eBay relaunches used vehicle parts business to help reduce costs and emissions

Online automotive marketplace giant eBay has relaunched its Certified Recycled parts business, which saw a 10% year-on-year increase in sales in 2022.

eBay said repairers and customers can save up to 70% on the cost of used parts compared to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) part RRP.

The company has supported the relaunch of its Certified Recycled parts business with a new white paper that looks at the benefits of switching to used parts for repariers, bodyshops, insurers and motorists.

Certified Recycled parts 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 any part listed as Certified Recycled has been sourced from and can be traced to an end-of-life vehicle, and has been accurately identified, recorded, tested and graded.

All Certified Recycled vehicle body parts come with a 12 month warranty and all mechanical parts are covered by a three month warranty.

Last year, eBay UK shoppers buying used car parts and accessories saved more than 16,000 tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) and prevented 3,000,000kg of waste from ending up in landfills, simply by choosing not to buy a box-fresh part.

Insurers and bodyshops are increasingly looking to use recycled parts as a way to help decarbonise the repair process and offer a more sustainable alternative to new parts.

Dr Tony Tong, head of automotive at eBay UK, said: “Certified Recycled parts can be a huge benefit to customers and businesses alike.

“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.”

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% between 2021 and 2022.

According to eBay research, 16.1% of motorists often buy recycled parts to save money, while 14% 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.