Whether you want to buy replacement parts for your vehicle to repair it or to maintain it, there are a few things you should consider before deciding whether to buy those car parts new or used:
Warranty Coverage
One important thing to consider when deciding whether to purchase used or new replacement parts for your vehicle is the type of warranty coverage that is available. If you want to make sure that the part you invest in won't break down or malfunction on you anytime soon, the part should come with some kind of warranty, whether from the manufacturer or a third party.
Just about any new part you think about buying should come with a manufacturer's warranty, but the same can't be said for used parts. Some used parts may come with a warranty, especially if they have been refurbished. But many used parts don't come with a warranty at all. If it malfunctions or breaks down, you will have to pay out-of-pocket to replace it.
Available Records
You know the record of a new part — it has never been used and hasn't been touched since the manufacturing company packaged it up. But unless there are history records available, you can't know where a used part has been or how well it performed before being taken out of the vehicle it was in.
However, some used parts may have accompanying records that will tell you the history of them. If you can get your hands on the records, you will know whether the used part is worth the investment. A guarantee should be offered for any used part you decide to buy that doesn't have any history records available so you will have recourse if the part doesn't end up working properly.
Parts Access
While you can save some money when buying used parts, they may not be as readily available as new parts are. And some new parts you're interested in buying may be on backorder, which means you will have to wait for them to be shipped to your provider or your home. If you are not picky about whether the part you buy is new or used, you choose whatever happens to be available. However, if you do care whether your newly acquired part is new or used, you may have to wait for it to become available so it's best to start searching for the part before you will actually need it if possible.
Share
