Category: Used car parts

Anyone who’s taken a car to the repair shop and learned the price for new parts can appreciate why people prefer to buy reliable auto parts from a junkyard. The parts typically cost at least 50% less than new parts — a cost saving that can amount to hundreds of dollars or more.

But before you can benefit from the low prices, you have to locate the used parts you need. Including the following strategies in your search will help you find what you’re looking for.

1. Look Through Used Car Magazines

In addition to running ads for pre-owned automobiles, some used car magazines advertise used auto parts. The parts you find are often large and have a significant price despite their used state, such as turbo drives with exhaust manifolds, transmissions, and whole engines. If you’re looking for smaller parts, you may have more luck checking online junkyard inventories or inquiring at a mechanic shop.

2. Check Online Junkyard Inventories

Are there used car parts near me, the parts I need? When you check the online vehicle inventories for junkyards in your general area, you usually find that the answer is yes, especially if you’re combing through the inventories of junkyards that routinely acquire additional cars. Check to see if the car you need parts from is in stock, then go remove the parts.

3. Check Newspaper Auto Classifieds

People use the classified section of newspapers to sell just about everything, including used auto parts. The key is to check the papers regularly, as what you find each time can vary quite a bit. Shopping the classifieds isn’t the best option if you need something right away, but it can put you in touch with parts you might want to buy and save for future maintenance and repairs.

4. Contact a Local Mechanic Shop

Some mechanic shops are also a good source for used parts. Often, shops that carry used components buy them from auto recyclers, apply a price markup, and then sell the components. You usually pay a lower price at junkyards, and junkyards have more parts to choose from. Ideally, a mechanic shop should be a secondary source for used parts after a junkyard.

Reach Out to Wrench-A-Part Today

Are there used auto parts near me? If you live in or near one of the following Texas cities, the answer is yes: Austin, Belton, Holland, or Lubbock. That’s because Wench-A-Part has locations in these places.

If you live near one of our locations, don’t waste time paging through auto publications or calling mechanic shops in search of parts. Simply check our online vehicle inventory to see if we have the vehicle you need them from. We look forward to supplying reliable, affordably priced auto parts.

Are there salvage yards near me? If you live in a well-populated area, the answer is probably yes. Wherever vehicles are put out of service for one reason or another, and people need to buy auto parts at a discount, salvage yards — commonly known as junkyards — can usually be found.

However, just because a junkyard is in close proximity to your address doesn’t mean it’s the best choice. Before you decide to use a particular salvage lot, answer the four questions below. They’ll help you make an educated decision about the best junkyard to get parts from.

What equipment do you plan to purchase?

Most parts consumers purchase from junkyards can be found with ease. For example, if you need a replacement part for a popular model like the Ford Taurus, you shouldn’t have much trouble finding it. When the parts you need can be purchased from the majority of professionally operated junkyards, you may as well choose the junkyard nearest to your address.

Is what you need generally hard to find?

Let’s say the parts you’re looking for aren’t easy to find (e.g. vintage race car components), but you happen to find them at a junkyard that’s about 100 miles away. In this case, your best bet would probably be to take a road trip and secure the parts you need instead of waiting for them to show up at a junkyard that’s closer, which may never happen.

How easy is it to transport what you buy?

There’s a big difference between needing a single engine part and needing a whole engine. More often than not, the former can be placed in the trunk of a car, while the latter would need to be secured in the bed of a pickup truck. The harder it is to transport what you need, the more sense it makes to choose the closest junkyard location.

Searching for a Nearby Salvage Lot?

Are there salvage yards near me? If you’re asking this question, and you live in the Lone Star State, the answer is probably yes — and there’s a good chance that Wrench-A-Part might be one of them. We now have locations in Austin, Belton, Holland, and Lubbock. To find out if we have the car that you need parts from, simply view our vehicle inventory online, or call us today at one of our four locations. We look forward to hearing from you!

The proliferation of the internet has made it easier to purchase things we can’t find in nearby stores. But some products should be purchased in person instead of using the world wide web for the transaction. Used auto parts belong in this class of products. Below are four reasons why.

1. Hard to Inspect All Angles

When people ask, “Are there used auto parts near me?”, it’s often because they know the value of inspecting parts firsthand instead of assuming parts are in good condition. Most retailers don’t provide enough photos to show the product from all angles. However, you can conduct an all points inspection of a used auto part by rotating the component while examining it.

2. Photos Can be Deceiving

Another reason people ask, “Are there used auto parts near me?” instead of quickly searching for parts online, is that product photos on the net can be deceiving due to how they make a product look, for better or worse. Any deception is usually an accident and typically results from lack of photography skills, particularly shooting a product in the right light from the proper angles.

3. Receiving the Wrong Parts

A third reason people ask, “Are there used auto parts near me?” is to avoid the potential hassle of receiving the wrong auto part in the mail after they order online. The mistake could easily put a vehicle repair project on hold for weeks, as the wrong part is exchanged for the right one. When you buy parts in-store, you can be sure you get exactly what you need.

4. Option for Parts Warranties

A fourth reason to buy used auto parts in-store is that it’s generally harder to find used parts warranties through online retailers. This is often because the retailers serve as vendors of used parts, but don’t specialize in inspecting them. Professionally operated junkyards do specialize in inspecting parts. This is how they determine a junk car’s value. Consequently, these junk yards can feel more confident in offering used parts warranties.

Need Reliable Used Auto Parts?

If so, and you live in Texas, one of our four locations may be in close proximity to your own: Austin, Belton, Holland, and Lubbock. We also serve general areas around these cities. To inquire about our parts and services, please refer to our contact page to reach our location closest to you by phone or contact form. We look forward to hearing from you!

So-called salvage cars can be separated into two broad groups: cars that receive a “salvage certificate” from the state motor vehicle agency, and cars that are repaired and receive a new title that allows them to be registered, driven, and sold, with the title indicating the vehicle is salvaged and rebuilt.

Below, we answer common questions about salvage cars in both groups to help you make an educated decision about selling a salvage vehicle or purchasing used auto parts from one.

Does my car need a salvage title for a junkyard to buy it?

States have different requirements for the process of junking a car. In most cases, a title isn’t a part of the equation, unless it’s used to provide proof of vehicle ownership. In addition to proving you own the vehicle you plan to sell, junkyards may require proof of the vehicle’s registration, a damage disclosure statement, and the license plates for the automobile.

Can I discover how a salvage title vehicle was damaged?

Yes. Sometimes, the seller may have the information. If the seller is a third party that knows the status of the vehicle but not a detailed repair history, using Carfax services is a good alternative. Carfax offers five vehicle search services: Lemon Check, Record Check, Recall Check, Problem Car, and full Carfax vehicle history report. Any information reported to the company about a vehicle can be found in the full vehicle history report.

What can I do to protect my investment in salvage parts?

The best ways to protect your investment are (a) purchase used auto parts that are nearly new and don’t show much wear, and (b) buy parts from a junkyard that offers warranties for used components. For example, if you buy used auto parts from us, you have the option of applying a warranty of $1 per part, per day for each piece you purchase.

Does salvage status affect how much junkyards pay for cars?

Unless you plan to sell your vehicle as a pre-owned car that is fit to drive, salvage status alone has a negligible impact on how much you receive. This is because the value of your salvage car is based primarily on the collective value of its salable parts. The more salable parts a car contains, the more value it has to a junkyard.

About Our Business

Wrench-A-Part is Texas-based, professionally operated junkyard with locations in Austin, Belton, Holland, and Lubbock. We specialize in buying end-of-life automobiles, purchasing used cars that still drive, and selling high-quality, used auto components. To inquire about selling a vehicle or buying parts, please visit our contact page to find our nearest location.    

If you drive a new car carefully, you can often avoid making repairs to the vehicle for thousands of miles. However, as you drive those miles, you’ll need to maintain the vehicle by installing maintenance parts that keep it in good driving condition.

Professionally operated junkyards are great places to get replacement parts for a discount. If you need any of the following components, see if you can find them at auto salvage yards (a.k.a. junkyards) before you resort to buying them from an auto repair shop or an auto dealer.

Belts

Auto belts such as timing belts and serpentine belts can withstand thousands of miles of wear, but they eventually degrade. Junkyards are a good source for these and other belts because a faulty belt is rarely a problem that causes a car to end up in a junkyard. Some belts you find in a junkyard are so new that they show practically no wear.

Tires

Many tires at auto salvage yards are in great condition for the same reason belts are: The car that had them was in a wreck that “totaled” the car but left its tires virtually untouched.

According to Consumer Reports, “Tires are considered bald when one or more of their grooves reaches 2/32 of an inch deep.” Punctures in the tire and dry rotting can also impact performance. As long as used tires have no major signs of wear and maintain an airtight seal, getting them from auto salvage yards is highly cost effective.

Brake Pads

Because brake pads are designed to last for thousands of miles, you shouldn’t have a problem finding pads in good condition at a junkyard. The dense composite material that forms brake pads makes them hard to damage, which helps explain why they often emerge from wrecks unscathed. With brake pads, what you see is usually what you get. If they have plenty of padding, you can count on using them for thousands of miles.

Search Our Inventory

If you need maintenance parts for your vehicle, check out the vehicle inventories for our four Texas locations: Austin, Belton, Holland, and Lubbock. If you find the vehicle you need parts from, simply travel to the appropriate location, and remove the part with your tools.

Our auto salvage yards are safe, clean, and well-organized, making it easy for you to pull the part you need, and be on your way. For more information about our parts and services, contact one of our locations by referring to our contact form. We look forward to hearing from you!

When we talk about how to pull your own parts at a junkyard, we often mention tools that will help you pull parts in the right way, not tools that won’t help you. However, there are indeed some devices that you should leave your garage or toolshed, as you head to a junkyard to pull your own parts.

Below are four examples of these tools, with an explanation of how each one could cause unwanted issues for you, the junkyard, or both. If you’re selecting tools for a junkyard visit, there’s no need to weigh yourself down with the following pieces of equipment, as useful as they may be in other contexts.

1. Cutting Torches

Cutting torches provide an efficient way to cut through metal that has thin to medium thickness. They also provide an efficient way to cause a fire in the oily engine compartment of a used car. Furthermore, when you use a flame cutter to remove parts, you often damage one component for the sake of removing another component that’s connected to the one that you cut.

2. Lifting Jacks

Professionally operated junkyards typically have vehicles lifted well above ground level to provide access to a vehicle’s wheel wells and undercarriage. Some junkyards prohibit lifting jacks because it’s easy to damage a car, depending on how you place the jack. Moreover, because cars are already lifted to facilitate parts removal, a jack is nothing more than extra weight.

3. Power Tools

Most junkyards let you use battery-powered tools, but electricity-powered tools are often off limits. There are two reasons why: Stringing extension cords through the salvage lot could cause injuries, and the electricity bill of the junkyard would soar if thousands of people used the facility’s electricity for power tools during parts removal.

4. Saws for Metal

Saws for metal are similar to power torches in that you often damage one component for the sake of removing another component that’s connected to the one that you cut. This means that the damaged part probably can’t be sold, except possibly as scrap. So, unless you’d like to purchase one auto part for the price of two, refrain from using a saw to remove components.

Who We Are

Wrench-A-Part is a professionally operated junkyard with four Texas locations: Austin, Belton, Holland, and Lubbock. In addition to offering some of the best prices for pre-owned auto parts, we give you the option of applying a warranty to the parts.

To learn more about our services or what you need to do to comply with our salvage lot safety rules, please refer to our contact page. We look forward to helping you pull your own parts to save money.  

 

Many junkyards sell used auto parts for at least 50% less than the original price. But the savings don’t mean much if you buy components that are unreliable, soon malfunction, and bring you back to square one: Going to a junkyard in search of an inexpensive, reliable replacement part.

In this entry, we present four tips that can help you avoid the situation above. Buying used auto parts that deliver excellent reliability is a guessing game for some drivers, but the pointers below will help you avoid unreliable components, and buy reliable ones the first time around.

1. Shop at a Professional Junkyard

“Mom and pop” junkyards that look more like a scene from Mad Max than places where you would source auto parts may offer the lowest prices, but they also tend to offer less reliable parts.

For example, it wouldn’t be uncommon for these amateur junkyards not remove recalcitrant parts from vehicles that have legal lemon status, but removing the parts is something that almost any professionally operated junkyard would do before placing the cars in the salvage lot.

2. Buy the Newest Parts You Can

Auto manufacturers frequently change up the body style of vehicles without changing all of the parts under the hood and elsewhere on the automobile. If fact, some of the same parts are commonly used for several model years, consecutively.

The newer the parts you buy, the less wear they generally have. In terms of reliability, this is why it’s good to invest in the newest used parts that fit your automobile.

3. Inspect Parts for Obvious Wear

On metal parts, look for rust and other signs of corrosion. On plastic and rubber parts, check for cracks and any type of material/substance that may have been applied to correct them. When inspecting rubber hoses, squeeze them gently and see if it feels like they pop or crack inside. If they do, they’re probably aging from the inside out and wouldn’t offer the best reliability.

4. Invest in a Used Parts Warranty

Some junkyards offer warranties for used auto parts. For example, we offer a warranty that runs you $1 per part, per day. Of course, a warranty doesn’t guarantee parts will be reliable, but it does guarantee that you’ll receive a refund or free replacement components if the parts you buy are unreliable.

For us and our customers, our parts warranty program is a win-win situation. It helps us earn revenue, and it gives our customers the peace of mind they need when buying used parts.

Looking for Reliable, Used Auto Parts?

If so, we invite you to check out the online vehicle inventory for our Texas location closest to you: Austin, Belton, Holland, or Lubbock. We’re a professionally operated junkyard that only sells usable parts and gives you the opportunity to protect your purchase with a warranty.

We frequently receive new salvage vehicles. If we don’t have the vehicle you need parts from right now, check back shortly, or request us to give you a courtesy call when the vehicle arrives. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

You know that you need self-service auto parts in Lubbock, but you’re not sure which salvage lot to get them from. At Wrench-A-Part, we feel that we’re your top option — and not just because our parts are priced to sell quickly. When you get self-service auto parts in Lubbock from us, you get more than a fair price. You also receive the important benefits below that not just every junkyard offers.

1. Online Vehicle Inventory

There are two ways to see if we have the car you need parts from: Visit our salvage lot in person, or check our online vehicle inventory. Maintaining an online inventory helps us sell parts. It helps drivers avoid making trips to our locations if we don’t have the vehicle that they’re looking for.

2. Help Transporting Parts

We can’t help you transport the parts you buy back to your garage, where you plan to install them. But we can help you move parts from the salvage lot to the payment counter. We do this by providing our customers with wheelbarrows and wagons that are perfect for transporting single, large parts and collections of smaller multiple parts. We offer the equipment for free.

3. Optional Parts Warranty

We understand that some drivers are unsure about whether they’ll receive good reliability from a used auto part. This is why we offer an optional parts warranty at an affordable price of $1 per part, per day. If the part you buy becomes defective while under warranty, you can receive a refund, or receive a used replacement part of similar value. Our warranty program helps you protect your investment.

4. Environmentally Friendly

Our professionally operated junkyard is environmentally friendly. In addition to removing engine fluids from junk cars to help prevent soil and water pollution, we send scrap metal from junk vehicles to auto recyclers. The only parts of our vehicles that we don’t intend to recycle are components that simply can’t be recycled using current recycling technologies.  

See Our Inventory Today

If you’re looking for self-service auto parts in Lubbock, Wrench-A-Part is a great place to find them. All you need to do is check our online vehicle inventory, bring your own tools, and remove the parts you need from our orderly, well-maintained, safe salvage lot. We have four Texas locations in Austin, Belton, Holland, and Lubbock. See the inventory for our location closest to you today!  

 

Self service auto yards are great places to shop to save money on car parts. Customers often walk away paying less than half of a part’s original price. But the prospect of saving money isn’t the only thing to consider when you choose a self service auto yard. You should think of your safety, for example — and your sanity, too. Once you read about the following three types of auto yards to void, you’ll see what we mean.

1. Yards That Stack Cars High

Some junkyards are like thriving metropolises. There isn’t enough ground space to accommodate everything on an even plane; so, things start heading toward the sky. But if you thought towering skyscrapers could be dangerous, they’re nothing compared to a sandwich of salvage cars stacked eight vehicles high.

These types of yards often deal in scrap, and some of them are essentially just landfills that are above ground — not the type of self service auto yard you want to walk around in without wearing a hard hat.

2. Yards That are One With Nature 

It’s a good to be environmentally conscious, but letting the wilderness encroach on your junkyard is taking things a bit far. Yet, that’s exactly what some ill-kempt junkyards do. These businesses are often “mom and pop” operations that are primarily in the business of selling scrap, but some of them let you buy parts.

It’s not just briars and poison ivy that you need to watch out for, though; it’s the animals and stinging insects that could nest in the weeds. If removing an engine first requires removing a hornet’s nest, there’s definitely an easier way.

3. Yards That Have No Organization

Saving money by getting used auto parts starts to lose its value when you have to search for hours for what you need, with no guarantee of finding it. But that’s what you’re faced with at junkyards whose inventory looks like it was organized by a tornado.

Prices at these yards are often excessively low. So, they do draw some customers, who are often intrepid gearheads, who treat the experience like a flea market and look for that one rare find. If this isn’t your idea of an enjoyable visit to a junkyard, shop elsewhere.

Come to Wrench-A-Part

At Wrench-A-Part, we know you want to get pre-owned auto parts that are in good condition, buy them quickly, and install in your vehicle fast. We make this easy by keeping neat, clean, safe salvage lots whose vehicle inventories are listed online. We have four locations in Texas: Austin, Belton, Lubbock, and Holland. Visit to our Search Inventory page to check the inventory closest to your location.       

 

If you’ve heard much about purchasing parts from a junkyard, you may have heard the parts referred to as self service auto parts, which means that you remove the components using your own tools. However, when you get parts from Wrench-A-Part, you aren’t totally on your own. We provide the resources below to help you locate the parts you need, and acquire them quickly.

Online Inventory for Each Location

We maintain an up-to-date, online inventory for each of our Texas junkyard locations: Austin, Belton, Holland, and Lubbock. Don’t waste time and gas driving to a junkyard only to discover that the business doesn’t have the parts you require. Instead, check our vehicle inventory online, and only make a trip to visit us after you know we have the car you need parts from.

Late Model Inventory for all Locations

Many customers arrive at our website looking for late model auto parts. We help make finding the parts easier by providing an up-to-date, online inventory of our late model vehicles. Our late model inventory lists late model junk vehicles for all four of our junkyard locations. If you need late model auto parts, there’s no need to browse through the inventory for each of our locations.

Engine Pulling A-Frames

Not many consumers have the heavy duty tool necessary to hoist an engine from a vehicle: an engine pulling A-frame. That’s why we supply the tool to customers who need to remove an engine. The equipment stays with us after the engine is removed, but it offers an easy way to pull the engine, which you can transport to the payment destination using one of our wagons.

Wheelbarrows and Wagons

We provide access to wheelbarrows that are perfect for carrying collections of small parts and hauling medium size parts that are difficult to carry by hand. We also provide access to wagons that are perfect for transporting large, heavy components such as engines and unwieldy body parts such as doors. These resources help you get what you need and get on your way faster.

Get Self Service Auto Parts Today

Wrench-A-Part strives the make acquiring self service auto parts as easy possible. By using the resources above, in addition to your handy tools, it’s possible to get the part you need within hours of first needing it. To check if we have the vehicle you need parts from, visit our late model inventory page, or visit the inventory page for our Texas location closest to you: Austin, Belton, Holland, or Lubbock. We look forward to helping you acquire reliable parts for a great price!