One of the expenses of being a car owner is paying for parts and repairs when something goes wrong. You may have a few options that can save you some money when it comes to getting the parts to fix your vehicle. You can go to the dealership, go to a junk yard, or go to a discount auto parts store. Understanding where to get your parts is the key to making sure are not overpaying to have your vehicle run properly.

Dealership

If you take your vehicle to the dealership to be repaired, you have to buy your parts there. Unless you have some type of coupon or the repair is still covered under a warranty, you are going to pay more for the parts. The overhead at a dealership is much higher than at the other places to get the parts, so they tack on a higher commission.

Of course, if your car is under a year old, you may not be able to find the exact make and model part you need elsewhere. Not everything will be covered under the warranty, so you may have not choice but to pay more money to have the vehicle fixed.

Junkyard

The biggest problem with going to a junkyard for auto parts is that the parts are used. You can never be sure that it will last as long as you need it to last. It may also be harder to find the part that fits the configuration of your vehicle. While a very similar part may work, it will not be as efficient as the one made just for your car.

Of course, if you are mechanically inclined and will be doing the work yourself, going to a junkyard can save you a lot of money. You may also be able to take a used or reconditioned part to a local mechanic to have the repair done and not pay the commission for the part.  

Discount Auto Part Store

As long as the part you need is not still being held as proprietary information, you can buy parts that are made by the original manufacturer for the car company. Many car manufacturers release restricted parts after the model has been released for more than one year. This means that as long as your car is over one year old, you can buy original equipment for it from a reseller at a lower price than what you would pay at the dealership.

Keep in mind that you can also buy aftermarket parts at a discount store. These are parts that are not made by the manufacturer that made the part originally. If you want original parts, you must mention this to the sales person. Some people do not care if the parts are original or not, but you need to make sure an aftermarket part will not void any warranty that is still in effect. Find a reputable discount store and talk with the dealership if you have any concerns. The end choice is always yours.