Answers to the auto parts questions we hear every day at PartSmith Co., covering ordering, fitment, shipping, returns, engines and payments. If your auto parts question is not covered here, the contact page reaches a real person on our team, usually within one business day.
Ordering and fitment
How do I know a part fits my vehicle?
Every listing carries application text with the exact years, makes and models it serves. If you want certainty, send us your VIN for a fitment check and the fitment desk will verify the part against manufacturer data before dispatch. This fitment service is free and it is the single best way to avoid a return.
Can I order by phone or message?
Yes. If you prefer not to checkout online, contact us with the product link and your details and we will arrange the order. For fleets and shops we can also quote multi part orders in one reply.
What if the part I need is not listed?
Ask. The auto parts catalog grows weekly and our suppliers carry lines we have not listed yet. Include your vehicle details and the part name or OE number and we will source it or point you somewhere honest.
Shipping questions
How fast do orders ship?
Orders placed before early afternoon usually leave our USA warehouse the same business day. Tracking is emailed when the label is created. Full detail lives on the shipping and delivery page.
Do you ship engines and bulky freight?
Yes. Engines and oversized items move on freight carriers with liftgate options. We confirm the delivery arrangement with you before the engine leaves, so there are no surprises at the curb.
Returns and warranty
What is the return window?
A straightforward returns window applies from delivery, detailed on the returns and refunds page. Keep the original packaging until you have test fitted the part, that speeds everything up.
What if the part arrives damaged?
Photograph the parcel and the part, then message support. We resolve transit damage with a replacement or refund, and we deal with the carrier so you do not have to.
Do parts carry a warranty?
Yes, coverage varies by line and is stated on the product page. Engines include the warranty terms and the compression documentation in the listing.
Engine questions
Are your engines tested?
Every engine is compression tested before sale and shipped with paperwork to match. Mileage, test results and warranty terms are listed on each engine page in the Engines & Motors department.
What should I replace while the engine is out?
Seals, gaskets, hoses, the water pump and the thermostat are cheap insurance during a swap. The fueleconomy.gov maintenance guidance is a good neutral reference for service intervals after installation.
Payment and security
Which payment methods do you accept?
Major cards and the auto parts payment methods shown at checkout. Payments are processed over encrypted connections and we never store full card numbers on our servers.
Is my personal data safe?
We collect only what an order needs and we never sell customer data. The privacy policy spells out exactly what is stored and why.
Pricing, stock and availability
Why do prices change?
Aftermarket costs move with supplier pricing and freight rates. We reprice honestly in both directions rather than padding a fake discount. The price you see at checkout is the whole story apart from shipping, which is quoted live for your address.
What does in stock actually mean?
It means the part is physically on our shelf or confirmed at the supplier warehouse feeding the same dispatch window shown at checkout. If an inventory error ever means we cannot honor a dispatch estimate, we tell you within one business day and you choose between waiting, swapping or a full refund.
Can I reserve a part?
For engines and other one of a kind items, yes, message us and we hold the unit for a short window while you arrange payment or freight details. Fast moving consumables cannot be reserved, order them to lock the price.
Accounts, orders and invoices
Do I need an account to order?
No, guest checkout works fine. An account helps if you order regularly, because your vehicles, addresses and order history live in one place, and reorders take seconds. Shops running multiple vehicles find the saved fitment details especially useful.
Can I get a VAT style invoice or receipt for my business?
Every order includes a full receipt by email, and business buyers can request an itemized invoice with company details through the contact page. Fleet buyers can consolidate a month of orders into one statement on request.
I made a mistake in my order. How fast must I act?
Immediately. Dispatch is fast here, and once a parcel is with the carrier the address cannot change. Put the order number in your message subject and say clearly what needs to change. If the parcel has not been labeled, we fix it on the spot.
Fitment, compatibility and part numbers
My vehicle is not listed on a product page. Does it fit?
Treat an unlisted vehicle as a no until our fitment desk says otherwise. Application lists are precise on purpose. Send the VIN and we check against manufacturer data, sometimes the part fits and the listing simply needs updating, and your question improves the catalog for the next buyer.
Can I cross reference an OE number?
Yes. Send the OE number from the old part and we return the matching listings. This is the most reliable path for electrical parts and sensors, where visual matching fails constantly.
Shopping by vehicle
How does the shop by vehicle tree work?
The shop by vehicle categories collect parts for thirty of the most common American vehicle families, including the F-150, Silverado, RAM 1500, Camry, Accord, Civic, Wrangler and Mustang. Pick your vehicle and every listing inside has already been filtered for that platform, which removes most fitment risk before you even read a product page.
My exact trim is unusual. What should I check?
Trim level, engine option and drive type are the three details that break otherwise correct fitment. A part for a 3.5L V6 will not serve the 2.7L turbo, and four wheel drive geometry differs from two wheel drive on many platforms. When any of those three details feels ambiguous on a listing, send the VIN and let the fitment desk rule on it. That is what the service exists for, and it is free.
Do you cover European and Japanese brands?
Yes. Alongside the domestic lanes we stock parts for Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, Mazda, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Volkswagen and more. Brand categories in the shop tree make browsing by marque quick, and the same fitment checking applies to every one of them.
Bookmark this FAQ, it grows monthly. If the FAQ above missed your case, the FAQ team reads every submission from the contact form and adds the best questions to this page.
Frequently asked questions
Can you verify fitment before I order?
Yes. Send your VIN or year, make and model through the contact page and the fitment desk checks the part against manufacturer data before dispatch, free of charge.
How quickly will my order ship?
Orders placed before early afternoon usually dispatch the same business day from our USA warehouse, with tracking emailed immediately.
Can I return a part that does not fit?
Yes, within the returns window described on the returns page. Keep the original packaging until the part is test fitted.
Are the engines really tested?
Every engine is compression tested and the results ship with the engine, alongside the stated warranty terms.
Do you help with bulk or shop orders?
Yes. Send the parts list and vehicle details and we will quote the whole job in one reply, including freight where needed.