Whether you work in an auto shop, you like to tinker with your own car, or you’re just a regular driver in need of repairs, you might find yourself trying to decide if you should invest in brand new replacement parts or purchase used parts instead. You might think that parts right out of the box are better since they’ve never been used, but there’s no guarantee they won’t have problems and they’ll cost you a pretty penny.

Before you shell out the dough for brand new parts, consider some of the benefits to cabe gained by going with used auto parts instead.

1. Cost

It’s no surprise that used parts will cost you less than new, but you might be surprised by the price disparity. Although the price of used parts will vary based on factors like rarity, demand, condition, and dealer, you can be certain of finding parts for less than new, provided you’re not looking for uber-rare parts for collectible classic cars, just for example.

2. Availability

It’s usually relatively easy to find used auto parts, especially for popular vehicles. They are most often taken from used cars of the same make and model that have been abandoned or scrapped due to age, accident, or other reasons.

3. Outlets

There are a variety of ways to find the used auto parts you’re looking for these days. You can certainly go old-school and dig for steals at junk yards if you know what you’re looking for, but you can also find used parts from reputable retailers that stock them and even at some auto repair shops. If all else fails, take to the internet.

4. OEM Standards

This stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer standards. What does it mean? When new or after-market parts are manufactured, they may or may not be identical to the parts originally manufactured for use in your automobile. They may be produced by third parties instead of the original automaker.

In short, you don’t necessarily know that what you’re getting is right for your car. When you seek out used parts that were once on cars of your same make and model, you know they’re going to fit and function properly.

5. Refurbishing

If you’re at all worried about the condition of used parts, look for those that have been refurbished for the purposes of resale. They may cost a little more, but they’ll still run you less than brand new and you’ll have some guarantee that they’re in usable condition.