Know what you are looking for. The most important point is to know what you need. To many people set off looking for parts before they really know what they are looking for. Do your research and make sure you have a good idea of what the going rate is, how can you get cheap parts if you don't know how much they are!?

Never offer to Donate your car unless you are doing it for moral purposes. Before 2005 The IRS was writing out deductions like nothing. Until they realize that they where losing Millions in revenue. Nowadays, to receive a deduction on a vehicle donation the value must exceed, but not including, $5,000. What does this mean? If car junkyard near me donate your car and they give you $5001.00, then your deduction is only $1.00. You are batter off taking it to a salvage yard and getting $50 bucks for it.

Auto salvage yards that operate a used auto parts department often sell parts to retail or walk-in customers. Many yards also do business with auto wholesale parts companies or other junk yards. Many used auto parts businesses use auto parts locator services to manage their inventory. These programs also help them connect with other yards and body shops. Body shops can benefit greatly from doing business with auto salvage yards because they can acquire the parts they are looking for at a fair price.

Once you have located a salvage auto auction, it is best to inspect the vehicle before you are ready to bid. Arrive early and take your time. This is very important and many times people skip this step or does a quick last minute look over. If the auction is not local, then you might be able to view the cars online on the auction website. There are usually a detailed description of the vehicle and pictures to give you an idea on the condition, title and repairs made or needed.

For parts that are large, some auto salvage yards will haul them for you. This is something to ask when you make the phone call. Some people will buy the entire vehicle in order to scrap it themselves. Other parts such as trunk lids, hoods, door panels, and roofs can be too large for some to haul as well. If you need them to haul it for you, ask them how much they will do it for. Make sure that you comparison shop if you feel the price is too steep. If no one else can do any better or they don't have the part, you can always call them back and tell them you will be there to make the purchase. You are not obligated the moment you make the phone call.

The first obvious reason to shop online instead of offline is the amount of time you can save. Shopping for car parts offline takes time. Finding the right part can mean going from store to store. This can waste time as well as money spent on gas. If a part is no longer carried by nearby stores, this could mean searching through scrap yards for the right part for the right model. This will be even more time consuming.