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Deciding on Using New Vs. Second-hand Car Parts

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Every time your car needs service or accident repairs, you are faced with the possibility of having to replace some faulty parts. When this happens, you can either choose to buy new auto parts or source second-hand parts. How do you decide which to go with? Here are the 3 major factors you have to look at next time your car is in the garage.

1. Ease of availability

If the car parts you need are easily available, it means your car will be out of the garage sooner. It also means the cost of sourcing them will be lower. This mostly depends on the type of car you have. Popular cars tend to have plenty of parts around, both second-hand and new. However, if you drive a less popular car, finding parts may not always be easy. Your auto shop may need to order for the parts from their suppliers.

In such scenarios, looking for second-hand car parts can save you both time and money as used car part dealers tend to have large amounts of inventory so you're bound to find what you're looking for more easily.

2. The cost factor

The financial implication of repairing your car cannot be ignored, either. There is a distinct difference between new and used parts when it comes to cost, which is what drives many people to go with used parts.

You can get parts from used cars at a fraction of what it would cost to buy new. This drastically drives down the cost of maintaining your car. Such parts are extracted from cars that are no longer in service, or those that have been written off by insurers. In some cases, the parts are still fairly new. There is also the transport and middle man costs which are avoided when you buy second-hand, further reducing your costs.

3. OEM quality standards

All factors considered, the bottom line is that you have to ensure you get parts that will retain the value of your car rather than lower it. New OEM parts have more traction when it comes to quality.

However, it's the same parts that you will find in second-hand yards. As mentioned earlier, not all second-hand parts are old or worn out. Some come from fairly new cars that have either been sold off or been in accidents. The only difference therefore is that when going for used parts, you have to practice a little caution when searching for and installing said parts.

There are times when it makes sense to buy new, and at other times, second-hand car parts will do just fine. The above factors should help you make a distinction. You can also seek additional advice from your mechanic or second-hand parts supplier in reference to the specific parts you're in need of.


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