How to find used parts at a junkyard

A junkyard search goes faster when you know three things: exactly what part you need, which other vehicles use the same part, and which yards near you have those vehicles. The first two you can do at home. The third takes an online search or a few phone calls.

Start with the exact part

Write down your car's year, make, model, trim and engine size. Many parts change with the trim or the engine, even in the same model year. A V6 and a four-cylinder version of the same car can use different alternators, radiators and axles. Your VIN (on the dashboard by the windshield and on your registration) pins down the details if you're not sure.

Then look for a part number. Many parts have one stamped, cast or printed on a label: alternators, starters, sensors, control modules, headlights, mirrors and many body parts. Take a clear photo of it. If you can't find one on the old part, a parts store or the dealer's parts counter can often look it up from your VIN.

Take photos of the part on your car from a few angles, including the connectors and mounting points. You will compare them against the part in the yard.

Interchange: the same part on other cars

Carmakers reuse parts. The same alternator might go on several model years of one car, on a sister model sold under another brand, or on a truck and an SUV built on the same platform. In the parts trade this is called interchange: the list of vehicles that share a part.

Interchange matters at a junkyard because it multiplies your chances. If your exact model isn't in the yard, a car that shares the part might be. A few ways to use it:

• Match part numbers. If the number on a part in the yard matches yours, it is the same part. Some numbers change with a small revision and still fit; a parts counter can tell you.
• Ask the yard. Many full-service yards, and some self-service yards, have interchange lists at the counter and can tell you which cars to look at.
• Search online. Owners' forums and parts sellers' sites often list which years and models share a part.
• Compare in person. Same shape, same connectors, same bolt holes. When a model is redesigned, parts often stop interchanging, so watch for the year a body style changed.

Be careful with parts that are programmed to one car, like some engine computers, keys and radios. They may need to be reprogrammed by a dealer or a shop before they work in another car.

Check online inventory

Many yards post the vehicles they have on their website, often with the date each car arrived and the row it sits in. In this directory, 1,772 listed yards have a customer review or website that mentions online inventory, 452 of them pull-your-own yards. Others may post one too, so check the yard's website.

Read an inventory list for what it is. At most self-service yards it shows vehicles, not parts. A car listed as being in row 12 may already be missing the part you want, because someone else pulled it yesterday. New arrivals have the most parts still on them. Full-service yards are more likely to list individual parts they have already pulled and tested.

Call ahead

A two-minute call can save a long drive. Ask:

• Do you have a car that matches mine (or one from my interchange list)?
• Is the part still on it, as far as you know?
• Do you pull parts for customers, or do I pull it myself?
• Can you hold the part for me, and for how long?
• Is there a core charge, and what is your return or exchange policy?

At a full-service yard the counter can often check the actual part and tell you its condition. At a pull-your-own yard staff may only know which cars are in the rows.

Check the part for wear

A used part is only a bargain if it works. Before you pull it, or before you pay, look it over:

• Anything that spins (alternators, power steering pumps, idler pulleys): turn it by hand. It should move smoothly with no grinding, roughness or side-to-side play.
• Anything that holds fluid (radiators, condensers, calipers): look for cracks, wet spots, crusty residue and bent fins.
• Electrical parts: check connectors for green corrosion and broken locking tabs. Look for burned or melted plastic.
• Lights and glass: check the mounting tabs, which break easily, and look for haze, cracks and water inside the lens.
• Body panels: look at the back side for rust and old repairs. Bring a magnet; it won't stick well over thick body filler.
• Axles: torn rubber boots let dirt into the joint. Look for grease thrown around the inside of the wheel.
• Engines and transmissions: note the odometer reading of the donor car if you can read it. Check the oil and transmission fluid for color and smell. A full-service yard may have tested the unit; ask what testing was done and what warranty comes with it.

Know the return policy before you pay. Some yards exchange a part that doesn't work, some give store credit, and some sell everything as-is.

What customers say

Sentences from 4 and 5 star Google reviews of listed yards:

Pull it yourself or have it pulled?

Of the 5,296 listed yards, 734 are shown to let you pull your own parts and 1,050 to pull parts for you. Pulling it yourself costs less and lets you inspect the donor car. Having it pulled saves time and tools, and often comes with a tested part and a warranty. Read full-service vs self-service junkyards to decide, and what to bring if you're doing it yourself.

Junkyards by state Pull-your-own yards