work themselves or to find an expert who specializes in refurbishing parts. Others may not have the skill, the connections, or the time to refurbish a complex part; however, sellers who are enthusiasts may be able to arrange to have a part restored at the buyer’s cost before actually shipping the part.

Finding Used Car Parts

Of course, used auto parts are still available at swap meets and even from junkyards, but the Internet makes it possible to find a specific part quickly and easily, especially if the part is not usually available at regular retail locations or from car service centers.

Shopping for car insurance online by entering your ZIP code to get comparison quotes will save you money on your car insurance just as shopping for parts online will get you the best deals for the used parts you need to keep your car running.