If your vehicle is in need of repairs, chances are you will need to purchase replacement parts in order to get your vehicle back on the road again. When buying these replacement parts, you will find that you have three basic options available to you. These three options are brand new parts, used parts, and rebuilt or refurbished parts. Each of these options will have its own set of pros and cons that will ultimately determine which is right for your particular needs.
Continue reading below to learn a bit more about the pros and cons of each of these types of replacement auto parts.
Option 1: Brand New Auto Parts
There are two primary options when buying brand-new auto parts. You can choose to buy OEM or original equipment manufacturer parts or aftermarket parts. OEM parts are made by the same manufacturer who made the original parts in your vehicle. Aftermarket parts on the other hand are made by a third party. Both of these options typically come with warranty coverage. However, OEM parts tend to offer the best fit. As a result, OEM parts also come with a slightly higher price than aftermarket parts.
Option 2: Used Auto Parts
Used auto parts can often be purchased from auto salvage yards and are taken off of other vehicles that are no longer road worthy. In some cases, these parts will have a lot of life left in them. However, other parts may be nearing the end of their usefulness. Unfortunately, these parts often come with no warranty coverage. Consequently, there is a greater risk involved with choosing to buy used auto parts. The trade-off for this additional risk is that used auto parts often cost just a fraction of what you could expect to pay for the same parts when they are brand new.
Option 3: Rebuilt Or Refurbished Auto Parts
Rebuilt or refurbished auto parts are also a type of used auto parts. The primary difference here is that these parts have undergone repairs before being sold. As a result, these parts do not have the same risk as traditional used auto parts. This type of replacement part also is commonly sold with limited warranty coverage. While these parts are still cheaper than brand-new auto parts, you can expect to pay a bit more for rebuilt or refurbished parts than you would pay for other used parts.