# What do you get in an auto parts store? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 28, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643 "2026-08-28T22:53:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/1 "2026-08-28T22:53:27Z")
Around here, where growth is infinitesimal, the only new storefronts are for medical offices and huge auto parts stores. I thought nobody worked on their cars anymore because you can’t do much in a computerized engine. People must be buying something. What do you get? ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/2 "2026-08-28T23:10:58Z")
1. Motor Oil (My old car used to eat a lot of oil, so I was constantly topping up). 2. Light bulbs for headlights 3. Windshield wiper replacements I can’t recall ever having bought anything else at such a store. ---
**Author:** ![BostonBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bostonblue/32/21570_2.png) [@BostonBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BostonBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/3 "2026-08-28T23:11:00Z")
A lot of people seem to be buying stuff to accessorise or detail their cars. You can still get brakes and other consumables but they can be Temu grade and not always that much cheaper than the dealers. Air fresheners always sell well…😄 ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/4 "2026-08-28T23:12:28Z")
I bought one of those emergency tire inflaters I saw advertised online. ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/5 "2026-08-28T23:13:21Z")
Not everyone has a new or newish car. Plenty of cars still on the road that can be worked on yourself. …Although I was about to say that until fairly recently I worked on my own cars myself then I did the mental math and it’s been well over 20 years so thanks for making me feel old 🙂 But even these days people buy oil, filters, fluids, batteries etc… ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/6 "2026-08-28T23:23:28Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > 1. Motor Oil (My old car used to eat a lot of oil, so I was constantly topping up). > 2. Light bulbs for headlights > 3. Windshield wiper replacements I have bought those three, plus one time I bought a replacement cap for the valve stem on one of my tires. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/7 "2026-08-28T23:35:44Z")
The last time I was in one was to buy a sunscreen for the front window. That was a few cars ago. All the answers here are similarly for comparative pocket change. Somebody has to be spending big bucks just to keep the old stores in business, let alone open many more. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/8 "2026-08-28T23:48:53Z")
Air filters, both for the engine and the cabin. In most cars these are incredibly simple to change. I think my next purchase is probably going to be a master brake cylinder for an old 1991 Ford Ranger. What is surprising to me though isn’t that I can still buy one, but that it is most likely to be in stock when I do need it. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/9 "2026-08-28T23:52:58Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > 1. Motor Oil > 2. Light bulbs for headlights > 3. Windshield wiper replacements Me too. I can’t get the size of wiper I need for my rear window at Costco so I go to the auto parts store. If I get light bulbs for the headlights or turn signals, they install them for me free. And I’m due for engine filter and cabin filter. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/10 "2026-08-29T00:19:05Z")
I still buy parts; literally the only reason I will go into an auto parts store. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/11 "2026-08-29T00:20:58Z")
1. Motor oil and filters, back when I did my own oil changes. 2. Air filters 3. Replacement light bulbs 4. Batteries 5. Once, one of those headlight restoration kits, after I’d bought a used car with very cloudy headlights. 6. Valve grinding compound, which I use to sharpen the blades on my push reel lawnmower. 7. [Invisible Glass](https://invisibleglass.com/collections/auto-glass-cleaners) ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/12 "2026-08-29T00:23:51Z")
We went to an auto parts place a couple days ago to get a replacement battery for a key fob. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/13 "2026-08-29T00:25:17Z")
Assorted fluids, locking gas caps, replacement oil caps, decent wiper blades, equipment and chemicals for detailing…I’m sure I’m forgetting something. I buy bulbs and air filters from RockAuto due to a better selection; that’s also where I get cheap wiper blades (for a Wrangler; if you install modern streamlined wiper blades, they turn into little airfoils due to the angle of the windshield). I’ve also gone to auto parts stores for battery testing. The dealership-affiliated shop where I take my Jeeps uses O’Reilly for parts when OEM isn’t an option. That’s an interesting choice to me, since they have an Advance Auto Parts within walking distance of the shop. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/14 "2026-08-29T00:34:05Z")
Brake pads, oil filters. ---
**Author:** ![pirviii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pirviii/32/3233_2.png) [@pirviii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pirviii)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/15 "2026-08-29T01:01:27Z")
Just a year and a half I had to replace the battery and alternator for my 2002 Saturn, but mostly oil, brakes and wipers. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/16 "2026-08-29T01:02:11Z")
We do a lot of DIY car work, and the vast majority comes from RockAuto. Oil and filters comes from Walmart. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/17 "2026-08-29T01:51:49Z")
The J.C. Whintey company was sold and the catalog isn’t published anymore, but there’s still an online website, which seems to have more than 38,000 individual parts. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/18 "2026-08-29T02:45:22Z")
That’s part of my point. Very few of these items mentioned above can’t be found online. They don’t need personal handling. They aren’t emergency equipment that can’t wait a day or two. Are the stores just fun to visit and walk around in? I know hardware stores are, even I need only one item. Or are they like Home Depot, which does most of its business catering to professionals who buy loads of stuff? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/19 "2026-08-29T02:57:28Z")
You can buy tons of car parts in an auto parts store. I’ve been in endless situations where my car or someone elses car had a problem, I diagnosed it and ordered the part for pick up at the auto parts store. Then I had my mechanic swap it out. The actual store that you walk around in is just part of the store. Theres an entire area of shelves full of actual car parts behind the desk. Another thing to consider is that the online market is full of inferior chinese car parts that can and will break. If you go to a brick and mortar store and order the parts, they will match OEM specifications. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643/20 "2026-08-29T03:06:52Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Or are they like Home Depot, which does most of its business catering to professionals who buy loads of stuff? Probably this. Every parts house I know of (O’Reilly, Advance, Autozone, NAPA) employs one or more delivery drivers to haul parts to the independent garages and sometimes the dealerships. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-in-an-auto-parts-store/1032643.md?page=2)