HOUSTON – With repair costs continuing to rise, more drivers are looking for ways to save money when their vehicles need work.
One growing trend is buying your own auto parts instead of letting the repair shop provide them, a strategy some consumers say can cut repair bills in half.
Greg Brown, a car enthusiast from Cypress, has been doing exactly that for decades. His love for sports cars started years ago, and along with that passion came a habit of purchasing his own parts before taking his vehicle to a mechanic.
Brown says the reason is simple: saving money.
He estimates he typically saves between 50% and 60% on repairs by ordering parts himself, and in some cases even more.
Financial experts say the strategy can work because repair shops often mark up the cost of parts.
Ted Rossman, a financial expert with Bankrate.com, says mechanics may add 20% to 30% or more to the price they pay for a part, meaning customers who buy the part themselves can avoid that extra cost.
Some mechanics are willing to work with customers who bring their own parts, especially in independent shops.
Junior Bekdely, owner of Redline Auto Sports, says his shop has installed customer-provided parts for years. He says smaller, independent repair shops are often more flexible, while larger dealerships may be less likely to allow it.
Bekdely demonstrated how much the savings can add up. He showed an alternator that a repair shop might charge around $480 for, while the exact same genuine part could be purchased online for about $182 — a difference of roughly $300.
Experts say the key to using this strategy successfully is ordering the correct part. Drivers should have the make, model, year, and VIN number of their vehicle ready before buying anything. In many cases, you can also ask your mechanic to tell you the exact part needed before placing an order.
Auto parts can be purchased through a variety of online retailers, including:
While the approach may not work for every repair, consumers who do their homework could save hundreds of dollars on maintenance and repairs.