Routine maintenance is to cars and trucks as meals are to the human body. For a vehicle to work adequately, it needs consistent upkeep. Servicing involves a kind of cleansing and substituting of broken and worn-out parts. When a car spare part wears out, you have to replace it either with a brand-new part or a refurbished second-hand auto part.
So how do you decide between new vs used car parts? First, let's make sure we're on the same page about these two categories of car parts.
What Are New Auto Parts?
New auto parts can either be new OEM, genuine, or aftermarket car components to be used for the first time. Of course, you'll want to know about the new car parts pros and cons, so let's dig in.
Pros of New Auto Parts
For new aftermarket parts, these advantages do not apply. You may read more about aftermarket auto parts from our other blog article.
- Easier to Choose - This is true for new OEM parts and genuine parts. Your range of choices is limited to your car's brand and OEM. You don't have to bother about which kind or brand to choose, so also is the price. There's no haggling like what typically happens in used auto part markets because the price tag comes from a price list.
- Assured Quality and Compatibility - New car parts precisely work the way the old one that you replaced worked. You don't have to bother about incompatibility issues because it would be the perfect match.
- Covered by a Warranty - Original part automobile manufacturers supply their products with at least a year's warranty. This could be voided if the manufacturer deems that the part was fitted incorrectly, or the wrong lubricants were used.
With new car parts, you stand the chance of getting the latest and up-to-date parts, which are more reliable than old models and can have multiple functions. Plus, you can use them for a considerable period without any problems.
Also, you're guaranteed of high performance, and you'll go for a long time without worrying about worn parts. They may seem costlier than used car parts, but they really aren’t if you consider their longer useful life.
If you're trying to enhance the performance of a relatively new vehicle, try to go for new parts to save on repair and maintenance expense.
Cons of New Car Parts
- More Expensive - The price of new parts is about 60% more than those of second-hand parts. It, in turn, increases the financial costs for both the car owners and mechanics. If you're repairing an old car, it will be impractical to use a brand-new part.
- Limited Number of Sellers - The limited number of authorised sellers to buy from is a major limiting factor. Although there are online platforms to buy from, it takes more time and resources.
it's mostly the high price that discourages people from purchasing new auto parts, so they for what is affordable. Also, looking for brand new auto parts can be challenging if your car is an old model. Parts sometimes get discontinued, and you may not be able to find a perfect match if you exclusively search from the new car parts market.
What Are Second Hand Car Parts?
Second-hand or used car parts are often harvested from retired cars or accident vehicles that still have functioning parts. These parts are suitable for a specific type of vehicle and are quite often of better quality than new aftermarket car parts.
In Australia, about 80% of independent mechanical shops use second-hand parts in repairing cars brought to them. The reason could be that they trust second-hand parts supplied by reputable sources rather than new aftermarket parts from unknown manufacturers. Now, let's hear about the used car parts pros and cons.
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Pros of Used Car Parts
- Inexpensive - You will agree that car maintenance is a big deal, and anything that will cut down the price and still give about the same quality is a plus. Second-hand parts are significantly cheaper than new car parts, and this is the primary reason why panel shops prefer it. Although the quality might vary, an experienced and trusted mechanic always knows how to find the best suppliers.
- Good Quality - Most of the time, second-hand parts are genuine or OEM, and are typically more durable than new aftermarket parts. Manufacturers of aftermarket parts build their products to be competitive pricewise, striking a balance between performance and price. It means that to reduce the market price of their product, they also need to lower performance and quality.
- Available in Great Variety - There are thousands of wreckers and scrap yards selling second-hand parts, with some even specialising in specific types of car or brands. They know about their niche than anyone else in the spare parts game.
- Short Waiting Time - To get a new part, sometimes the wait is four or five weeks out of Germany, Japan or even Malaysia. With modern technology, most second-hand auto parts dealers can order parts from each other and have them sent to different parts of the country overnight.
Used auto parts offer an enormous price advantage compared to new ones and help you save some money. Also, if you have an older car model, you’ll have no problem getting the parts you need if you enquire from reputable wreckers and used car parts sellers.
With second-hand car parts, there are always many available, so you have a wider range to choose from in terms of price and quality. If you think finding the exact car part you need is a tedious process, then you haven't tried using our Part Finder tool.
Cons of Used Car Parts
- Inconsistent Quality - You will most likely get what you paid for. This case applies to second-hand auto parts a lot. It takes skill to identify and evaluate used car parts. If you don't know your way around car parts, you should allow your mechanic to source them on your behalf.
- Overwhelming Selection - Information about second-hand parts can flood you from so many different wreckers, and if you're new to it, the experience can be quite overwhelming. Don't always go for the cheapest offer if you have no means of assessing the item physically. Instead, go with the supplier you feel would offer the most help if the deal went bad.
- Shorter Warranty, if at all - Unlike new parts, second-hand suppliers may not offer warranties, but that's not saying that all used car part sellers don't.
- Go for reputable wreckers and used car part sellers who offer from 3 to 12 months of warranty, depending on the part.
With used auto parts, there can be questions when it comes to reliability and value. Since these parts had already served a part of their lifespan, their durability and remaining useful life will be shorter than that of a new part. The best way to decide is to work with car recyclers who carry out thorough testing and renovation before selling their used car parts. In fact, you can request a part through us just by filling out an online form.
Should I Buy Second Hand Car Parts?
Used auto parts offer a more economical option than their brand-new counterpart, not to mention that recycling them is beneficial to the environment. If you know about cars and car parts and are skilled at assessing used auto parts, then, do! If not, your trusty mechanic can always help you.
If you want to explore this option, here are some quick and dirty tips for buying used car parts.
Quick and Dirty Tips for Buying Used Car Parts
Buying from used auto parts dealers can be tricky, especially if you’re new to it. Despite this stigma, it is not as bad as one would expect. As long as you know whom to trust and what to do, you’d be fine.
1. Locate your VIN
Your vehicle's identification number (VIN) is a unique number assigned to your car. Think of it as your vehicle's fingerprint. Locating your VIN is very important, seeing how various car parts are often designed to fit a specific kind of vehicle. So, with the help of the VIN, you can locate auto parts more easily.
Other than the VIN, finding the part code can cut the hassle in half. You may then give the part code to a seller, who matches it with the specific component for your model.
2. Find a seller
Once you find the VIN or the part code, you will have to look for the right seller. Now finding the right seller can be a little difficult because anyone can set up an ad on eBay or Craigslist, which is not to say that there are no trustworthy sellers in those sites. There are, but you'd need to exercise due diligence to find them. Then there are local automobile part sellers, who can be a little more trustworthy because you can see the part and look out for its problems.
But regardless of where you are buying your parts, you should always conduct thorough research. Be diligent when searching for the parts because you may end up buying the wrong one.
3. Get the correct part
You should always be more careful and attentive when buying pre-owned parts than if you were buying brand new. So, if you go to a local seller, be sure that you've got the perfect match to the replacement that you need. Car components vary in size and specs depending on the vehicle. Matching product codes is the key. Better yet, bring your mechanic with you. That way, they can identify the parts firsthand and help you skip the tedious process of going through random parts.
4. Ask about warranty
Warranty is something that you will have to consider when purchasing non-new parts. Brand new auto parts always offer a warranty when you buy them, so if the part slips up, you can change it. On the other hand, the second-hand market often doesn't always offer warranties. You will have to go above and beyond your usual effort to find them. Even then, the warranties offered are short-term, such as a few months, so make it a practice to check this aspect.
5. Ask about return policies
The first question that you should always ask a used car parts seller is whether they allow returns. Return policies can be a little foreign in the used parts market; nonetheless, it is something that you should ask. A return policy means that you could return the faulty part and get your money back. If you're lucky, you might find a vendor willing to offer a reasonable return policy.
6. Be patient to wait for rare parts
In some cases, there's a waiting period for a specific item to arrive from online sellers and even local shops. Some parts are scarce, have been discontinued, or aren't made in bulk because they cover a particular niche. So most shops will have to send out an order, and that order can take up to three months in some instances.
Parts You Shouldn't Buy Used
You should always know when to get a second-hand car part and when not to. Items that you should always get brand new are things like spark plugs, brake pads, and brake rotors. These parts go through a lot of wear and tear, so getting them in the non-new condition is a waste of money.
For parts that are too expensive to buy brand new, like an alternator, radiator, and transmission, go through the quick and dirty tricks above and make a wise buy. Then there are things like used mirrors, rims, interiors, and power locks, which you can buy without worrying too much.
Conclusion
So, which one should you buy? Brand-new car parts or second-hand auto parts?
Well, it depends on what part you need and how deep your pocket is. If you keep in mind what parts you can buy second-hand and which ones you shouldn't, you can skip mistakes that 90% of new buyers make.
How much it costs is one of the most significant judgments buyers make when they enter a car shop to buy a new or second hand used car parts. Whether brand-new or second-hand, you have to meet your budget and weigh it against your needs, risks, and wants.
Summing up, we would say yes, there's wisdom in buying pre-owned car parts. Don't let the bad rap about the second-hand market discourage you from exploring it – it’s going to save you some good cash along the way. However, there are instances that call for brand new auto parts, and you should be wise enough to know the difference.
If you're still on the fence about that, try browsing our car part listing, or send us a parts request, and you'll receive quotes from reputable car part sellers.