The Internet has proven time and again to be an excellent source for comparative buyers looking to save money. The newest opportunity on the Internet to save your precious money is expensive truck and car repairs. Historically, auto repair savings have been limited to the DIY or backyard mechanic; Ultimately, the savings came in the form of labor. Thankfully those days are over as more people are using the internet to source and purchase the auto parts they need online and then take them to a local garage or backyard mechanic to have them installed. The internet offers complete coverage for virtually any and all truck and auto parts and can offer significant savings over your local auto parts store. I’ve heard of savings of over 70% on some aftermarket parts. If you take into account the old standard estimate of auto repair costs (50% parts + 50% labor), the overall savings could be as high as 35%.

Let’s take a typical 4 wheel brake job as an example. The vehicle I used was a 2001 Chevy Cavalier: 2.4 liter engine with front disc brakes and rear drums. I made a few calls to local auto parts stores (I purposely avoided dealerships and OEM parts to generate a better price comparison). I did not include tweezers.

I was able to get semi-metallic front brake pads, front rotors, rear brake drums, rear brake shoes, and new brake accessories online for $ 101.40, including shipping and all applicable taxes, delivered to my door! The same brake parts (I specifically didn’t select any of the parts that rated “Premium” level parts) from a local auto parts store came out for $ 345.47. To be honest, I was a bit surprised by the fact that I could save over 70% on aftermarket brake parts. I thought a 70% savings would be specific to parts that were normally “dealer” specific.

A couple of other things to keep in mind, I’ve heard shops are starting to charge a higher hourly rate if you bring your own parts, a capping fee if you want. It’s not unusual as they generally increase the auto parts they buy for you by at least 20%. However, the total additional cost to you is minimal as you generally receive a garage discount at the auto parts store.

Another important consideration is making sure you buy the right auto parts online; Determining with 100% accuracy which auto part fits your vehicle can be very difficult. Most online stores offer toll-free numbers and a friendly, knowledgeable staff who will cross-reference your vehicle to make sure you get the right parts. You don’t want to end up with parts you can’t use and potentially have to ship back at your expense (some online stores also charge a restocking fee). Another option is to contact a dealer to confirm the part numbers you need before purchasing online. Dealers can use your VIN number and provide another level of precision when it comes to identifying the correct part for the correct vehicle.

In short, there are significant savings available online for auto parts. The days when the only way to save money on car repairs was to do it yourself or hire a local yard mechanic are long gone.