According to new research carried out by eBay, UK motorists saved a whopping £99 million in 2022 by opting for used parts and accessories instead of brand-new replacements.

The online marketplace revealed the impact of second-hand parts as it relaunched its Certified Recycled programme, which sells recycled vehicle parts from 81 certified sellers.

Certified Recycled parts can be up to 70 per cent cheaper compared to OEM parts while still delivering full peace of mind for shoppers. That’s because all parts are vetted and warrantied – body parts feature a 12-month warranty while mechanical parts come with three months of protection – and are only supplied from end-of-life vehicles from approved sellers.

Additionally, they also come with a reduced environmental footprint. Last year, eBay UK shoppers buying used car parts and accessories saved more than 16,000 tonnes of CO₂e and prevented 3,000,000kg of waste from ending up in landfills, simply by choosing not to buy a box-fresh part.

This saving resulted from the millions of used parts sold across the eBay site last year, including almost one million exterior parts and accessories (including items such as mirrors, bumpers and door handles), more than 400,000 lighting parts and in excess of 130,000 engine-related parts.

Certified Recycled parts provide motorists with added peace of mind. 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.

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 – a 2018 Mini Clubman engine cover – 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 between 2021 and 2022.

Examples of the savings to be made include a 2020 VW Golf door mirror with a new price of £305.76, which sold for £200 on the eBay Certified Recycled site, a 2019 Nissan Qashqai bonnet with a new price of £376.90 cost £120 on the scheme and a 2018 Vauxhall Corsa tailgate with a recommended retail price of £562.60 cost £138.

According to eBay research, 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. Some car owners are happy to buy parts themselves, but 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.