So, the time has come when you need a replacement car part to get your car back up and running. If this is the first time you’ve shopped for a new car parts, then there’s a fair chance you might feel a little lost. Don’t worry, simply  take a look through these frequently asked questions.

Which parts can I buy?

The great thing about the after-market car part industry is that you can pretty much buy every car part second-hand. Our online parts stores sell everything from gearboxes to headlamps, from whole engines to wheels and tyres … and everything in-between.  If you’re at all unsure whether we’ve got the part you need, you can give us a call and one of our very knowledgable staff will be able to help, but it’s fairly safe to say you will be able to get a replacement part.

Should I really go second-hand, would new be better?

As with most things there are pros and cons to both new and used car parts. Second-hand parts, as with second-hand vehicles are usually cheaper and you can usually track down the specific part to fit your car, even if it’s an older model.  If you’ve got an older vehicle, it may be that your manufacturer won’t have new compatible parts in stock making a used part a good option. With new parts, you’ll pay more of a premium and for some drivers that’s may be ok.

How do I purchase the correct car part?

There are a number of things you can do to when identifying the right part for your car:

• Part codes – Most of the time the part itself will have a code, though you might need to dig through the dirt and grease to see it.  Again, this can be a good way of checking you have the right part.
• Vehicle identification number (VIN) – This is a unique number that specifically identifies your vehicle and can be used to accurately find the right part.
• Part comparison – If possible you can take the part you’ll be replacing along to one of our parts stores to compare it to the replacement part.

Where can I find the right parts?

Our car part stores stock over 50,000 parts covering a wide and ever-changing range. However, we know that we’re not going to have every single part our customers need, every single time.  So, here are a few other options to consider:

• Your own local scrap yards - If you’ve got a local scrap yard within easy reach, it may be worth checking out their stock.  Even if their catalogue isn’t as comprehensive as ours, you might get lucky.
• Swap meets - The used car enthusiast market is always popular and as a result you can actually attend meetings where fans will swap parts with each other.  Get online and see if you’ve got one that’s local.
• Dealers - Going down this route will often be more expensive, but they’ll nearly always be able to source a part if you’re happy to pay extra.
• Forums - Really stumped?  Head online and check out one or two of the car enthusiast forums.  Forums often have a ‘buy or sell’ section, and you might find what you’re looking for.
• ebay -  This can be a great resource, check out our eBay parts store here.

Search our online car parts store here.