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Wednesday, December 4th
Car Parts was established over 28 years ago and has evolved into the leading eCommerce platform for automotive maintenance and repair. The company has expanded to include 1,800 team members, 1.2 million square feet of warehouse space, and five distribution centers across the US.
Over 1 million auto parts
Car Parts offers an extensive selection of over one million auto parts designed to fit vehicles from the year 1980 to the present. Their inventory encompasses a wide range of OEM car components, spanning from interior to exterior parts. Notably, they offer a lot of parts for replacing large exterior panels or parts like bumpers or rearview mirrors.
Huge inventory for every aspect of auto repair
Customers have the convenience of using the website's search bar to swiftly locate specific items. Alternatively, they can input their vehicle's year, make, and model to refine their search results. Whether you're looking for bodywork help, new headlights, more traditional parts like brakes, struts, and shocks, or even new engine builds, you can find everything you need at Car Parts. Their popular categories listed across the top of the site include:
Competitive prices
To do a price comparison among various auto parts retailers, we checked out the pricing for three categories: replacement components, performance enhancements, and liquids. Within these three categories, we checked out brake pads for a replacement item, shocks for a performance upgrade, and engine oil for a general liquid. In general, the prices are very competitive and offer a much wider range than at many competitors. The prices at Car Parts start at $5.49 for brake pads and go up as high as $971.91. For shocks, you can find prices from $1.49 to $3,799.99. And finally, for oil, you can find options from $7.49 to $1,827 (for a drum of oil).
Average vehicle parts pricing
Then, to check out how the prices line up for an average vehicle, we selected a 2019 Toyota Camry as our test car. The prices for each category changed slightly. Here's what you can expect at Car Parts:
Online shopping cuts costs for bodywork
Car Parts is a totally online distributor with a ton of warehouses to support their myriad of car parts. One of the places this store really shines is with its bodywork elements. It can be extremely expensive to get your bumper replaced. But sometimes accidents happen, so finding a place where you can buy the right bumper for your car at cost is amazing. Instead of paying your mechanic to be the middleman, you can get body pieces much cheaper and then just have them painted. Car Parts is particularly well stocked in this area, so if you're thinking about redoing your crunched fender, this is the place to shop.
Price match guarantee
Car Parts proudly offers a low price guarantee, demonstrating their commitment to ensuring customers receive the most competitive pricing. In line with this policy, they provide a contact number for customers to alert them when they find a product from the same manufacturer, being advertised at a lower price by competitors. Car Parts pledges to match or surpass the prices of competing products.
Lifetime replacement
A solid bonus of shopping at Car Parts is the lifetime replacement policy. This applies to any item bought at Car Parts. So, if for any reason your part purchased from Car Parts breaks down or malfunctions, you can replace it one time totally free of charge. This approach helps customers feel confident in their purchase and keeps costs down for long-term maintenance.
90-day return policy
A lenient 90-day return policy is in place, allowing customers to return products provided they are in their original condition and include all the associated components. Customers can initiate a return by either filing the necessary request online or contacting the returns department directly. Refunds are typically processed within 24-48 hours, returning the funds to the payment method initially used for the purchase.
Solid reputation with a Customer-first mindset
Car Parts has an impressive rating overall. The company holds an "A+” rating and accreditation with the Better Business Bureau. Plus, it holds a 3.6-star average out of thousands of verified user reviews. Customers in general praise the service representatives from Car Parts. Even small problems that weren't the company's fault were resolved quickly and customers were offered bonuses like 10% off when troubles arose that needed solving as a "sorry” from Car Parts. In general, there were very few problems with customers receiving the wrong or problematic parts, and customers mostly agree that Car Parts have their back when problems do pop up.
A whole new company
The bottom line? Car Parts is the proof that a company can completely turn its reputation around if it puts in the work. Once rated one of the worst sites for buying auto parts online, Car Parts is a whole new company. With price matching, lifetime replacement, and a generous 90-day return policy Car Parts is showcasing its new customer-first mindset and it's made a serious difference. On top of a huge inventory and competitive prices, you can find unique car parts here that are harder to get or more expensive elsewhere.
Best one-stop shop overall
If you're looking for the ultimate one-stop shop, Car Parts is it. They're the most well-reviewed of our top services and stand out as a place that's both user-friendly and focused on getting your car right for you every time. For these reasons, Car Parts now is one of the best options out there for auto parts. Only one thing: a lack of free shipping keeps Car Parts from the number one spot. But otherwise, for specialized needs like lights and body pieces, this is your place to go.
If you own a car, you know at some point it needs maintenance and repairs. Many vehicle owners opt for the path of do-it-yourself repairs, drawn by the potential to save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, over the course of their car's lifetime. And like a local mechanic, you, too, will require the appropriate parts and tools to make your favorite machine tick (or maybe to stop that irritating ticking noise!).
It used to be that you'd have to drive to the local auto parts store in the hope of finding the right parts for your job. If you're not an expert, auto stores can feel a bit overwhelming (and judgy, if you're a female car owner). But today, online auto parts stores have redefined the landscape.
Visiting an auto parts store online lets you find and check that you're getting the right parts for the right car. Using features like VIN number searches and helpful online search tools, you can take the frustration out of auto parts shopping and enjoy it from the comfort of your own home. Whether you're just looking for a new set of tires, a turbo kit for your already over-taxed hatchback, or the perfect wrench in metric sizes for those Euro cars, you can find it now at the click of a button.
You might be surprised to know that the auto parts you find online are often less expensive than the ones you find in a store - even if the website and store are the same company. That's because there's more competition online, and less overhead attached to the individual car part. And not only are the prices cheaper, you can have them delivered straight to your door.
Armed with your car parts, and your favorite car repair YouTuber, you can be on your way to DIY car repair in no time. However, it's important to recognize that not all auto parts stores are the same.
You want to make sure that you can find the best auto parts, whether you're looking at new "from the factory” or certified pre-owned items. You can find tons of deals online too, but making sure you can trust an auto parts store is important - both for your wallet and your safety.
Not sure where to start your online search for auto parts? Don't worry - we've completed a full review and ranking of all the best auto parts stores out there today. Here are some basic criteria that might help you narrow the field:
To make sure your car stays running smoothly, Top Consumer Reviews is here to give you all the insights on the best auto parts stores on the market. We hope this helps you get started with your DIY mechanic shop right in the safety of your own garage. Soon, your friends will be coming to you for the quick fixes, since you'll be an auto parts expert. Happy driving!
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