5 Tips for Buying Spare Parts for Cars

Buying spare parts for cars can be a difficult and expensive process. Sourcing parts yourself, even if you need a mechanic to fit them, can save you a significant amount of money. So, it’s really worth doing. But only if you know what to look for. With a small amount of preparation, you can take the stress out of finding the right spare parts for your car. These are our top tips.

5 Tips for Finding the Right Spare Parts for Cars

1. Know your car

The best way to ensure that you find the right parts for your vehicle is to know exactly what vehicle you have. OK, so that sounds kind of obvious. But you’d be surprised how many people don’t know the make, model, year, and series of the car they drive. Especially if it was purchased second-hand.

The good news is that all of this information can be found in your car’s user manual. If you don’t have that, check-in your logbook. There are also various free online services, including the DVLA, that allow you to search for vehicle details using your car’s registration number.

2. Know your Vehicle Identification Number

Every car has a unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN number). And it contains all the information about your car – its make, model, even its colour. If you know your VIN, finding the right car parts becomes considerably easier. Not sure where to look? Well, on a lot of vehicles, you’ll find your VIN on the lower-left corner of your dashboard, just in front of the steering wheel. Other models place the VIN on the engine block, the rear wheel well, the front of the car frame near the window washers, inside the driver-side doorjamb or door post, or underneath the spare tyre. You’re looking for a 17-digit sequence of letters and numbers.

3. Do you drive a manual or automatic car?

Your car’s transmission type can make a significant difference to the type of parts it requires throughout. From radiators to engine mounts. So, it’s really important to factor this in before looking for car parts.

4. Are you driving a high-performance vehicle?

The chances are, if you’re driving a special edition or high-performance vehicle, you’re not going to be sourcing your own car parts. But, if you do happen to own an older model, you need to be aware that your vehicle may require different parts to the standard models of the same brand. Many have different braking systems, for example.

5. Use reputable suppliers

It’s easy to find cheap car parts on the internet. The difficulty is knowing that those parts are correct – and in good working condition. So, although the price is important – of course, it is! No one wants to spend more money than they need to – it’s not your only consideration. Look for a supplier that is well-established and has a good record. If you can find one with a strong online reputation – and a good Trustpilot rating – you can be confident that you’ll receive the goods and service that you are paying for.

Finding the right car parts isn’t always easy. But if you do your research and work with the right supplier, it needn’t be a stressful experience.

If you’re looking for high quality, UK-based car parts, get in touch with Online Automotive to find out how we can help.