As a mechanic with over 15 years of experience repairing all types of vehicles, I‘ve purchased thousands of parts from various retailers, including many orders through CarParts.com. Below I provide my expert analysis of this major online auto parts supplier based on extensive first-hand experience as an actual CarParts.com customer.
Introduction to CarParts.com
For those not familiar, CarParts.com is one of the leading online retailers specializing in aftermarket replacement automotive parts and accessories. They stock over 300,000 parts for most makes and models of domestic and imported vehicles.
I‘ve ordered from CarParts.com regularly over the past 5 years to buy parts for my own projects as well as for customers‘ vehicles that I repair and modify. In that time, I‘ve found they offer some of the best prices in the industry, combined with top notch customer service and hassle-free returns.
In this detailed review, I share candid feedback from my years as a CarParts.com loyalist to help you determine if they are the right supplier for your auto part needs.
Product Range and Pricing
With over 300,000 parts in stock, CarParts.com matches industry giants like Advance Auto Parts and AutoZone when it comes to product selection. They carry all the major part categories like:
- Brakes (pads & shoes, rotors & drums)
- Engine components (alternators, starters)
- Filters (oil, air, fuel, cabin air)
- Lighting (headlights, brake lights, LEDs)
- Spark plugs and wires
- Batteries
- Wheels and tires
- Suspension (shocks, struts, bushings)
I‘ve been able to source every type of part I need through CarParts.com, from basic maintenance items like wipers and belts to more advanced components like electronic control modules and lift kits.
They also have a wide spectrum when it comes to pricing – you can find great deals on economy parts to high-end brands and OEM replacements:
| Part Category | Economy Brands | Mid-Range | Premium Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brake Pads | PowerStop, Raybestos, Bosch QuietCast | ACDelco, Beck Arnley | Brembo, Hawk Performance, EBC |
| Shocks/Struts | Gabriel, KYB Excel-G | Bilstein, KYB Gas-a-Just | Fox Racing, King, Icon Vehicle Dynamics |
In my experience, CarParts.com‘s regular prices typically beat local chain retailers for exact or equivalent parts. And with frequent site-wide promo codes and discounts, the savings are even more substantial, often 20% off or more.
For the DIYer on a budget, CarParts.com should definitely be one of your go-to online parts stores.
Website Ease of Use
Navigating the CarParts.com website is just as simple as the big retailers. Searching by part number or by year/make/model of vehicle both work flawlessly in my experience.
I also appreciate that once you select your vehicle, the associated part categories automatically filter to show only the compatible parts. This prevents ordering the wrong part by mistake.
The website and mobile app also make it very easy to track order status and view order history/invoices. There are convenient buttons right on the dashboard page to:
- View open orders
- See order history
- Look up invoices
- Check order status
- Return items
I find the dashboard simpler to use than Advance Auto Parts‘ website when checking order information. The other area where CarParts.com excels online is their Part Finder feature. They provide exploded diagrams with all the associated parts numbered so you can precisely identify what you need.
The integrated Part Finder diagrams have definitely helped me on multiple occasions to order the correct replacement part. Kudos to CarParts.com for going above and beyond to help customers get the right part!
Ordering and Shipping Process
Placing orders on CarParts.com is quick and painless, especially for returning customers. The checkout process allows you to:
- Log in to an existing account
- Enter any coupon codes for discounts
- Select shipping address
- Choose shipping method
- Enter payment details
- Review order summary
First time customers will have to go through additional steps to create an account and enter their vehicle information. But you only have to do this once.
I‘m located in Florida and most ground shipped orders arrive within 2-4 business days. I really have no complaints when it comes to delivery times or packaging. All orders are carefully wrapped and boxed.
Pro Tip: Sign up for the newsletter to get alerts about the latest CarParts.com promo codes and new customer discounts!
Returns, Refunds and Warranties
Probably my only negative experiences purchasing through CarParts.com have been needing to return a small handful of defective parts over the years. But their return process is simple and refunds are handled promptly once the parted is received back by their warehouse.
All products have at minimum a 1 year manufacturer‘s warranty. Many premium brands offer multi-year or lifetime replacement warranties. So if something fails prematurely – which does happen occasionally even with high quality auto parts – the warranty come in handy.
Returning parts requires contacting CarParts.com customer service by phone or online chat to obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number. Returns must be shipped back within 90 days of original purchase.
Once received by the warehouse, standard procedure is:
- Returned parts are inspected
- A full or partial refund is processed within 2-3 business days
- Notification email with refund confirmation sent to the customer
I‘ve found the representatives very accommodating allowing exchanges for equal or higher priced items when the original part didn‘t fit right or was just flat out wrong for my vehicle.
While not perfect, they absolutely stand behind the products sold on their website to ensure satisfaction guaranteed for us customers.
Quality of Parts
This is obviously paramount concern for any auto parts purchase – the product you receive needs to precisely match stated specifications and be constructed of quality materials to withstand the rigors of regular driving.
In CarParts.com‘s inventory, you‘ll fine parts from ultra-cheap brands up to premium OEM replacements, so do your homework before deciding which one to buy for your vehicle.
As the end customer, we have to take some responsibility researching brands reputation and real customer reviews ourselves before pulling the trigger. Don‘t always assume cheapest = best value.
In my experience purchasing from CarParts.com, about 80% of parts ordered have aligned with my quality expectations based on brand, warranty, and price paid. I have very high standards too as professional mechanic.
Issues I have seen include:
- Brake rotors that warped prematurely
- Mass air flow sensors that seemed ultra delicate
- Wheel studs weaker than OEM spec
But again, the same nonsense could happen buying locally too. At least CarParts.com rectifies problems reasonably fast when something is clearly defective out of the box.
Overall I rate their parts quality and vendor selection 4 out 5. Room for improvement, but good track record fulfilling literally hundreds of my orders over the years without major issues.
Customer Service
CarParts.com reps receive high marks across the board for being friendly, responding quickly, and resolving issues to the customer‘s satisfaction – according to my experience and many online reviews.
The few times I‘ve needed order support or help with returns, they:
- Answered phone calls promptly with hold times under 2 minutes on average
- Resolved questions about order status or part compatibility over online chat fast
- Provided RMA numbers without hassle for returning defective parts
Considering they are large national retailer with probably tens of thousands of orders per week, CarParts.com really does seem to emphasize customer support as a priority.
I would rate their customer service 5 out of 5 from personal experience – extremely knowledgeable reps willing assist however needed.
Company Reputation
CarParts.com maintains an impressive 4 out 5 star average from over 15,000 Trustpilot customer reviews. Here is quick snapshot of the actual buyer ratings as of October 2022:
| Star Rating | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 5 stars | 61% |
| 4 stars | 16% |
| 3 stars | 12% |
| 2 stars | 5% |
| 1 star | 6% |
As you can see, over 75% of customers rate CarParts.com as excellent. Key positives frequently mentioned include:
- Fast, inexpensive shipping
- Huge product selection
- Competitive pricing with regular promos/discounts
- Knowledgeable customer service team
- Smooth returns and refunds process
Common complaints cite:
- Wrong parts being shipped
- Delicate items arriving damaged
- Difficulty reaching customer service by phone during busy periods
So while CarParts.com is not flawless according to every buyer, they seem to maintain high level of customer satisfaction long term, especially considering their huge volume of orders.
I definitely count myself among the many satisfied repeat customers!
Bottom Line: After years of use and dozens of orders, I wholehearted rate CarParts.com as reputable retailer that stocks huge catalog automotive parts at reasonable prices with excellent customer support.
Pros vs Cons of CarParts.com
Pros
- Massive catalog with 300,000+ auto parts in stock
- Both economy and premium brands available
- Trusted manufacturers like Bosch, KYB, Bilstein
- Competitive pricing plus frequent site-wide discounts
- Excellent website ease of use and part finder tool
- Solid shipping times and packaging
- Simple return authorization process
- Responsive customer service department
- 90 day refund period for most items
- Many parts covered by generous warranties
Cons
- Occasional shipping delays around holidays
- Limited phone support hours
- Defective parts not detected until you unbox and inspect
- Restocking fees apply for some returned items
My Verdict: 5 out of 5 stars – Considering their huge product inventory and order volume, CarParts.com does amazing job getting the right parts delivered on time while providing stellar customer support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does CarParts.com pricing compare to AutoZone or Advance Auto Parts?
A: From my comparisons on exact parts, CarParts.com normally beats the in-store prices at brick and mortar retailers, often by 10-20%. And that‘s before any coupon codes which they regularly offer!
Q: Does CarParts.com require paying for membership?
A: Nope! No paid membership required. You get access to all the discounted pricing just by opening a standard free account.
Q: If I have problems with an order from CarParts.com, what should I do?
A: First step is always contact their customer service team via phone, online chat or email. Explain the issue with your order. If they are unable to resolve it directly, next step would be requesting Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) to ship the part(s) back for refund or replacement.
Q: How quickly does CarParts.com process returns and refunds?
A: Once the return is received back at their warehouse, verified and inspected, the standard turnaround I‘ve experienced is refund issued within 3 business days, usually sooner.
Q: Does CarParts.com offer free shipping?
A: Yes they do provide free shipping quite often actually! Orders over $150 always ship free. But even lower amounts like $50+ frequently qualify for free standard shipping promotions they run.
