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5 tips for getting junk parts for your car

When you restore a car, you can really focus on getting genuine parts that can be hard to find. A great solution is junkyard auto parts. Trampling a junkyard is not considered by many to be exciting, but it really can be when you see the vehicle you are looking for and then find the part you want. (And the price is great too!)

Some parts you just can’t skimp on, like the breaks for example! But some are purely for purists, like the right door handle or locking mechanism, or the radio knob. These parts can cost an arm and a leg if you buy them from manufacturers because they know how difficult it can be to find them on dealer shelves. But used auto parts of this nature can be found at your local junkyard in many cases.

Junkyard cars offer a host of cheap auto parts if you want to take the time to search. And you can get more for the money you spend. Getting your cool car in tip-top shape is the real goal.

With the internet what it is these days, you can sometimes find the part you want by searching your junkyard website. A junkyard search like this couldn’t be easier! You can also find the junkyard location and hours. If you check the search engines or the yellow pages, you might be surprised to find that there is more than one place you can search for auto parts near you. Just remember that looking for used auto parts is not much different than looking for a used car. Also check the classifieds. All of these ways of looking will save you time and money.

Searching junkyard auto parts it doesn’t have to be difficult. Keep these things in mind when you go out:

1. Know exactly what you need before you go. Know the make and model of your car, and any cars that have used those parts as well, if possible. Some things are used for more than one, like radios, for example.

2. Know what you need to remove the part and grab those tools. Grab some extra tools too, so you can remove whatever has to come off to get to your part. You never know. You can take your toolbox or bag with you. Do not care.

3. If what you are looking for has small parts like screws and washers, take a Ziploc bag as well. This will ensure that you don’t lose them somewhere in the junkyard!

4. Decide what you want to spend on the piece before you leave. This can prevent you from overspending your budget. Sometimes these junkyards have staff who will remove the part or remove it from a shelf. Knowing what you want to spend will help you determine if you want it from this place. Also, find out how much they will charge you for it if you find it and extract it yourself. You don’t want to go through the hassle just to leave it behind because their prices are out of reach.

5. Take some bottled water with you. Those junkyards can get hot. It can also come in hand to wash your hands or remove parts. Many of those vehicles are there because they crashed in muddy conditions.

If you’re like me, once you’ve tried looking for auto parts in a junkyard, you’ll never go back. Just remember to keep an eye out for that junkyard dog!