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.
Fair
Car Parts is an online auto parts store for supplies of all kinds, whether you want basics like a new headlight or a replacement mirror, maintenance items like oil or windshield washer fluid, or in-depth repair items like body panels, fuel tanks, wiring, and more. This is a site for those who want to do all their car repairs, not just a basic battery change or oil refill. Like many other reliable sites, you can put your car's make, model, year, and sub model into ensure that all of the parts you see are a perfect fit for your vehicle. Car Parts does offer both OEM parts and aftermarket parts, which covers a range of costs. The OEM section will differ from vehicle to vehicle, though. You can specifically shop OEM only if you prefer. However, for our test vehicle (a Toyota Camry), there were no OEM parts in stock.
One-stop shop for repair and maintenance
Car Parts has everything - from body panels like fenders, hoods, and bumpers to exterior trim like mirrors or grilles. You can find new window components, wheels, fuel caps, seals, wheel hubs, and more. There are even products for rust repair and patch panels if needed. Whether you're planning a full overhaul or hoping to repair a busted fender, there are plenty of parts on Car Parts to choose from. And, this auto parts store doesn't just focus on parts. You can get tools, garage accessories for organizing, jacks, and motor oil. No matter what side of maintenance or repair you're looking for, Car Parts has a competitive inventory to choose from.
Pricing from $31.99 to $614.95 for parts
For our price comparison at auto parts stores, we used a test vehicle to standardize our results. Our chosen test car is a 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE with a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine. To get an idea of different repair and maintenance needs, we looked at four items: a regular maintenance item (motor oil), a maintenance item that requires more work (brake pads), a more complex problem (shocks, which often come as a full shock/strut assembly), and a tool set (socket wrench set). Here's what we found at Car Parts:
Free shipping for Car Parts+ members
Car Parts promises hassle-free shipping with processing that takes less than 24 hours. Only customers who have subscribed to a Car Parts+ membership can score free shipping with this auto parts store. The membership costs $79 per year and includes 24/7 roadside assistance, free shipping on most parts offered by Car Parts, an extended 60-day return policy, and VIP support. If you're not a member, returns can be made within 30 days. However, you will be required to pay for return shipping unless there was an error in the product sent by Car Parts or the part was defective.
Wrong parts and poor resolution
Car Parts holds a perfect "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. However, on third-party review sites like Trustpilot, customers generally agree that the experience isn't as good as it could be. Currently, Car Parts holds just 2.5 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot. Customers have left recent complaints about getting the wrong parts, frustrating AI customer service which often leads to poor or no resolutions, and high shipping costs (with many important items like car fenders not included in the premium membership shipping discount). Other customers sent back parts unopened to this auto parts store and never received refunds. Within the last few weeks alone, the majority of the reviews were just 1 star.
Too many errors to trust
While Car Parts appears to be a solid one-stop shop for all things mechanical, there are some notable drawbacks. First, its options for standard tools (like socket sets) are extremely limited. Second, there is a range of recent reviews (within 2 weeks of the time of our review) showing shocking errors with shipping, wrong parts, and no resolution for customers seeking refunds. At the end of the day, the reliability of Car Parts isn't as strong as we'd like to see. Plus, despite promising a large OEM selection, there were no OEM parts for a very standard common vehicle. Overall, Car Parts could work on providing a better customer experience and more reliable shipments.
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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