LKQ Corporation is the largest auto recycler of vehicle parts and accessories in the world, processing over 800,000 cars a year across its almost 200 facilities. Just where do all these cars come from? And how does a used converter from a totaled 2020 Toyota RAV4 find its way from those thousands of salvage cars to LKQ Online so you can buy with confidence exactly the part you need?
Where the cars come from
At any given time, there are approximately 280 million cars traveling the roads in the U.S. (statista.com). That’s a lot of opportunity for cars to become suppliers for the used car parts industry! From people selling old cars to make way for new ones to insurance companies auctioning off totaled vehicles, there are many names and descriptions for cars or trucks headed for salvage:
· Wrecked or totaled
· Donor vehicles
· Junk cars
· Rust buckets
· Clunkers
· Salvage vehicles
· Abandoned vehicles
· Auctioned vehicles
· Collison repair rejects
LKQ focuses only on cars or trucks that are viable for high-quality used parts, including alternators, shocks and struts, and car brakes. Our procurement standards are strict and any vehicle that does not meet the criteria is rejected, such as severely damaged cars that go straight to a junkyard as scrap metal. Once a purchase is made, the vehicle becomes part of LKQ’s system of sourcing new life for other cars and trucks needing repair with reliable replacement used parts.
Highly efficient, purposeful processing
First step in recycling is identifying all parts on each vehicle as to whether they qualify for resale or for scrap. A packet of tags is created per vehicle for a record of all usable/resaleable parts that will go into inventory. On average, 130 to 140 parts are inventoried from any given car. From small antennas to drive shafts and steering wheels, no salvageable part is overlooked.
Then comes dismantling which involves draining all auto fluids and reclaiming mechanical parts like used engines and transmissions as well as body parts like fenders, hoods, bumpers, and doors. All parts are carefully inspected for damage before a part can even be added to our inventories.
Qualified, usable parts are inventoried and catalogued with accurate descriptions as to their quality and identification. VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) matching ensures the integrity of our inventory. For comparison and value shopping, knowing a part’s history will ensure you get the best part for your specific needs.
Meticulous care is given to provide all possible information online for any LKQ part offered:
· Name, description, picture, and location of the part
· Make, model, and year of the source vehicle
· Mileage
· Fitment (compatibility with other years/makes/models that use this exact part)
· Any alternative part number (new aftermarket part or compatible OE part)
· Additional used parts available from this specific vehicle in case you need more than one part
· Price and shipping terms
· Warranty coverage
After an order is placed, all reclaimed auto body parts are inspected one final time before being shipped UPS or, in the case of oversized items like motors, transmissions, seats, wheels, bumpers, and tires, placed on a freight delivery truck.
Environmental consciousness or “we recycle everything”
LKQ is proud to be the world’s largest recycler in the automotive industry. Our salvage vehicle operations recycle more than 90% of the materials from end-of-life vehicles that would otherwise end up in a landfill. LKQ was built on a solid foundation with attention to recycling and sustainability efforts, helping to preserve planet earth through eco-friendly initiatives and innovative technologies and solutions.
· Fluids are drained from all vehicles and recycled, including oil, gas, and antifreeze. Every drop of liquid is removed, saving millions of gallons of caustic or hazardous materials from contaminating land and groundwater.
· Once a vehicle is devoid of usable parts, LKQ sells any leftover metal to scrap yards that repurpose steel, copper, and aluminum.
· Cars are the most recycled consumer product on the planet, with more than 10 million recycled in the U.S. and Canada every year, producing 750 million pounds of scrap each month.
LKQ is improving the world one part at a time
Whether you need to restore a classic car or truck or get a disabled late model vehicle back on the road, LKQ Online offers the largest inventory of used auto parts and alternative replacement parts for import and domestic cars and light-duty trucks. All our recycled, used OEM and OE, reconditioned, remanufactured, refurbished, and aftermarket automotive and truck parts products are backed by industry-leading warranties you can trust. Nationwide, LKQ stocks more clean, high-quality recycled auto parts than any other auto recycler, preserving valuable resources, reducing waste, and passing the savings on to you by offering viable options to new, expensive dealer replacement car parts.