You may have been advised to bring your own parts to your mechanic when having your car worked on, and you could be wondering if this is worthwhile. The short answer is that it might be. First, you have to look at the pros and cons of bringing your own parts to a mechanic so that you can determine if it's the right choice for you.

The Pros

First of all, you should consider the pros of buying your own parts rather than having your mechanic purchase them for you.

• You may be able to find cheaper prices on the exact same parts. Your mechanic probably has certain parts stores or suppliers that he or she works with and will likely purchase from them rather than shopping for the best deal.
• In some situations, you can customize your vehicle more, such as if you are shopping for body kits or rims and provide yourself with added options versus just buying what the mechanic offers you.
• You can look for used parts, which can be a good deal but that a mechanic might not look for.

The Cons

If you think about the advantages of bringing your own parts to a mechanic shop, it might seem like a no-brainer. However, you have to think about the negatives, too, before you make the decision to take this step.

• You might accidentally buy the wrong part. In this case, you'll probably have to handle the return (if possible), which can add additional work for you and can slow down the process of having your car repaired.
• Your mechanic might not like the idea of you bringing your own parts and may refuse to work on your car or may not offer the traditional warranty on his or her work.
• It might not actually be cheaper; some mechanics have good relationships with their parts suppliers and are able to score lower deals than the general public can find.

The Bottom Line

Overall, it's something to consider but not something that you should jump into. Instead of automatically buying your own parts, consider talking to G P Automotive or a local mechanic about it and comparing his or her price quote with some of the prices that you find when shopping around. Then, you can determine whether or not it's a good option in your situation and can make the right decision for purchasing your car parts and having your vehicle repaired.