improving the performance of high-mileage cars

Tips For Buying Auto Parts So You Can Maintain Your Cars Yourself

10 December 2018 by Hugh Lowe

If you like to work on your cars yourself, then finding a good place to buy auto parts is essential. You don't want to waste time hunting for what you need, although that might be necessary when you're hunting for rare parts. Most of the parts you need for maintenance, such as filters, a battery, and windshield wipers are common and easy to find. Here are some tips for buying auto parts.

Buy Quality Parts

For peace of mind and the best performance, you should buy quality auto parts. This could mean buying big brand names rather than store brands or generic parts. You may even want OEM parts that you buy directly from an auto dealership. By choosing popular and trusted brands, you can have more confidence the parts will hold up and not cause problems while you're driving.

Know The Right Parts To Buy

Knowing the right part could be as easy as getting the numbers off of an old part. If that's not possible, then be sure to look for parts specific for the model and year of your car. Some parts may be universal and others may be specific to your car, so you always want to know what you're buying. You can talk to a dealer at an auto parts store, a mechanic, or the parts shop at a car dealership to make sure you get the right part if you need to buy something that you've never had to purchase before. Buying parts for older cars can be tricky if parts are not sold locally. A parts store may be able to order the parts you need or you may need to shop at a car show or hunt around a salvage yard to find the right part.

Follow Sales

If you want to save money on your auto parts, watch for sales. You might stock up on oil or tires even if you don't need them right away. If you'll need the parts in a few months, then buying them when they're on sale will save money and the savings can add up over the course of a year. You probably won't find discounts on parts that are hard to find or big parts, but parts that are replaced frequently like oil and wipers usually go on sale regularly.

There are several places to buy auto parts, so you can usually find what you need even if you have to buy used parts. Sometimes, hunting for rare parts is part of the fun of owning an older car.

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