Buying new parts for your car can be a major pain. New parts from the manufacturer are unlikely to be cheap, and new parts from third parties may be of questionable quality. The solution, of course, is to go for used parts; however, there is the question of where to start your search when you need used parts for your car. There are several sources that you can explore when you need parts for your car. Cost isn't the most significant figure, since it's possible to get good quality auto parts at a low price if you go to the right place.

Pick-and-Pull Recycling Yards

These yards are like well-organized junkyards, where you can find some of the best used engine parts around. The vehicles are organized by their make, and they even have online databases so you can see what's available. The parts from these yards are some of the lowest-priced you can expect to find; additionally, the price that's on the list is exactly what you'll be paying.

Online Stores

There are online stores that specialize in used car parts. The websites have very well-curated databases that you can look through to see if they have what you're looking for. While other options might be limited by location, online stores will usually mail the parts you want to your address. This can be a challenge for shipping, however, if the parts you're looking for are a little on the large/heavy side.

Specialty Salvage Yards

There are always cars that can be a bit of a problem to find spare parts for: foreign cars, old cars, or a car that's not conventional might not have spare engine parts that are readily available from your usual sources. Specialty yards are a good place to start looking for these parts. However, it's not easy to find out where someone is hoarding these unique cars. You should expect to do some research to track down a specialty yard near you.

Enthusiast Forums

There are many online forums for lovers of certain vehicle makes and models. Some of these forums are even location specific, so you might be able to find a group of people in your area who are enthusiasts of cars such as your own. These are the kinds of people who might just have one of those rare parts that you've been after for years. You can easily sign up for these forums and drop a few inquiries.

For more information, you can contact companies like Dean's Auto Repair Inc.