Keeping an older car on the road as a daily driver is an excellent way to save money, but it's easy to watch those savings evaporate if you frequently need to pay for expensive repairs. Doing maintenance and repair work yourself can save substantial money, but you'll still be shelling out your hard-earned cash to buy parts.

Used car parts can help save some dough, but you may be hesitant if you've never taken this approach. Fortunately, buying high-quality, reliable used parts isn't hard. These three tips will ensure you get great deals that will allow you to keep your car on the road for many more years.

1. Choose Genuine or OEM Quality

Genuine is a term used to describe parts that come directly from the original manufacturer, usually with your car's automaker logo stamped somewhere on the housing. These parts offer identical performance and specifications to the original parts in your car, making them excellent replacements. OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts are functionally identical but lack the automaker's branding.

Going for aftermarket options makes sense when you're buying new parts since it can save you some cash. However, used parts are already saving you money. Since you're buying a part with a few miles under its belt, it makes sense to stick with parts that meet the original manufacturer's specifications. A new part might be a better option if you want to go with an aftermarket alternative.

2. Learn About the Donor

The donor car is the origin of the used part you're buying. If you're purchasing from a scrapyard, most used parts will originate with vehicles on their lot. In many cases, you should be able to get some information about the donor vehicle, such as its age and mileage. This information can be useful when trying to decide between similar car parts.

In general, you should always favor parts that originated with newer, lower-mileage vehicles. However, other factors may be worth considering, such as the trim level or options packages on the donor. Manufacturers sometimes use different parts across a model line (especially with interior pieces), so two parts that technically fit your car may not be identical.

3. Confirm Fitment

Confirming part fitment is always crucial when buying used parts. If you're buying your part in person, you can bring your old part with you to the shop to confirm that it's identical. If not, make sure you double and triple-check the parts number. Manufacturers may use extremely similar parts across different models, so verifying the part number is critical to confirming fitment.

While buying a used part may require a few extra steps, it's more than worth it for the potential cost saving. By following these three simple tips, you'll get parts that are just as good as the ones you can purchase at the dealership but for a fraction of the price.