Monday, July 14th
2025 Auto Parts Store Reviews
Pep Boys
- Search tailored to your car
- In person and online shopping
- Mechanics on staff to do jobs for you
- 30-day return window
- "A+” rating and accreditation from the BBB
Pep Boys, with an almost century-long history in auto parts retail, has, in recent years, focused on expanding its service and tire centers across the United States. While they've earned a reputation for their service centers, they also maintain an online retail shop with a variety of auto parts. This creates a unique balance between DIY car part shopping and the option to take your vehicle in to an expert for maintenance.
Solid selection, but no search by car feature
Pep Boys' online store offers a user-friendly shopping experience, aided by an efficient search function and well-structured product categories. Compared to some competitors, Pep Boys may offer fewer discounted items, though, which could be a problem for auto enthusiasts on a budget. Although the quality of auto parts is generally reliable, customers might find themselves paying slightly more. However, the site isn't the most intuitive. In order to start shopping, you have to select an item. But before you can proceed, you'll have to pick your local Pep Boys location. Then, you have to enter your car's information to continue.
No prices due to missing inventory
To get an accurate price comparison among all auto stores, we decided to look at their price ranges for three areas of auto repair: replacement parts, performance parts, and oil and fluids. Keep in mind that you can only search by a specific car at Pep Boys, so all the prices are based on our test car, the 2019 Toyota Camry. Unfortunately, when we went through all the effort to search, there weren't any brake pads at Pep Boys for the Toyota Camry. Similarly, there were zero results for shocks for our test car. And, disappointingly, the same turned up for motor oil. So, finding prices can be a little difficult at Pep Boys online since many of the items that are standard just aren't in stock.
Mechanic help in person and online
If you do manage to find your item at Pep Boys, you can easily order online. And, since Pep Boys is also an in-person auto parts retailer, you can choose to go with in-store pickup instead. For customers who want to get their orders more quickly, Pep Boys has a network of over 920 brick-and-mortar locations where they can conveniently buy online and pick up in-store. You can also easily make online appointments for in-person help if you decide you don't want to DIY and would rather let the Pep Boys professionals take care of your car.
Coupons and free shipping available
For some cool discounts, you should definitely check out Pep Boys' savings page. They often have coupons that can help you save money on your desired products. Just remember, they don't do price matching, so what you see listed is what you pay. And when it comes to shipping, Pep Boys calculates it based on your order's cost, the weight of the items, and their size. To snag free shipping, you'll need to spend over $75, which usually isn't hard to do with auto parts.
30-day returns
Regarding returns, Pep Boys offers a fairly standard policy. Customers are entitled to full refunds for new and unused items returned within 30 days, provided they have the receipt. In the absence of a receipt, returns are only eligible for exchanges. While this isn't a stand-out policy, it's nice that you are able to return items in person to avoid any return shipping charges.
Not your ideal first stop for auto parts
While some customers have reported unsatisfactory interactions with Pep Boys' employees, especially when contacting them via phone or in person, the company enjoys a favorable "A+” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. However, if you check out the user reviews, customers have given Pep Boys an average rating of 2 stars. Many of the reviews are related to the in-person services, which means that one of the perks of going to Pep Boys (the in-person help), may not actually be a positive thing for many customers. That, along with long wait times and trouble with some returns, highlights that Pep Boys might not deserve to be your first stop for auto parts shopping.
Not impressive
At the end of the day, while Pep Boys looks reliable on paper with the "A+” rating from the BBB, the fact that its website is missing some of the most standard items from one of the most popular cars in the US says a lot about what you can expect in terms of auto parts. On top of that, they don't really offer any distinctive features that set them apart as a top retailer. With their longstanding presence in the industry, Pep Boys gets the job done for some but frustrates others with lackluster customer service.
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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.
Auto Parts Store FAQ
Continued from above...
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:
- Price. The first way to narrow your decision is pretty obvious: price. Different auto parts stores offer different kinds of deals or price match guarantees, so making sure that the store you choose fits your budget is important to get the parts you need.
- Return policy. What is the return policy like? Does the retailer you're looking at offer a warranty for their parts? Finding a company that stands by the auto parts they sell is as important as finding the parts themselves. You don't want to be paying even more for maintenance (or returns) in the future, so keep an eye on the return policies.
- Selection. Do you only want to buy OEM parts? Are you looking for something specifically for a European car? Making sure that the retailer has all the parts you need in stock, or has a decent selection of part types, can help you make sure you're getting the best deal. Plus, if you're looking to upgrade, you might need a wider range of parts and tools than the average driver, so selection is a huge deal.
- Customer satisfaction. The final piece of the puzzle relates to the experience of past customers. Checking into reviews and feedback can help you get a clear picture of a company's track record. Are they improving or getting worse over time? Do customers feel like they had good service from a particular company? The Better Business Bureau (BBB) can also serve as a valuable resource for gauging a company's reputation.
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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