When your car breaks down, you have the option of fixing it yourself or paying someone else to do it. In almost every situation, you are going to have to buy new parts for the repair. You can choose to buy new parts from a parts store or a dealer or to go with used parts. Quite often, the used parts will be just as good as the new ones and will be less expensive. The big problem with buying used is finding them. Here are a few options for getting the used auto parts you need.

Salvage Yards

When a vehicle is considered "totaled" in a crash, it often ends up in a salvage yard. Many of the parts on these vehicles are still in very good condition and can be used on other vehicles. The attendants at the yards will sell these parts. Call around to different yards and ask if they have the parts you need available. Most yards have a listing of all the cars and how they are damaged, so they can easily tell you if they have the part you are looking for. The price for the parts are considerably lower than what you would pay at a store or dealership. You may be able to save even more money if you can remove the part yourself instead of having the attendant do it for you.

Classified Ads

Some people part their older cars out and sell the parts that are still in good condition. You can look through classified ads to find the parts that you need. Another option in the ads is to call the people that buy cars for cash. These people buy vehicles to either repair and sell, or they remove the good parts and sell them. They may also take some parts and refurbish them to sell. A refurbished part is a good deal because it has been repaired so that it is working like new again.

Local Mechanic Shop

Small, local mechanic shops often refurbish parts they have replaced on other vehicles. This allows them to offer a lower price to the person having a part replaced because they will make up the difference by refurbishing and selling the old part. This is an especially good option for you if you will have the shop do the repair work for you.

No matter which option you use to buy a used part, ask if the seller offers any guarantee on the part. You are more likely to get a guarantee if the place you buy the part will also be installing the part for you. Call around to a few places until you can get some type of guarantee. You wouldn't want to have to have the same part replaced in a few months unless you got a very good deal on the part.