Where is the best place to buy auto parts? If you're a motorhead like we are, you know the struggle that comes with working on cars. Whether you're a professional mechanic hunting for a new supplier or a weekend enthusiast who prefers turning your own wrenches, buying auto parts isn't cheap. Picking up the parts yourself can definitely help you avoid those painful mechanic markups (we're looking at you, dealership service departments), but tracking down quality components at a fair price is where things get tricky.
Good
Auto Barn is an auto parts store that's a little different than some of the others in our review. Rather than focusing solely on parts, Auto Barn offers a range of car care help as well. So, if you're looking to make your car more fashionable with new floor mats or interior upgrades, or you just want to protect it with a car cover, there are more cosmetic options at Auto Barn than with our other retailers. Plus, you can also find a range of auto parts for general repairs. It's a unique one-stop shop that covers the mechanical work and the finishing.
Difficult to find what you need in the inventory
Auto Barn has 1,134 items in its parts category. So, there's plenty to choose from. However, unlike many of Auto Barn's competitors, you can't put your car into the system to narrow down the options. You can search by brand, search by category of item, or go through the lengthy process of scrolling down the nearly endless alphabetized list of all the products. Now, we were able to find some of our necessary items through just the search bar on this auto parts store, but the search results are varied. For example, when we looked for shocks, we found plenty of results, but most were for Jeep Wranglers or part of a lift kit. Cool, but not ideal for our test Toyota Camry.
Pricing from $91.95 to $1,123.95 for researched parts
To compare prices at each auto parts store, we normally use a 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE with a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine. However, since Auto Barn doesn't offer a service where you can add your car, our pricing had to be more generalized for all vehicles. We looked at a regular maintenance item (motor oil), a maintenance item that requires tools (brake pads), a complex repair/upgrade (shocks), and a tool set (socket wrench set 20-40 pcs). Here's what we found at Auto Barn:
Flat rate shipping and 30-day returns
Auto Barn promises fast nationwide shipping, and all costs are a flat rate by location. So every destination may have a slightly different cost for shipping. In general, Auto Barn states that its ground shipping fees will range from $12.56 to $14.53. As for returns, you have a 30-day window from the time that your parts arrive. You can only return unused items in the original packaging, and there may be a restocking fee of up to 20%. You will also be in charge of the return shipping costs. In some instances, like if you've gotten the wrong part or items were damaged in transit, you can qualify for a free replacement from this auto parts store instead.
Parts are legit and easy to install
Auto Barn has an impressive "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. Aside from that, its reviews are just below middle-tier with some mixed ratings overall. While some customers felt the service team wasn't polite enough, others noted that the staff was very helpful. Those who purchased upgrades for their vehicles were impressed with how easy it was to install the parts they received from this auto parts store. But with mixed reviews about getting ahold of customer service at Auto Barn, it's worth keeping in mind that you may want to be sure of the parts you want before you purchase.
Best option for interior detailing
Auto Barn is a fun site to shop if you want to detail your car or upgrade the interior, but it isn't the simplest shopping experience if you want specific parts for your car. While it has a solid reputation for sending out legit parts that work, it's hard to search and find parts for your exact vehicle on the auto parts store. For this reason, it doesn't quite reach the top spots in our review, but it earns a competitive, above-average score. Keep Auto Barn in mind if you want to do any interior work, too.
Continued from above...
If you're a motorhead like we are, you know the struggle that comes with working on cars. Whether you're a professional mechanic hunting for a new supplier or a weekend enthusiast who prefers turning your own wrenches, buying auto parts isn't cheap. Picking up the parts yourself can definitely help you avoid those painful mechanic markups (we're looking at you, dealership service departments), but tracking down quality components at a fair price is where things get tricky.
Finding the best deals on parts you can actually trust? That's the real challenge. No one wants spark plugs that fizzle out early or brake pads that wear down faster than expected just because you tried to save a few bucks. And sure, sometimes you just need to grab another 10mm socket (yes, we know-it vanished again). Either way, choosing the right auto parts store makes it easy to get what you need without the headache.
Whether you're doing an engine swap for your next YouTube video or just trying to do a little at-home tune-up, finding the right auto parts for your car and for your project is going to make or break your project. Different makes and models can have completely different needs for the same project. For example, if you've replaced the wheel bearings on a Nissan, a Mitsubishi is so different that it can take hours of extra work (and different specialty tools). But the trade-off is saving over $1,000 in labor costs, so if you can do it with the help of a solid auto parts store, you should.
These days, you don't have to rely on your local auto parts store (sometimes with a pretty limited inventory) to have everything you need. Online shopping has made it faster than ever to search for your make and model and grab parts that are designed specifically for your vehicle. And, you can easily find parts that are OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), so you know that a Mercedes part was made by Mercedes for your Mercedes model. Then, there's no confusion about fit, and you can generally count on OEM to be high quality, or at least the same quality as the parts that originally came with your car when you bought it. Plus, for auto parts that are made overseas, shopping online can be the only way to get what you need.
If you're ready to get going on your next car project, but aren't sure which retailer to trust as your top auto parts store, we've done the hard work for you - so hopefully the process of getting your auto parts will be simple. There's enough stress when you're working on cars, and auto parts should be the easy-breezy step. Here are some factors you can consider to make sure you're getting the best auto parts from the best retailer on the market:
So, if you're ready to dive into your next project for maintenance or upgrading your ride, you've got the tools at your disposal (literally): Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the best options for auto parts stores available. Now, you can grab your parts, tools, paint, and more. Whether you're restoring an old Camaro (good luck) or just trying to fix your favorite ride, there's an auto parts store out there to help you get the job done. And try not to lose your 10mm this time!
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