Buy Spare Parts For Yourself Or Mechanic Should Buy? Best Tips

It’s not unusual for a car to need repair and maintenance. These frequent repairs and maintenance often come with changing some parts of the car- hence the need to get spare parts. Car owners often wonder whether it is best to buy spare parts by themselves or rather depend on their mechanic to buy them. Truth is, you can do it either way, however, there are some things to consider.

Can I Buy Spare Parts Myself Or Mechanic Should Buy?

Buying car spare parts is not rocket science, so long you have the right understanding of your car and spare parts. Generally, car owners prefer buying their spare parts themselves and then take them to their mechanic to fix them to reduce the total expense of repairing their cars. Notwithstanding, there are few factors to consider to know which decision is best to make; buy my spare parts myself or a mechanic should buy it?

Cost

It’s easy to assume that buying your spare parts yourself will save you some cash, but that is not always true. First, you might fall victim to buying a fake spare part because you think it is less expensive. Secondly, you could buy a spare part of low-quality that won’t stand the test of time. Hence, you end up buying another one again in a short while. Thirdly, your mechanic could charge you higher for repair and installation because you didn’t buy from him.

Unless you are very knowledgeable about your car and diversify the spare parts in the market, it might be best to allow your mechanic to get the spare part for you. Ideally, a mechanic is expected to be knowledgeable about your car and know which spare part would work best with it.

Vehicle

Not all spare parts will work with your vehicle. This brings me to the issue of compatibility. Just like in blood transfusion, where only certain blood types can be transfused to an individual, the same applies to vehicle spare parts. Spare parts designed for a Toyota car might not work with a Lexus brand. If you are a new car owner or your vehicle developed a new fault, you might not be aware of suitable spare parts for your car. If you must buy your spare part yourself, there is nothing wrong with following a recommendation or prescription from your mechanic.

Mechanic

The next thing is to consider your mechanic. Most mechanics are used to working with certain spare parts, they know the ins and outs; and how to install them in your car. However, when you go out to buy a spare part yourself, you just might buy one they are not used to. This could cause potential damage to your car especially if they don’t fix it well.

The safest rule is to carry your mechanic along when you want to buy a spare part for your vehicle.

Best Tips To Follow When Buying Spare Parts.

Research Extensively

Whether you or your mechanic is buying a spare part, it doesn’t hurt to research well. Like I mentioned earlier, there are various kinds of spare parts. The research will let you know which is compatible with your car as well as the trusted places to buy your spare parts.

Compare Prices

It’s possible that more than one brand of spare parts will work effectively with your car, but they differ in price. Check your budget, and go for the price that suits you.

Consult With Your Mechanic

Just in case you are doing the purchase yourself, consult with your mechanic on the spare part you are about to buy. Verify the spare part number with your mechanic to see if it fits your car.

Avoid Buying Rare Parts Online

Nowadays, it’s a trend to buy spare parts online. However, this is safe if a spare part is popular but can be risky if it is rare to find. If it is rare, as much as possible, buy it in person (either you or your mechanic) to avoid wasting time and money.

Warranty

Spare parts do come with a warranty. Verify with your spare part seller to know the warranty period available on what you want to buy. It’s best to buy spare parts with a warranty so that you can get a free replacement when something goes wrong within the warranty period.