Spares or repair

"Spares or repair" is an honest warning label. It means the seller is not representing the item as working. It may be faulty, incomplete, untested, or known to need attention, and it is priced accordingly.

When it is worth buying

When you need it for one component, when you can carry out the repair yourself, or when the same part in working condition is scarce or expensive. Rebuilders buy spares-or-repair stock deliberately.

What to ask before buying

Exactly what is wrong with it, whether it has been tested at all, and what is missing. A seller who cannot answer those precisely is guessing, and you should price that uncertainty in.

Why this matters when you are buying

Terms like this one get used loosely in listings, and the difference between two of them is often the difference between a part that fits and one that does not. If a seller is vague about which they mean, ask — a straight answer takes a message and saves a return.

For anything mechanical or electrical, back the description up with a part number. It removes the ambiguity entirely.

Related terms

• Half cut — A vehicle cut across the middle so that one complete end — front or rear — can be shipped intact with its components still assembled.
• Engine code — The manufacturer code identifying an exact engine variant — the only reliable way to confirm that a replacement engine will fit.
• Gearbox code — The manufacturer code identifying an exact gearbox variant, used to confirm fitment in the same way an engine code is.
• Container consolidation — Combining many separate parts or orders into a single shipping container so the freight cost is spread across the whole load.
• End-of-life vehicle (ELV) — A vehicle that has reached the end of its useful life and is destined for dismantling, recycling or breaking for parts.
• Reconditioned — A part that has been stripped, cleaned, repaired and restored back towards its original specification, usually with a working guarantee.

Where to go next

The full glossary defines every term used across the UK salvage and export trade. For the practical side, our guides and articles cover buying, selling and shipping in detail — or just ask us, which is usually quicker.