When it comes to purchasing used auto parts you need for your car, truck, van or SUV, you have options! It does not matter whether you want to fix the vehicle yourself, you have a mobile mechanic or you are taking the vehicle to a professional repair facility, it’s up to you if you want to buy brand-new parts from the dealer, from an aftermarket supplier, or have a quality automotive salvage yard source the parts for you to get quality used auto parts made by the original manufacturer at a major discount.
At Pete’s Auto Parts, we believe there are five awesome reasons to choose ROEM, recycled original equipment manufacturer parts!
Save Money
People often search for junk yards, salvage yards or used parts because they want to save money. It makes sense that used auto parts are usually way less expensive than brand-new car parts. Because we test and quality check our used parts before selling them, you can be confident knowing your used part will function as well as a new part. Between our standard 90 day warranty and the extended 1 year and 3 year parts warranties and labor coverage we offer, you can rest assured your part will work correctly or you’ll get a replacement.
Additionally, many of the parts sold brand-new whether OEM or aftermarket are sold individually, whereas at Pete’s Auto Parts we sell assemblies. For example, a used bumper from Pete’s Auto Parts will usually be sold including the bumper bar or reinforcement, any absorbers or pads, and any sensors or cameras or wiring, in addition to the plastic bumper cover. If you choose to purchase a new bumper, generally it will only be that cover, just one part of the true bumper assembly. By purchasing a used bumper assembly, you will not only save parts cost, but labor cost, as you or your mechanic won’t have to spend time swapping over every little parking sensor wire!
Used auto parts are typically between 25% and 40% less expensive than new auto parts, and they function just as well. Sometimes we can save customers even more than that on used auto parts – and in today’s economy, every bit helps!
Reliability
At Pete’s Auto Parts our trained dismantlers, parts techs and quality control agents evaluate each of the used auto parts we sell to ensure they are safe for use and have good life left in them. In order to better serve the Grand Rapids area and all of west Michigan, in addition to shipping parts nationwide, we take videos of our vehicles running when we inventory the used auto parts, and we post these videos to our youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@petesauto7873 so you can hear the motor run before you purchase it!
We buy our low-mileage, late model vehicles from insurance company auto auctions like CoPart and IAA, meaning the cars, trucks, vans and SUVs had full coverage insurance and were in an unfortunate fender bender. If you were in an accident today, your car might suffer damage to the left or right side, but still have great usable used auto parts in the front or back. Or it might have been hit in the front, but all the doors and the engine and transmission are perfectly good! These used auto parts are just as reliable as the ones that are going down the road today.
These are used auto parts that were not damaged in the accident or worn out. We advertise the mileage of our parts and encourage you to buy used auto parts with less miles on them than your vehicle! You can still get plenty of life from these used auto parts without spending as much as new parts. Some people still refer to automotive salvage yards or recycling facilities as junkyards. We don’t really like that term because we do not buy junk and we do not sell junk! But we also recognize sometimes it’s just easier to go with the term you know than the new politically correct term! Keep in mind, just because you purchase a part from what you call a junkyard doesn’t mean it’s junk. We are buying good low mileage cars with good low mileage used auto parts, we’re testing the used auto parts, having qualified technicians remove the used auto parts, then we’re cleaning and inspecting the used auto parts before they get to you. Properly removed and tested used auto parts are reliable for you and your vehicle.
Eco Friendly:
Everyone knows the terms “reduce, reuse, recycle!” At Pete’s Auto Parts we do all three, and you can too. Together, you and Pete’s, we reduce waste and we reduce new materials needed to produce brand new auto parts when we reuse used auto parts that were on a vehicle in an accident, recycling them onto your vehicle driving down the road. Reusing materials (including steel, aluminum and plastic) drastically reduces the environment-harming resources needed to repair your vehicle.
Reusing and recycling used auto parts cuts down on the manufacturing of additional materials and, therefore, reduces our environmental footprint. A 2017 study in by Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) showed that used auto parts in the state of Massachusetts alone reduced the state’s carbon footprint by at least 2.2 million tons of carbon dioxide annually! Every time you purchase used auto parts instead of a new auto parts, that is a carbon negative action.
Speed and Availability of Used Auto Parts
Large, long-standing salvage yards (like Pete’s Auto Parts – we’ve been here nearly 70 years!) typically have an incredible selection of used auto parts. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a part from a vehicle made in 2024 or 1994, there’s a good chance you can find what you need. Often times new parts that go on backorder are only available at salvage yards, are often available only as used auto parts. Even though new parts are often on a shelf ready to go, and our used auto parts are often still attached to the vehicle and need to be removed and prepped for pickup, shipping or delivery, at Pete’s Auto Parts we are often able to get customers used auto parts just as fast as aftermarket or new parts that need to be shipped across the country!
Pete’s Auto Parts is a partner in Team PRP, the nation’s largest group of automotive recyclers. That means if we don’t have the used auto parts you need at our facility, we can get the used auto parts from one of our partners. These strategic relationships are so helpful in being able to supply low-mileage mechanical used auto parts, body parts in the same paint code as the customer vehicle, and used auto parts from states with no rust! Many body shops love buying hoods, doors, fenders, and lids from us that we source from Texas or other southern and western states that have much less rust than Michigan.
OEM Parts Available at Affordable Prices
When purchasing used auto parts for your vehicle, you surely know you can order new parts direct from the dealer. You can also find cheap parts online that are new but are knock-offs. Those parts are aftermarket parts, and it’s very difficult to determine the quality of these parts since so many manufacturers make low-quality auto parts on the cheap. They often look fine on the outside, but they’re often poorly made and may put your vehicle’s functionality or safety at risk. Many body shops complain aftermarket fenders and hoods do not line up on the vehicle properly, creating odd lines/gaps and downgrading the overall look of the vehicle. Other aftermarket issues include headlights that are not as bright as the originals.
When you buy used auto parts from a salvage yard, you typically get OEM parts, not aftermarket. OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer and means that the part was created by the manufacturer that created the part for the brand-new vehicle. At Pete’s Auto Parts, we do sell some quality aftermarket products when used are not available, but we prefer the ROEM parts (used auto parts) over knock-offs!
Summary: Auto Parts You Should Buy Used:
When it comes to buying ROEM (recycled original equipment manufacturer) used auto parts from a salvage yard, there are many that are almost always an easy decision, while others are better to buy new. An example of parts to buy new would be water pumps: they are cheap and readily available new and you can get a high quality water pump for not much more than a lower quality one. An example of parts you may consider buying new or used would be brake calipers. Brake calipers are a “wear item” they are expected to wear out and be replaced. If you can find very very low mileage brake calipers, it often does make sense to purchase calipers as used auto parts and save, however brake calipers with more miles, even from a vehicle considered low mileage such as one with just 80,000 miles, you start to see a decline on the return for the part, because it’s expected you will have to replace those parts and then the labor of doing it twice outweighs the cost savings of buying used.
There are a lot of cut-and-dried “easy” choices on parts you can safely purchase used and save some cash.
Rims: Wheel rims frequently arrive at our part shop in excellent condition, as they’re designed to endure substantial pressure and weight. Even after a collision, they often emerge in great condition. If you’re in the market for new rims, consider opting for a quality used set!
Rear View & Side View Mirrors: Mirrors that remain free of cracks, breaks, or chips still hold value and functionality for another vehicle. Choosing a used side or rearview mirror is a savvy way to save money while still obtaining a necessary part.
Power Locks: When your car’s power locks wear out, the cost of replacing them can be daunting. However, salvage yards like Pete’s Auto Parts offer power locks at a significantly lower price compared to new ones. Even if a salvage vehicle can’t operate, its power locks can still serve reliably.
Windshields: Some accidents break windshield, but many do not. The windshield often remains in pristine condition. At Pete’s Auto Parts we do not inventory windshields with stone chips or other problems, only good quality glass. Purchasing a used windshield can result in substantial savings without compromising quality.
Transmissions: Pete’s Auto Parts offers ROEM transmissions for many vehicles, providing a cost-effective alternative to purchasing new ones. A used transmission can perform just as effectively while significantly reducing your expenses.
Engines: When your engine requires replacement, opting for a used one is a smart choice. New engines come with a hefty price tag and they do not come with many accessories that all need to be purchased separately, but used engines are considerably more affordable without sacrificing performance and they come with lots of extras. Additionally, our limited warranties offer added peace of mind, check out our warranties at https://petesauto.net/warranty/
Fenders & Bumpers: Don’t overspend on a new fender or bumper for minor damage. Salvage yards often have perfectly suitable replacements at a fraction of the cost, allowing you to restore your vehicle economically.
Lid Gates/Rear Hatches/Decklids: Whether you have an SUV with a hatch, a van with “doors” across the back, a truck with a tailgate, or a sedan, convertible or coupe with a trunk lid, we sell those at Pete’s Auto Parts and we sell them as assemblies with any lights, glass, wiring and more included! You can save a lot of money on used sheet metal assemblies.
Doors: Vehicle doors are another great part that comes as an assembly at a salvage yard, though doors do not typically include the door mirror, that is purchased separately, and many doors do not include the power door window switch or door trim panel – though some do. Almost all used doors will come complete with the glass and the window regulator and motor. At Pete’s we supply many used doors to customers and we can often find them in the exact paint code color of your vehicle, eliminating pricey pain expenses!
Lamps & Lights: Headlights and taillights are more expensive than ever these days! Same story for park lamps, fog lamps and turn signals. You do not have to settle for knock-off brands that don’t last as long or perform as well, you can buy ROEM (recycled original equipment manufacturer) lights and lamps that were made in the same factory as the lights that came on your vehicle from the dealer!
Axles & Suspension Parts: At Pete’s Auto Parts we sell a ton of front axles, rear axles, carriers, axle shafts, struts, spindles, hubs, control arms, cross members, and all manner of axle parts and suspension parts. The metal suspension parts on your vehicle were made to last the lifetime of the vehicle, and it’s a great choice to go with used auto parts when you need to replace an axle part or a piece of your suspension.
Body Parts: Most body parts can be sourced affordably used and often can be found undamaged and in the same paint color as your vehicle, saving hundreds of dollars in painting expenses! Whether you need a fender, a hood, a bed or box for a truck, or any other body part, we can find it for you, and we can often find it from a state down south or out west where they don’t battle rust like we do in the Midwest!
Ready to Buy Used Auto Parts?
We hope you enjoyed this blog post on buying used auto parts and that it may have convinced you to give it a try or perhaps it reassured you that purchasing used auto parts for you car, truck, van or SUV is a viable option. At Pete’s Auto Parts we really believe that buying used auto parts is the best choice for many reasons. To save money, to help mother earth and be a good steward of the environment, because used parts are reliable and available, and because the best parts for your vehicle are the same parts the manufacturer intended to be on your vehicle — they made them after all!
No matter what used auto parts you need for your vehicle, you can reach out to Pete’s Auto Parts by calling or texting 616-669-6592 to learn more about our top-notch used auto parts for your car, truck, van and SUV. Or if you prefer to search our site, you can do that now on our used auto parts search page.
