Best Sites to Find Used Car Parts On (And When to Skip Them for a Junkyard)
The best sites and apps to find used car parts on — from online marketplaces to salvage yard inventory search — and how to know which one is cheapest for your part.
“Good site to find car parts on?” is one of the most common questions in car forums — and the honest answer is that the best source depends on the part and how much work you want to do. Here’s how to choose, and when a junkyard beats every site out there.
Quick answer
The best source depends on the part: online marketplaces (eBay Motors, Car-Part.com) win for shipped used parts, but self-service salvage yards are the cheapest if you pull the part yourself. To find a donor car at a yard near you, the Pick and Pull app searches participating self-service yards by make, model, and year — so you know a match is on the lot before you drive out.
The main ways to find used car parts
- Online marketplaces (eBay Motors, Car-Part.com, forums) — huge selection, shipped to you, sometimes with returns. Best for small, specific, or hard-to-ship-yourself parts.
- Full-service used-parts dealers — they pull and price the part for you. Convenient, but you pay for the labor.
- Self-service (“pick-n-pull”) yards — you pull the part yourself for the lowest price. Best value if you can do the work.
When a junkyard beats the sites
If the part is heavy, expensive new, or shared across many model years, a self-service yard usually wins on price by a wide margin — you’re only paying for the part, not labor or dealer markup. The only real risk is driving out to a yard that doesn’t have your car.
That’s exactly what the Pick and Pull app fixes:
- Search participating yards by make, model, and year
- See which yards have a match, on a map, within your radius
- Check arrival dates to target fresh vehicles
- Set an alert for when a matching car shows up
A simple rule of thumb
- Need it shipped, small, or with a warranty? Buy online.
- Want the lowest price and can turn a wrench? Pull it at a self-service yard — after confirming the car is there.
Don’t gamble the drive
Yard inventory changes daily, so checking first is the whole game. Pick and Pull is free to download (5 searches a day, 1 alert), and Premium unlocks unlimited searches and alerts with a 7-day free trial.
Find the cheapest source for your part — get Pick and Pull on the App Store.
Pick and Pull is an independent app and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by eBay, Car-Part.com, Pick-n-Pull, Row52, or any salvage yard operator. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best site to find used car parts on? +
It depends on the part. Online marketplaces (eBay Motors, Car-Part.com) are great for shipped used parts, while self-service salvage yards are cheapest if you pull the part yourself. To find a donor car at a self-service yard near you, the Pick and Pull app searches participating yards by make, model, and year.
Where can I find used car parts cheapest? +
Self-service ("pick-n-pull") yards are usually cheapest because you remove the part yourself, avoiding labor and dealer markup. The catch is you have to confirm the right vehicle is on the lot first — Pick and Pull does that in a few taps so you do not waste the trip.
Should I buy used parts online or pull them at a junkyard? +
Buy online when you need it shipped, want a warranty, or the part is small and specific. Pull it at a self-service yard when you want the lowest price and can do the work yourself. For heavy or expensive parts, pulling your own often saves the most money.
How do I find which junkyard has my car? +
Use the Pick and Pull app to search participating self-service yards by make, model, and year, see which nearby yards have a match on a map, and set an alert for when a matching car arrives.
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