Whether you just want the best auto parts for your car or you are restoring a vehicle and want to keep it original, we want to help you save money and time when looking for OEM parts. If you keep reading and follow our professional advice below you will be a pro in saving up to 90% on OEM parts by quality buying used auto parts.
Auto recyclers like My Auto Store specialize in recycling OEM car & truck parts. Before searching for OEM parts online though, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.
Let’s first understand what OEM stands for:
OEM stands for “Original Equipment Manufacturer”, in the automotive industry world. OEM auto parts are car & truck parts that were originally manufactured by the same company that manufactured the car for the part you need. This is not to be confused with Aftermarket Parts which refer to parts or equipment made by another company or a 3rd party to be used as a replacement.
If you want to learn more, check out our article “Most Auto Repair Shops Use Aftermarket Parts Instead of OEM and Here Is Why”. Only authorized car dealer sell new OEM parts, & once the demand is gone, sometimes used OEM parts is all that you can find for your auto repair.
Why do people choose OEM auto parts?
The most common reason why people choose to use OEM auto parts over any other auto part replacement solution is because these are easy to install and they have a low failure rate once installed in a vehicle. Since OEM parts are manufactured by the same company as the car, these parts fit like a glove. If you are doing the repairs yourself you will notice that replacing an OEM part is a walk in the park.
This is because OEM parts are manufactured for only that vehicle at the time of production. On the contrary, a lot of aftermarket parts are made afterward to fit several models and even brands, this means you will have to do some modifications on the body of your car or the way components fit in order to install them.
Most aftermarket parts reveal that you will have to make modifications to your car in order to install it in the fine print, however, this is never the case for OEM parts. For this same reason, OEM parts tend to be more reliable and have a lower failure rate. Since you don’t have to make any extra modifications in order to install it there is less risk of other parts failing around the part you just replaced. But the biggest advantage of all is that using OEM parts does not void the warranty of your car and that is a big plus!
Real OEM parts and where to find them:
There are only two ways to get real OEM parts; one is through the dealer and the other one is from another car.
Refurbished/Dealer OEM parts:
If you decide to get an OEM part from the dealer, you are going to pay a big premium for the fact that these parts are refurbished. Meaning these used parts were cleaned, and treated and are now almost like new but not quite. OEM parts from a dealer could easily cost thousands of dollars. The only advantage will be that your car report will include this service so the warranty won’t be voided.
The only way not to risk your car’s warranty and not to spend thousands of dollars on parts is to buy OEM auto parts used, instead of refurbished at the dealer. Used OEM auto parts will not void your warranty because there is no way to tell that you replaced a part in your vehicle.
The only way the insurance or manufacturer could void the warranty is if they checked the serial numbers which almost never happens. However, there is no way of knowing what exact parts were replaced with no record. Don’t tell anyone you learned this industry secret from us!
Used OEM parts:
Before the internet, the only place you could buy used OEM auto parts was at a self-service junkyard, if you were looking to save money. This meant you had to have your own tools, bring them to the junkyard, spend a couple of hours extracting the parts yourself, and transport all those dirty parts in your own vehicle. Imagine all that dirt in your car!
Nonetheless, thanks to the internet, nowadays you can buy anything from the convenience of your home, saving you time & money. Online used auto parts stores like My Auto Store even offer free shipping and longer warranties than most aftermarket parts.
Buying used OEM parts online
Buying used OEM auto parts online is very convenient, like buying anything else online. Nevertheless, you need to be an informed buyer in order not to get scammed or end up buying the wrong part for your car.
Before you start your search we recommend that you have these things handy regardless of the part you need:
- Basic vehicle information: such as the year, make, model, trim, and VIN number
- Engine Information: such as the number of cylinders.
- Body or Trim information: such as the number of doors, or type of vehicle.
- Drivetrain information: whether it is a front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, or rear-wheel drive.
Out of all of these, the most important is the VIN number; which is your vehicle’s unique identification number. Using a free VIN decoder tool you will have all this information in seconds.
Finding a Trustworthy Used Auto Parts Store
Trust is everything when buying something online, especially used OEM auto parts. That is why you need to make sure the company you are buying your parts from is the source of the parts and not a middleman. Middlemen will have you running around if you ever need customer support.
Make sure to follow the checklist below to validate the company you are about to purchase your OEM parts from.
- Google the name of the company!
- Make sure they have an address listed on their website and that it is not a residential address. Use Google Maps for further verification.
- Check reviews. If the company does not have a single bad review consider that suspicious.
- Make sure they offer free shipping. Most reputable companies offer free shipping, this is a good indication of their customer service capabilities and resources.
- Make sure they offer a warranty on parts. At least 6 months of warranty or more is ideal.
- Look for badges that show that this company is accredited by national recyclers associations, such as the Automotive Recycler Association. This is the best indication that the company is the actual source of the parts.
The best place to buy used OEM auto parts online
If you want to save up to 90% on OEM parts, My Auto Store is the solution for you. Unlike other online auto parts stores, My Auto Store is not a middleman, we are the source of many of the used auto parts on the East Coast.
With a new state-of-the-art facility capable of parting out and dismantling more than 7,000 cars per month My Auto Store is revolutionizing the industry of used auto parts and automobile recycling. We are involved in every part of the recycling process from vehicle acquisition, part extraction, sales, and customer service. This allows us to control every step of the process and keep costs down.
Our ultimate goal is to make junkyards obsolete and allow you to buy real used OEM parts without having to get dirty and pull them out yourself but compete with junkyard prices. That is why My Auto Store is one of the few places online where you can easily save up to 90% on used OEM parts compared to dealer prices.
Every part you purchase comes with a 6-month warranty and free shipping to all continental US states. If you are looking for real OEM parts and want to save money and time, stop looking elsewhere and order online today!
