Though preventative car maintenance is intended to forfend car problems, there is no guarantee that you will not face problems with your car down the road. As a matter of fact, every car is bound to encounter repair issues down the line no matter how well it is cared for. As a car owner, having to foot some car repair bills is a responsibility you should graciously accept. When car repair issues arise, you will have to take your car to the car mechanic for repair service. As part of normal car repair, your mechanic may establish that you need to replace certain damaged or excessively worn parts. In such situations, it is important to have a discussion with your mechanic on which type of replacement parts to use to fix the vehicle, as not all car replacement parts are the same.

Generally speaking, car parts are classified into the following two categories: new car parts and used car parts. Before making a final decision on which type of parts to use on your car, keep reading on below to find out what you need to know about each of these two types of car parts.

New car parts

Perhaps the biggest reason to buy brand new parts for your car repair is that the parts have never been used. New parts are usually tested for quality and performance before they are sold on the market. Hence, car owners can be sure of getting high-performance, defect-free parts for their vehicles. What is more, new car parts are typically covered under manufacturer's warranty, meaning that should any part fail due to a factory-related defect, it can be returned to the manufacturer. Thanks to the protection provided by the warranty, you can buy new car parts knowing that your investment won't go to waste.

It is, however, important to point out that because of the benefits they have to offer, new car parts generally cost more to buy than used ones. If you can afford to buy new parts for your car, you should let your mechanic use them on your car.

Used car parts

If you want to keep your car on the road, but can't afford the price of new car parts, your mechanic may recommend that you use used parts instead. Used car parts are available as remanufactured or salvaged parts. Remanufactured parts are previously used parts that have been rebuilt to meet factory conditions. Salvage parts, on the other hand, are car parts recovered or retrieved from another vehicle while they are still in sound operating condition. Using salvaged parts may be the only option if you want to fix a vintage or old-fashioned car whose spare parts are no longer being manufactured.

The best way to go about choosing replacement parts for your car repair is to establish your needs, determine your budget and strike a balance between what you need and what you can afford.