How to choose a Used Auto Parts Supplier.

Introduction
Here we will discuss some things to look at it when shopping for used auto parts weather that be here on eBay or locally at local auto recycling yards. Some of the things we will cover in this guide include:

Common Names for Salvage yards
How to pick a used parts supply
Why part prices can vary from different buyers
Common software used in the auto recycling industry
What to look for when you need a part for your vehicle
Should you buy the part you need New, Used or Rebuilt
Common names used in the Auto Salvage Industry.
You may have noticed that salvage yards are called different things depending on part of the country or by several names in the same state. The most common name most people know is the often called "Junkyard". Now for most people they think of cars upon cars stacked up in rows with no formal place in the yard. But the times have changed and most so called "junkyards" are now modern Auto Recycling Facilities or Auto Wrecking Yards in some parts of the country.

What sets a Auto Recycling Yard apart from a junkyard is that all vehicles weather there purchased from the public, auction, businesses, etc... go through a inventory process.

To give you a idea of the process that most vehicles go through can include the following:

Vehicle is brought in by rollback, wrecker, ramp truck or car carrier depending on what a tow truck is called in your area. It is then looked over for any salvageable parts. At this point it is either offloaded into a holding lot to await the next step or is taken off the truck with a forklift and placed right in the dismantling area to be drained. Some of the common items drained from motor vehicles include:

Gasoline
Antifreeze
Motor Oil
Transmission Fluid
Gear Oil
Washer Fluid
Diesel for some vehicles
Refrigerant (Freon) R12 (older 90's vehicles mostly) or R134a
Brake Fluid

Now that list may seem like a lot but most of those fluids such as oil, transmission fluid, and gear oil can all be mixed together. Other fluids such as antifreeze can be reclaimed to be resold. Other fluids such as washer fluid, gasoline, diesel, brake fluid are shipped to a refiner or to a recycler for final recycling. This is just one thing that can effect the final value of the parts the recycler sells but we will get into that later.

The next things removed including Battery, Mercury switches, fuel tanks, radiators, heater cores (not all yards remove the heater core), and all salvageable parts. After all this is done the vehicle is then put out in the yard to await crushing. Some yards even bring the vehicle right to the crusher at this point to ship it out for recycling.

After all of this done depending on your state the salvage yard will then prepare the title and license plates to be sent to the state for cancelling. If your states like Maine we just send the titles back to the state for vehicles 2000 and newer (or 1995 and newer if the vehicle will remain on the lot longer then 30 days). The VIN number is then reported to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) and in some states the VIN is reported to the state through there own database as well.
Why Parts Prices can Vary from seller to seller.
Used part prices can vary from seller to seller depending on a lot of factors including location weather there in a large city, or a rural area, what they paid for the donor vehicle, overhead including employees, disposal cost, business licensing, etc...

One thing we get asked a lot is why do we offer different prices on the same part when we have multiple of the same part in stock. The reason we do this is some parts may have more wear, or scratches, etc... on them from being used then the higher priced part or in the rare case our overhead was higher then a prior vehicle we dismantled.

Now when shopping for a used parts there are cases when the selection may seem overwhelming due to all the choices so how do you know how to make the best decision.
How to make the best decision you can when purchasing used auto parts.
The first thing to always look for is not how much the part is listed for, or who has the cheapest parts available. The first thing to look for is who has the best quality or fastest turn around time. Another thing to look at is who has a return policy incase you order the wrong part or it arrives damaged, etc...

Some parts you may notice have Free Shipping and some don't. Now Free Shipping is always a bonus but what if its on a low priced part and has a short description? Then maybe that's a seller you want. A lot of sellers charge for shipping but this is due to the fact that shipping prices are always changing and to ship from the east coast to the west coast can easily be over $30 just for a small item.

The general thing to look for is who has a quality item, has the most details including a part grading system such as A, B, or C. Some sellers also list the part number, interchange part number, donor vehicle VIN #, and more. Also look for who offers a return or exchange policy incase some goes wrong with your order.
Some common memberships to look for.
Some things even tho there not required that help recyclers connect and that a lot of customers look for including being a member of:

ARA - Automotive Recyclers Association
URG - United Recyclers Group
ARA State memberships

There are more but those are some of the biggest out there. These groups can help recyclers connect with each other, customers, and more. Also if looking at local options if the recycler has website see if they offer a online parts search such as car-part, Hollander, etc... These are national used part locators and can help recyclers sell twice as many parts over a course of a year.
When shopping local what to look for.
If your shopping locally at local auto recycling facilities then look for neatness, how helpful are the staff, how long does it take for them to look up the part to see if they have it in stock, and if they don't can they locate it for you. Another thing to look for is if there a Licensed Auto Recycling Facility.

The reason we say to see if there licensed all states and some local areas require a salvage yard, auto wrecking, scrap, or junkyard permit. Now there is some exceptions such as New Jersey where is there is only a local license requirement. But this is being brought up due to a increasing number of unlicensed auto recycling facilities across the country. By buying from a licensed auto recycling facility you can be sure the vehicle the part your buying is from a End of Life Vehicle that was properly prepared by being drained to EPA standards, etc... This is important because a unlicensed facility can be just dumping the fluids on the ground which they can get into the ground water and pollute more then just the area they were dumped in.

Each licensed auto recycling facility goes through annual inspections and in some cases quarterly inspections to make sure the yard complies with all local, state, and federal laws.
Should you buy the part you need New, Used, or Rebuilt?
This is a common question we get from buyers. For some parts its simple but for others such as engines, transmissions, tires, etc... This can be a little more difficult. For Engines the New option can be the best but can be the most expensive at the same time while most salvage yards offer a quality used engine for just a few hundred dollars. Now for Used Tires make sure to ask if the tires were inspected by a technician at time of removal to make sure there is no plugs, dry rot, etc... If your looking for dash parts for your car then usually its best to buy those used but if you need a radiator they can be purchased new, used, or rebuilt. Now rebuilt means that the radiator has been pressure tested, repaired, and retested to check for leaks, at this point the radiator is then put up for resale by a salvage yard, or the radiator repair shop directly.

Now for aluminum radiators its usually best to buy the new since used and rebuilt ones can be more then a new one and may not last as long as brand new unit will. If your looking to buy a fender, etc... then a lot of the time its cheaper to buy a used one off a salvage yard since most even carry different colors so you don't have to worry in those cases to have it painted to match your vehicle, etc....

Summary
So in summary its best to look to see who offers the best product for the price not just the lowest price, always buy from a licensed auto recycling facility not a "fly by night operation" as we call them in the industry. Most salvage yards are family owned and try there best to operate with the ever increasing licensing cost, regulations, etc... so a lot of times the part your buying is helping to a small business owner to pay there bills, and keep food on the table.

And remember to always consider weather the part you need should be purchased New, Used, or Rebuilt but weigh the Pros and Cons prior to making a decision. We hope this guide has helped you and Thanks for Reading.

Source:
Upscale Auto Parts Inc.
Maine Division
Licensed Recycler with EPA Haz Mat and Stormwater Permits, and Junkyard Permit.

Upscale has licenses in Maine, Florida, and Tennessee with more licenses and locations coming soon.