Doing your own car repairs is a great way to save money. The cost of having a mechanic do the job can be astronomical. The amount you save on labor alone makes working on your own car completely worth your while. However, even doing your own repairs can get pricey. Car parts can get expensive, and they can get expensive quickly.
Fortunately, there is a way that you can cut the cost of the parts that you buy for your car. How? – By shopping at a salvage yard.
Salvage yards are an awesome place to find a wide selection of car parts that are in great condition, and that cost a fraction of the price of new pars. You’ll be amazed at the type of parts you can find, and for the type of cars you can find them for. If your car is new, you can find the parts at a fraction of the price of the parts offered at a dealership. If it’s a classic, you can find parts that you might not be able to find elsewhere.
If you’re interested in buying spare parts at a salvage yard but have never done it before, here are some tips to help guide you through the process.
Car Part Shopping at a Salvage Yard
In order to make your salvage yard car part buying experience a positive one, you’re going to want to keep a few tips in mind. If you have never done it before and if you don’t know what you are doing, you could end up wasting time and you could even end up getting frustrated.
Here are some tips to help you successfully buy parts from a salvage yard.
Do Your Research. It’s always a wise idea to research the inventory that is available at a salvage yard. If you don’t know what they have available, you won’t know if they are going to have the parts that you need. Most salvage yards list their inventory on a website or you can ask for a printout.
Know Before You Buy. Know what it is that you are looking for before you head out to the salvage yard. Make sure you know exactly what type of parts you need so that you can have a successful experience.
Bring the Right Tools. Most salvage yards will supply lifts and wheelbarrows, but that’s about it. If you need a screwdriver, a drill or any other type of tool, you should bring it with you. And, it is also important to remember that you should bring battery operated tools, as there likely won’t be electricity available to power your tools.
Bring Help. The parts you are looking for could very well be heavy and you will likely need a hand removing them. Make sure you bring along some help so that you can pull out those heavy parts without straining yourself.
Bring a Flashlight. It is dark under the hood or under the belly of a car. Bring a flashlight along so that you can see in these dark spots and find what you are looking for. Without a flashlight, you may not be able to remove the parts you are looking for.
With these tips, you can successfully find the parts that you are looking for at a salvage yard and save yourself a great deal of money and hassle.
