Understanding Auto Part Selection

4 Places To Find Replacement Auto Body Parts

If your vehicle was involved in an accident, and some of the body parts were damaged, one way you can fix them is by replacing them. If you need to replace some car body parts, there are multiple places that you can look for replacements from.

Manufacturer

Depending on the age of the car, you may be able to purchase replacement body parts for your vehicle directly from the manufacturer themselves. If the vehicle is still in production, there is a good chance that you can purchase a new bumper or side panel from the manufacturer that made your vehicle.

If your vehicle is getting up there in age and is more than a decade old, you may not be able to purchase auto body replacement parts directly from the manufacturer.

Aftermarket Manufacturer

If the manufacturer has stopped making the part, an aftermarket manufacturer may still make body parts for your vehicle. You are more likely to find aftermarket parts if you drive a vehicle that was really popular and sold a lot of models.

If you drive a vehicle model that was not that popular, you may have a little harder time finding replacement auto body parts, or you may end up paying more for those replacement parts. You may also end up using generic aftermarket parts that are not a perfect fit for your vehicle but are close enough.

Junk Yard

Another place to source body parts for your vehicle is from local junkyards. When vehicles are declared totaled, they are often sent off for scrap. Many junkyards though will salvage all the usable parts from the vehicle.

For example, a vehicle that was rear-ended may still have a perfectly great front bumper for your vehicle, or a perfectly in-tact passenger-side door panel.

The key when looking at junkyards for auto body parts is not to limit yourself to your local area. Call junkyards around the state until you find the right auto body replacement parts to fit your vehicle's needs.

Online Marketplaces

You can also search online marketplaces for replacement parts. Instead of relying on local sales, many junk yards, scrap collectors, and individuals now sell replacement auto body parts online. This makes it a lot easier to source replacement auto body parts for your vehicle. Just be aware of the shipping fees; auto body parts are not light nor are they cheap to ship, so if you purchase an auto part online, make sure that you can afford the entire cost of the part, including the shipping fees. 

Contact a company like Pick-A-Part Jalopy Jungle for more information and assistance.