Do you know why auto parts cost more at a repair shop than at your local auto parts store or why most repair shops refuse to install customer-supplied products? Without knowing the facts, vehicle owners might assume these are profiteering business practices, but there are several good reasons why they should.
Lower overhead is the key reason why auto parts store prices are less than repair shop prices. Contrary to parts stores, auto repair shops:
- Employ highly paid certified repair technicians.
- Have more than $100,000 invested in advanced tools and equipment to diagnose and repair high-tech vehicles.
- Purchase expensive garage liability insurance to protect customer vehicles.
- Spend 40-60 training hours per employee annually to keep them up-to-date with vehicle technical changes.
Thus, because of lower overhead costs, parts stores are able to sell products at lower prices, mostly to do-it-yourself customers.
For customers who prefer to have a professional do the work, repair facilities offer the added services and expertise to install and change parts. These auto shops depend on both labor rates and product price markups to cover their higher overhead costs and generate an operating profit. In exchange, they provide consumers with added value in the form of installer expertise and warranty coverage.
How Much Do Car Parts Cost?
Auto parts prices depend on a variety of factors. This includes:
- The make and model of your vehicle
- The part(s) your car needs
- The brand of the car part
- The quality of the car part
- Where you live
Buying from trusted retailers with your AAA Membership, like NAPA Auto Parts, can provide additional savings when purchasing replacement car parts.
Since different auto parts have different costs, here's what you can expect to pay on average when purchasing from a retailer or online auto parts store:
- Air filter: $15-$50
- Battery: $100-$200
- Brake pads: $50-$200
- Catalytic converter: $300-$2,500
- Headlight bulb: $20-$100
- Oil filter: $5-$15
- Oxygen sensor: $50-$150
- Tires: $50-$1,000+
- Windshield wiper blade: $15-$30
Knowing the average cost of these parts can help you plan for car maintenance and repair costs when the time comes for a replacement.
The Value of Professional Service
Auto repair shops have the expertise to diagnose car problems and the knowledge to identify and obtain the correct auto parts. Do-it-yourself consumers sometimes mis-diagnose problems and purchase parts that fail to fix the issue, or do not fit the vehicle. Even when a part is correct, it may be of questionable quality or additional parts may be needed to complete the repair properly.
For some vehicle problems, upgraded aftermarket parts are available that can prevent recurrence. Also, when purchasing common parts such as batteries, starters and alternators, the customer incurs آ€آœcoreآ€آ charges that are not refunded until the old part is returned to the store. The customer is responsible for finding and purchasing the correct quality parts and managing returns and refunds.
In comparison, when repair shops provide the parts, they handle all of the technical and logistical issues on behalf of their customers. The added value they provide includes the time required to identify, locate, obtain, exchange and return parts as needed until the job is completed properly.
Repair shops ensure they get the right parts and any needed related components. They use only quality parts that will provide reliable service without premature failure. As a convenience to the customer, they also handle the core charges and/or component exchanges at no additional charge.
The Value of a Warranty
An auto repair made with high-quality parts may sometimes require additional professional service down the road. That's when it's nice to have someone to turn to for help. Nearly all auto parts sold today come with some type of warranty for the original purchaser. When consumers buy auto parts that fail, they are responsible for removing, exchanging and reinstalling the faulty component آ€آ“ or paying someone else to do so.
In contrast, most parts supplied by repair facilities come with a full parts and labor warranty. A 12-month or 12,000-mile (whichever comes first) warranty is common, but some shops offer even longer coverage. For example, AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities provide AAA members with a 24-month or 24,000-mile warranty on most repairs.
Also, when shops provide the parts, they handle the entire warranty repair process at no cost to the customer. This is quite valuable as many repairs can involve several hours of labor, costing hundreds of dollars. Protection against such unexpected costs is part of the added value included in repair shop part prices.
Customer-Supplied Auto Parts
By now, you may have figured out why most repair shops refuse to install customer-supplied parts. However, here are some top reasons:
- Loss of profit: From a strictly business standpoint, the markup on parts provides approximately one-half the profit on any given repair job, and a shop cannot afford to give up that income.
- Customer satisfaction: Repair shops have found that even when they inform customers who supply their parts of the possibility of their supplied part failing, they still tend to get upset when it occurs, blame the repair facility, speak poorly about the shop to others and post negative online reviews.
- Legal liability: If a part supplied by a customer fails and results in a crash, the installing shop could end up being a party to a lawsuit. When repair shops provide the parts, their suppliers share in any responsibility and will help defend the facility. If a customer purchased the part, the supplier may decline to get involved on the facility's behalf.
Some shops address the customer-supplied parts situation by charging a higher labor rate on these jobs. This can help shops mitigate any loss of profit, although they still have to accept the other potential downsides. In the event of a part failure, the customer remains responsible for obtaining a replacement and, depending on the shop, the higher shop rate may or may not include a labor warranty on the repair.
Consumer Awareness
You now have a better idea of the many factors that go into automobile repair part pricing. It's understandable that simply looking at the raw numbers could lead one to think that repair shops overcharge for parts.
However, considering the professional expertise and valuable warranty coverage that come with a shop-supplied part, it is easier to see how a higher initial price can be a better value in the long run.
Finding Quality Auto Repair
AAA recommends that you plan ahead for vehicle service by finding an auto repair shop and technician you can trust before you need them. Your AAA Membership includes information on nearly 7,000 Approved Auto Repair facilities that have met AAA's high standards for appearance, technician training and certification, insurance coverage and customer satisfaction. AAA regularly inspects every Approved Auto Repair facility and surveys its customers to ensure ongoing performance.
In addition, AAA members receive special benefits that include auto repair discounts, an extended 24-month/24,000-mile parts and labor warranty, and AAA assistance in resolving repair-related issues.