Car Parts Open Now (2024)

FAQs

Why is it so hard to get car parts right now? ›

Pandemic-related supply chain shortages have become so normal that we've gotten used to them. The good news is the shortages are getting better, but not when it comes to car parts. Throwing an added wrench into the situation, factory shutdowns and labor shortages.

In the United States, carvana.com was the online shop with highest e-commerce net sales in the vehicle parts segment. In 2023, the online store generated net sales worth over 7.5 billion U.S. dollars. Generalist retailer Walmart followed with 2.3 billion U.S. dollars.

Supply chain issues are still ongoing.

Additionally, increased demand for raw materials like aluminum and steel, coupled with transportation bottlenecks, has driven up their cost. These factors ripple through the repair ecosystem, affecting everything from replacement parts to diagnostic tools.

The Car is No Longer in Production. This is one of the biggest reasons for parts shortages. Automakers continue to produce parts for a car for maybe eight to 10 years after they stop making a vehicle, but unless they're huge demand for parts after that, they then move onto making something else.

The shortage has been particularly acute for certain types of parts, such as microchips and other electronic components. These parts are essential for modern vehicles, and their scarcity has resulted in national back orders for parts.

After nearly two years of record low inventory, automakers are finally bringing more cars to the U.S. market. New car inventory is rising as we enter September 2024. Inventory now exceeds historical norms, following a few years of shortages. This is GREAT news for new car buyers on the hunt for a deal.

RockAuto's top competitors include CARiD, Auto Teile Unger Group, and LKQ.

Lightweight bumpers made of plastic are the most popular vehicle parts online in the United States. Between 2022 and 2023, bumper covers were the best-selling article in the segment, with a sale revenue worth over 4.1 million U.S. dollars. Front brake pads followed with 3.9 million U.S. dollars.

If you're familiar with several brands or work on your own car, aftermarket parts can save you real money. If you're not familiar with aftermarket brands, or simply prefer to have work done by a dealer and don't mind paying more for potentially better quality and warranty support, then OEM is a fine choice.

Why are cars so expensive in 2024? ›

Reason #1: New and Used Car Prices in 2024: Shortages and Hikes. A “perfect storm” of production shortages due to lingering COVID-19 effects and supply chain issues combined with the pressures of inflation has led to a spike in the average new car and truck price.

Automakers are putting the brakes on several popular cars after the 2023 model year. Muscle cars like Dodge's Charger and Challenger are hitting the end of the road. So are sedans like the Nissan Maxima and Chrysler 300.

As automakers strive to cut production costs and reduce vehicle weight to aid fuel economy, many are tossing out the seldom used spare tire. It may seem to be a reasonable way to shed pounds, right until that rare moment when you have a flat tire.

One of the biggest reasons that automakers don't reissue old models with updated specifications is profitability reasons. In other words, these vehicles would be unlikely to sell – and being that automakers are for-profit entities, it wouldn't be the best business decision.

Your Car Isn't in Production Anymore

This can cause a shortage of parts, especially if there is not a great demand for those parts. Additionally, aftermarket manufacturers may not produce replacement parts for older models, leaving those who still own them with no source of new parts.

Manufacturers don't make every part in bulk unless it's something everyone needs all the time. Then you have shipping delays, which can take a while if they're coming from overseas. Not much you can do except wait as long as everything has been ordered and shipped.

The car chip shortage is the most important underlying cause of the new car inventory shortage. Chips, also known as semiconductors, are used in every vehicle—and they're not as readily available as they once were. One question naturally leads to another: why is there a car chip shortage?

We're on the cusp of a shortage of used cars, with supply down 4% from January 2023. There are roughly 800,000 fewer used cars to choose from now, with an average list price of $28,859. That average price may be down 2.9%, but it's still 36% higher than what it was in January 2019.