Best Vehicle Accessories & Parts Shops

What are the different types of car parts available?

Genuine parts

These refer to the same parts that were installed in your car when it was originally manufactured. They carry the manufacturer’s logo and packaging. They are trickier to find than other types of replacement parts. You're more likely to find them at a car dealerships - which will be able to source the genuine part and install it.

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts

While these aren’t branded with the car manufacturer’s logo, they are built by the company that was originally contracted to install the parts in your car. These parts are equally as reliable as genuine parts, fitting just as well, but are cheaper than genuine car parts.

Aftermarket parts

These car parts are made by third parties, as opposed to the manufacturer or Original Equipment Manufacturer.

There are two types of aftermarket parts: cheap auto parts designed to be as affordable as possible, and performance aftermarket parts, which are specifically re-designed to be an improvement on the genuine or OEM part.

Most car accessories are also aftermarket additions to a car. This refers to any addition that’s not factory fitted by the manufacturer - like air conditioning or airbags, and that's also not a dealer-fitted extra - like wheel packages.

Aftermarket accessories can include: car seat covers, floor mats, battery car chargers, car sun shades, and window tinting. As these post-sale additions sold by car accessories shops aren't manufacturer-approved, aftermarket accessories aren’t covered by a car warranty.

Where can I buy car parts?

Car superstores

These refer to auto parts stores that are large chain stores. Some examples are Supercheap Auto and Repco. Most of these chains have hundreds of locations nationwide. For example, Repco has 400 stores around Australia, so there’s likely to be one near you.

Car dealerships or direct from the manufacturer

Car dealers aren't just for buying cars, but they also often sell car parts as well.

Third party retailers

Third party retailers sell aftermarket parts, rather than branded parts and accessories. You can buy these aftermarket parts either in-store or online.

Online Retailers

As you can't always know 100% what you're going to receive in the mail, the process of Making a return claim should be clearly outlined on an online retailer's website. Reading online reviews from fellow car owners can also help you determine how easy it is to return a car part or accessory with a particular company.

Second-hand parts

If you’re looking to save a bit of cash, it’s possible to source used parts from private sellers (usually online) or from a junkyard, where you'll find plenty of spare car parts.

Where can I buy car parts for cheap?

Car parts can be expensive, and it makes sense to prioritise being thrifty so you don’t pay an arm and leg for a replacement part.

However, if the choice boils down to saving some cash or sourcing a reliable part, always choose reliability over a cheap price. Prioritising a low price over everything else often means you can wind up with a poor quality car part - or one that simply doesn’t fit in your car. This means you’ll spend more money buying a replacement part for your replacement part - making the extreme pursuit of thriftiness a more expensive exercise, in the end.

Are ebay or Amazon a good place to buy car parts?

eBay and Amazon can be a convenient avenue to buy used car parts, but you need to know exactly what you’re looking for to find the right car part. Namely, you need to know the specific part number and manufacturer name.

Amazon and ebay are online marketplaces with private sellers who are everyday individuals. As a result, ‘mislistings’ can be common. This refers to the incorrect labelling of car parts on the online selling platforms, which can cause you to buy the wrong part. In other cases, the ebay Parts Compatibility catalogue can be incorrect, making it unreliable to solely rely on. Both of these factors make it easier to buy a part that won’t fit in your car.

To avoid this, it may be better to buy parts with the brand/ manufacturer name on the box, if possible, as this helps guarantee that the part will be the right fit. However, as this will be a genuine part - this is likely to increase the price, which may cancel out some of the positive cost-saving benefits of shopping on ebay or Amazon.

Finding used parts at the junkyard

This can be a cost-effective option if you have some mechanical experience or are a fast learner when it comes to cars.

Self-service junkyards (also called auto dismantlers) allow you can find the specific part you need for your car make and model, remove it from the car it’s currently fitted to, and attach it to your car instead. You’ll probably have to bring your own tools. The main appeal is that you can find auto spares for extremely cheap prices.

However, as with all used parts, there’s no warranty or way of guaranteeing that there is no existing damage or wear and tear to the car part that you salvage.

The bottom line

Overall, when sourcing car parts and accessories, prioritising the correct fit for your specific car make and model is the top priority.

While buying online or second-hand can present both convenient and cost-effective options, they can make the issue of transparency trickier in terms of sourcing a good quality car part that’s compatible with your vehicle.

Doing thorough research on the specific part number and fair asking price for a prospective car part or accessory will work in your favour. This will help ensure you get both a good deal and a car part that goes the distance with your car.