As a car owner, there will come a time when you'll need to replace some parts in your vehicle. It could be that the component to be replaced is faulty or, more likely, years of use have worn it out. For the uninitiated, getting new parts for a car might seem like an expensive process, but it doesn't always have to be.

Some car parts are pretty cheap and easy to replace, like your windshield wipers or even a light bulb. You could also switch out those parts yourself or get your trusted mechanic to do it for you. Other parts are more complex and take more effort and skill to replace, like an engine or a gearbox. Unlike the easy-to-replace ones, these kinds of parts will be expensive to buy and have installed in your car. 

It’s perfectly normal to want to save some money when buying car parts, but you may want to resist the urge to choose supercheap auto parts. Why? 

You see, if you decide to skimp on certain parts like a light bulb or a windscreen wiper, the downsides are minimal. But when it comes to more critical components like your brake system, buying the cheapest parts could have undesirable repercussions, dangerous even. Be discerning enough to know that for some parts, buying them cheap now will cause you much more expensive problems later on.

Here are a few ways you can save some money on car spare parts without inviting unnecessary risks.

Visit Your Local Car Part Shops

The most obvious solution is to buy what you need from your local car part shops. If you know what you're looking for, you could try to ring those shops up individually to get their prices and compare them. If you're an old-school car enthusiast, though, you know how doing this on the phone takes all the fun out of browsing the shops yourself!

Depending on where you go to buy auto parts, you might be able to get yourself an unbeatable deal! Some shops might offer promotions or discounts. Others may even give you a cool offer by helping you install those parts on your car for free.

Either way, an excellent method of saving money on certain car parts is to buy them directly from those shops instead of delegating the task to your mechanic.

Buy Used Car Parts Online

Another great way to save money on auto spare parts is to buy them online. Whether you're looking for brand new or second-hand parts, shopping around online will help you cut your costs.

Online, the people you're buying from could be auto spares dealers or even other car owners looking to sell the parts they have.

By shopping online, you'll avoid having to visit multiple shops or call different suppliers to find what you need. You can compare all the many different sellers from the comforts of your home and then choose the one closest to your budget.

If you're looking to find cheaper parts online, then try looking for second-hand or used car parts. Many of these parts are still in excellent working condition, and buying them could save you a pretty penny. Of course, always do your homework and ask the seller about the parts before you purchase them. And don’t forget to read reviews about the sellers and how they handle issues raised by customers.

Buy Online During Special Sale Periods

If you're willing and able to wait for the car parts you need, you could also take advantage of exclusive online sales periods. There are two types of sales to watch our for.

The first is the exclusive sales and promotions that an online spare parts dealer might have from time to time. The challenge here is that you don't always know when a car parts dealer is going to run a promotion for the things that you want.

The second kind of sales period online happen during holiday seasons, such as Christmas and the New Year. During these holidays, all sorts of online businesses and e-commerce platforms compete for your attention and may offer free shipping and attractive discounts, and this includes those sites that sell car parts! 

Grab Your Tools and Go to a Junkyard

Let's look at one more option away from the virtual world.

Did you know that you could get second-hand car parts from junkyards? That's right! Some of the cars on these yards have salvageable parts that are just sitting there for the taking! 

Here's what you might find surprising: this stuff doesn't just happen on TV in America. All over Australia, especially, there are junkyards full of cars, where you can go to have a look around and shop for the parts you need.

Better yet, if you're feeling a little adventurous, find 'self-service' junkyards. What that means is that you're allowed to bring your tools and remove the parts yourself! Of course, doing this requires some muscle work and a little bit of expertise on your end to dismantle the parts you want. Also, working in this kind of environment could be dangerous, so you'd have to bring along some protective work gear as well.

Getting your car spare parts from a junkyard will probably be the cheapest way to do it. There's a tradeoff, of course, apart from the obvious hard work attached to it. You'll save lots of money, but the parts you get could be damaged, of low quality, or they might not last very long. After all, no one knows how long those car parts have been sitting out there under the elements.

Use Your Best Judgement

This can't be stressed enough. For some car parts, it makes no difference if you buy them dirt cheap. However, when it comes to crucial parts related to the car's performance or safety, skimping out on them may not be worth it. As mentioned earlier, when you buy these cheap car parts, they'll require you to spend more money later on in one way or another. So, always use your best judgement. If you're unsure, there's no shame in asking someone for advice.

By Ray Hasbollah