If you're a Toyota owner who's been searching for used Toyota parts online lately, I'm here to ask you to hold on for a minute. Searching for used car parts online is a great idea, and you're sure to find sellers easily. But let's pause that search for a second and take a step back.
Buying secondhand Toyota parts for your car is an important decision. It's a decision that will involve spending your hard-earned cash and devoting a bit of your valuable time to have those parts installed. That's why it would be a smart idea to know some useful tips beforehand.
Whether you're a newbie or someone who has been buying used Toyota parts online a few times already, it never hurts to learn from others who have gone through the same process. After all, don't you want to make sure that you're making the right choices for yourself, your wallet, and your Toyota?
I know I'd want to do that. So, here are 5 proven tips to ensure that you get the best value for your money!!
5 Proven Tips for Searching Used Toyota Parts Online
1. Research the People Selling Secondhand Toyota Parts
Always do your homework.
The quality and price of the used car part are the most important things to look at, of course. But it's also crucial to consider the people who are selling it. Thankfully, finding out if the sellers are trustworthy is simple with a few online searches.
Whether they're an individual seller on eBay or a car wrecker with their website, take some time to read the reviews that they've got. Don't just look at the star rating they have, either. Be sure to read any comments left behind by past customers, either on their page or on individual posts. Quite often, you'll find comments that show you if people are happy with the seller, or if customers have faced problems with them.
Google isn't the only way to research the seller. Check out any social media pages they may have as well. If they have a Facebook page, you'll be able to see ratings and reviews from past customers. If they're on Instagram or Twitter, you may find comments from customers on their posts.
All these steps will help you decide whether it’s a good idea to spend your money with them to get your used Toyota car parts or not.
2. Don't Buy a Part If You Can't Figure Out Its Mileage
Since you're searching for secondhand Toyota parts, it means that you're fully aware of their shorter lifespan compared to new parts. Given that, you have a right to know just how much they've been used to give you an idea about their remaining useful years. This is especially true for mechanical parts. Knowing the mileage on those parts is crucial because it tells you roughly about their serviceability.
Ideally, the seller should tell you upfront about the mileage of the used parts. If not, it's one of the first questions to ask. If they try to hide this information from you, or if they try to evade the topic, that's already a red flag. It might be a bit risky to do business with them, so keep looking for other sellers.
Why do some sellers act shady about the mileage on the parts they’re selling? Well, high-mileage parts are challenging for dealers to dispose of mainly because buyers generally avoid these kinds of parts, and you should, too. Check out the next tip to find out why.
3. Avoid Parts from High-Mileage and End-of-Life Vehicles
As a buyer, you should avoid high-mileage parts. Any car part, but more so with mechanical parts, has a limited lifespan. The useful life of a part runs inversely proportional to the car's mileage, meaning, the farther the car has been driven, the shorter is the useful life of its parts.
Since you're looking for secondhand Toyota parts, it’s safe to say that you're trying to save some money. Who doesn't? That's all well and good, just make sure that you gain from it and get the best value for your money. What's the point of saving cash if the part is going to stop working after a few months? In short, avoid buying car parts from high-mileage vehicles.
This is also true for what they call 'end-of-life' vehicles. Some companies buy up non-roadworthy cars, scavenge the parts, and sell them off to buyers as used parts. Firstly, parts scrapped from old cars already have high mileage on them, that's for sure. Second, those abandoned cars have probably been rusting away in someone's garage or front porch for a long time. Simply put: your money is better spent elsewhere!
4. Check the Warranty Offered on Used Car Parts
Used car parts usually come with a warranty. Sure, the warranty on those parts won't be the same as the ones on brand new aftermarket parts. Still, good sellers do offer some coverage on used parts, even if only for 3-6 months.
When it comes to the warranty on used car parts, the most important thing for you to do is to be sure of the terms of that warranty. Discuss it with the seller and figure out what is or isn't covered, and how to claim the warranty if you need to. Then, get it in black and white before you agree to the transaction and pay them any money.
5. Verify Any Claims
This is a general tip that applies to every part of the used car part shopping experience online. Verify any claim that a seller might make about the car part or even of themselves.
Whether you're in Australia or any other part of the world, you, as a buyer, have every right to verify the claims that a seller makes. Thankfully, when it comes to buying cars or car parts, there's usually a trail you can follow to see if the seller is being honest.
Don't be afraid to ask for documentation that proves the mileage on the used car part you're eyeing. It could be in the form of the car's service booklet or even car servicing receipts, for example. If there's no paperwork, the car's odometer and, heck, even the sticker on the glass of the vehicle can tell you what the mileage of the vehicle is. Ask them to send you a picture of these numbers to verify the mileage of the parts being taken from the car and sold to you online.
As for the seller themselves, do they have an office address? Google it and see what comes up. If you'd like to dig a little deeper, type that address into Google Maps to make sure that it's a real place and not some empty lot in the middle of nowhere! If you can’t find them where they say their office address is, then that’s another red flag.
Where Can I Find Discontinued Toyota Parts Online?
Searching for used car parts, especially discontinued Toyota parts online, can be a rewarding experience. At least now, you have these tips clear in your mind to help you find what you need while avoiding dishonest sellers and inferior used parts.
Is there a place online you can search for used Toyota parts easily, even discontinued ones? Yes, there is! Check out Carpart.com.au and their Parts Finder to make the process much easier on you. All you've got to do is submit the details of the parts you're looking for. After that, your request will go out to 500+ sellers across Australia.
Then, you can sit back, relax, and wait for the offers to come rolling in. Buying used Toyota parts online just got a lot easier! Ask for a quote on that Toyota part now!
By Ray Hasbollah