If you’ve had your driver’s license for a while and have owned your own car, you know the importance of vehicle maintenance. Cars experience a lot of wear and tear. To keep your vehicle running at its optimum level of performance, you have to perform upkeep and repairs.
This means investing in new car parts when necessary. This can be anything from suspension parts to oil filters.
Regardless of the car parts you’re replacing, you need to do some homework to make sure you’re getting a quality product for a fair price. We can help. Keep reading for five things to consider when replacing old parts.
1. Prices
First, look online for multiple car part suppliers. Sometimes, you can save money by buying car parts online. Sometimes, it’s better to get parts locally.
Regardless, find the new car parts you need at each supplier and make a note of the price. Then, you can compare costs from each company.
However, don’t simply choose the cheapest product. Use the rest of the information in this article to consider the price in context to the other factors.
2. Shipping Costs and Delivery Dates
When buying car parts online, there’s something else you need to consider – shipping. Obviously, buying new car parts online for $20 less won’t save you any money if you pay that much or more in shipping costs. However, many car part suppliers offer free shipping for this reason.
However, you also need to pay attention to delivery dates. How soon will the part be shipped to your home? If your car is out of commission, you might not be able to wait several weeks to receive the part you need.
3. Compatability
If you prefer to do your own car work, it means you’re not going to an auto repair shop. While this can save you a ton of money, it also makes you more responsible for making sure everything is done right.
For example, the same part may not fit different types of cars. In most cases, you need to buy new car parts specifically manufactured for the year, make, and model you own. Otherwise, you’ll waste money on parts that are incompatible with your vehicle.
4. Customer Reviews
Next, determine the credibility of new car part suppliers by reading customer reviews online. Find out what other car owners have to say about the products they received from the seller. Were they satisfied with the product or do they regret their purchase?
Additionally, try to learn more about the company’s customer service skills. If the wrong product was sent or there was a different issue, what did the supplier do to make it right? Does the company have an overall positive rating from its customers?
5. Manufacturer Warranties
Finally, whether you’re buying a new car engine or a sway bar for your suspension, make sure the new car parts you order are covered under a manufacturer warranty. Installing sub-par vehicle parts could be dangerous and expensive. You need to know the manufacturer stands behind its products and materials.
What will they do if you receive a faulty or defective car part?
Looking for New Car Parts?
As you’re probably coming to understand, there’s a lot to think about when buying new car parts. Fortunately, you can learn everything you need to about a company by doing some research and asking the right questions. Start by following the five tips listed above.
And if you want to learn more about auto repair, services, or car parts, stick around and read through some of our other articles. Our blog is full of helpful and informative content created to help car owners become more educated.