There's no need to be wary of salvage auto parts. Although you can usually find a great deal on major mechanical components, like an engine or transmission, the best value can often be found in the smaller parts that cost a lot new but are easy to find in a salvage yard.

1. Body Panels

One of the best deals at a salvage yard is body panels. When cars end up junked for mechanical failures, the panels are often in excellent shape. Even salvaged vehicles that have been in an accident typically only have damage to one side or end of the vehicle, so the remaining panels are still in good condition. If you have a damaged panel to replace, visit a salvage yard. You can always have the panel painted to match your vehicle. 

2. Trim Items

Broken or missing bits of trim may not affect the drivability of your car, but it can make it look bad. Whether it's a hood ornament, door trim, or some other decorative part of the car's body, replacing it new can be very expensive. Sometimes trim items are also difficult to find on the new auto parts market. Fortunately, you can often find trim items, undamaged, at a salvage yard.

3. Computerized Systems

One of the more expensive parts of cars is in the computerized systems of the car. This includes sensor systems, engine modules, and a vehicles chipset. If any of these fail, it can be quite costly and sometimes difficult to source them new. A lot of cars at a salvage yard end up there due to major collisions, so the modules and computerized systems are likely undamaged and often in excellent working condition.

4. Light Housings

Head and tail light housings can easily become broken, either from small fender benders or simply by backing up into a pole. There is often no other damage to the vehicle. Modern housings can be quite expensive to replace if you buy them new. When looking for salvaged housings, make sure that all the moving parts inside are there, as well as any necessary wiring harnesses.

5. Speedometer Head

Another term for the speedometer head is the instrument cluster. This is your control panel for the vehicle since it houses not just the speedometer but also the various gauges and sensor alerts that allow you to monitor the functioning of your vehicle. It can be less expensive to replace the entire head with a working salvaged model rather than try to fix a single malfunctioning sensor or gauge. 

Contact a salvage car parts service like Trusty Pick-A-Part for more information.