What to Ask Before You Visit a Wrecker for Spare Parts

Visiting a wrecker for spare parts for your car is a good idea for many reasons; one is that it keeps those junked parts out of landfills, and other is that those parts are typically going to be much cheaper than new parts while still having years of life left in them. You may also be able to find parts for your older car or a discontinued model when you shop at a wreckers. However, since shopping at a wrecker or scrap yard is not like shopping in a new auto parts store, there are some things you want to be clear on before you show up. Note a few questions to ask so you know how the process works and what to expect.

1. Always ask if the parts are pulled, shelved, and cataloged

When you visit an auto parts store, the parts are all on shelves and they are usually cataloged so you can easily ask for help in finding them or the right aisle for a certain part. However, a wrecking yard can be very different; the parts may not have even been pulled off the car yet. Some yards might have certain spots for certain types of cars, such as foreign cars in one area and domestic cars in another, but that may be all the organizing they've done. Other wreckers pull parts, clean them, put them on shelves in a storefront, and have a computerized catalog. In either case, always ask so you know what to expect when it comes to actual shopping.

2. Ask if they have testing equipment

Some wrecking yards will have testing equipment so you can test if a certain part still works. This can be a good choice for a wrecking yard where you need to pull part off cars yourself, so you know if they are still functional and you're getting your money's worth.

3. Ask about bringing in your old part for a trade-in

Even if your old part is completely wrecked or no longer working, sometimes there are smaller parts the wrecking yard can salvage and resell. This might include seals, bearings, hoses, and the like. In some cases they will recycle just the raw material, be that metal, rubber, or plastic. Not all wrecking yards will offer a discount on your part if you bring in your old one, but it's always worth asking; at the very least, simply recycling it so that it doesn't wind up in a landfill can be a good choice.

For more information, talk to a Nissan wrecker.