Wow. Motorists in the UK are saving big bucks by buying second-hand parts to repair their cars.
And the online marketplace eBay has decided to grab a slice of the action with the “re-launch” of its certified parts program.
That won’t please Australian car brands if eBay decides to do the same thing here, because they’re always banging on about the wisdom of buying genuine, presumably new parts.
eBay reveals motorists saved a total of £99 million in 2022 simply by opting for used parts and accessories instead of their brand-new replacements.
The used parts also come with a reduced environmental footprint.
Last year, eBay shoppers in the UK saved more than 16,000 tonnes of CO2 and prevented 3 million kilos of waste from ending up as landfill, simply by choosing not to buy used parts.
This saving resulted from the millions of used parts sold across the eBay site last year, including almost 1 million exterior parts and accessories (including items such as mirrors, bumpers and door handles), over 400,000 lighting parts and over 130,000 engine-related parts.
eBay’s Certified Recycled program, which sells recycled vehicle parts from 81 certified sellers, delivers peace of mind, with all parts vetted, warrantied and supplied only from end-of-life vehicles from approved sellers.
All parts feature a 12-month warranty while mechanical parts come with three months of protection.
eBay says Certified Recycled parts can be up to 70 per cent cheaper compared to the recommended retail price of OEM parts.
They are sold by businesses that have been checked and certified by the Vehicle Recyclers Association (VRA) and are subject to an annual audit of their processes and policies.
This means that any part listed has been sourced from and can be traced to an end-of-life vehicle, and has been accurately identified, recorded, tested and graded.
eBay’s Dr Tony Tong said certified recycled parts can be a huge benefit to customers and businesses alike.
He said with parts delays, rising costs and more focus than ever on making the right choices to reduce our carbon footprint, these parts have the potential to help save money, time and the environment.
“We’re making it as easy as possible for people to find these parts, and to understand the potential benefits they bring, in the hope that motorists will increasingly choose Certified Recycled parts as alternatives to buying brand new items,” he said.
The first Certified Recycled part was listed on eBay in June 2020 and the marketplace now hosts 81 certified sellers across the UK.
Sales of the parts continue to grow, with an increase of more than 10 per cent from 2021 to 2022.
Research shows 16.1 per cent of motorists often buy recycled parts to save money, while 14 per cent choose used items to reduce their carbon emissions.
While some car owners are happy to buy parts themselves, one-in-10 stated they would prefer to buy recycled parts from a professional service centre, highlighting the important role that garages and workshops can play in changing buyer behaviour.
eBay is the UK’s biggest online automotive marketplace with five official brand stores and thousands of sellers.
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