It’s an inescapable fact that at some point some part on your car will need replacing or might break down, from a simple lightbulb to something more expensive and complicated.

If you are lucky and you’ve bought new or nearly new from a dealer you may be able to get it fixed under guarantee or warranty. If not, you’re going to have to track down some spare or replacement parts.

You can, of course, take your car to a garage anyway and they will take care of that. But there are plenty of other options, from ordering spares online to visiting dealership sales and parts departments or specialist automotive spares shops and saving money by fixing the problem yourself.

You have a couple of choices to consider first. Do you get an original, manufacturer’s branded part for your make and model or do you get an unbranded part?

Branded parts are likely to be the most expensive option, but you do have the peace of mind that you are replacing the broken or worn out item with an identical product. It’s possible that your servicing agreement insists that any replacements are branded originals, so you want to read the small print closely.

Reputable

But there is a whole, reputable industry out there producing what are know as pattern spare parts. Pattern parts are unbranded replacement car parts made by independent manufactures. While they are often cheaper than branded parts, they are fully tested to the latest standards and licensed, and so are a good option.

It is best, though, to be absolutely sure that you are buying from a reputable source and avoid buying counterfeit car parts – fraudulent copies of branded components which are intended to deceive drivers, dealers and the whole motor industry.

As the BBC’s online car buying guide at www.bbc.co.uk/motoring says: “The criminals who counterfeit these parts meticulously copy logos, packaging, and even serial numbers in order to fool unwary buyers.

“Unfortunately, these criminals are not such sticklers for detail when it comes to product testing and safety, occasionally with potentially lethal consequences.”