4 Things You Need to Know Before Buying a Replacement Auto Part

Whether you are buying a new, used, or refurbished auto part, it is important that you first know these four facts about your car. This will help you optimize your auto part buying experience, and ensure your vehicle is perfectly compatible and capable of performing for years to come.

Buying New and Used Auto Parts

One of the most important considerations for drivers looking to buy a replacement auto part for the car is price; everyone wants to get the best deal, whether buying a used auto part or a brand-new auto part. But really, the most important aspect you need to keep in mind when it comes to buying new and used auto parts is compatibility. Without adequate compatibility, your auto part can cause more internal damage to your vehicle, plus put you at risk of getting in a car accident or injured as a result of unsafe driving conditions.

Aside from ensuring that the auto part you are going to use as a replacement is compatible with your car, you want to look for a fair market price. The best way to do that is to purchase auto parts from a scrapyard or auto parts store, and avoid going to the dealership. Dealerships will charge all sorts of fees in addition to the cost of the part itself, plus pressure you into using their shop to perform the labor needed for the replacement. This can end up costing you 20 to 30% more than if you were to simply shop around a local or private auto parts dealer.

What You Need to Know About Your Car When Replacing an Auto Part

❶ Type of Transmission –

Is your car an automatic transmission or manual transmission? This is one of the most important factors you need to know about your vehicle before replacing auto part with a new or used one. Many auto parts like CV joints, radiators, and engine mounts are directly connected to the type of transmission in a vehicle, making it an important consideration when the process of purchasing new parts.

❷ Vehicle Identification Number –

You will of course need to know your vehicle identification number, colloquially referred to as your car’s VIN. Finding of the VIN number is simple: simply refer to your owner’s manual. If that doesn’t work, look inside the driver’s side door jamb for a sticker containing information about the car. The vehicle identification number should be posted there, or it might be displayed on the actual dashboard. If you’re still having trouble finding the Vin number, contact a local auto salvage yard for help.

❸ Special Edition Packages –

Not only should you know the make and model of your vehicle that you are purchasing replacement auto parts for, but it is also important to know whether or not it’s a high-performance or special edition version. You can buy a car off the lot standard, or you can buy it spruced up with a bunch of different options and custom amenities, such as the AMG sports package often offered for Mercedes-Benz, or similar high-performance packages.

❹ Auto Part Number –

Along with your vehicle identification number, you will also need to know the actual part number for the part you are replacing in your car. Typically, you can locate this number through any of the literature advertise for the part you are buying. This is important because the auto part for your vehicle is subject to change from time to time, so what it was last year might not be the same as it is this year. For this reason, you need to know your auto part number for a smoother, streamlined auto part buying process.