Continental Auto Parts, based in the St Louis, Missouri area, does not manufacture parts itself. It is a full service aftermarket parts warehouse founded in 1997 that distributes bumper covers, sheet metal, mirrors and other parts sourced from outside manufacturers.
The company operates as a privately held distributor, running warehouse locations across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio to serve the mid Atlantic and Ohio regions.
It is worth noting that several unrelated local businesses also use the Continental Auto Parts name, including salvage yards in different cities, so shoppers should confirm which specific company they are dealing with.
Knowing this helps avoid confusion between the larger East Coast aftermarket parts warehouse and smaller, unrelated local salvage yards sharing a similar name.
This guide covers Continental Auto Parts ownership, product range, manufacturing sources, distribution footprint and how it compares to other collision parts suppliers.
So lets get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Continental Auto Parts
Continental Auto Parts is a privately held company, founded in 1997 to meet demand for a full service warehouse in the aftermarket automotive parts industry.
The company built its business as a technology driven distributor, offering around the clock online access to inventory through a proprietary order management platform.
Because Continental Auto Parts is privately owned, detailed ownership percentages and leadership information are not as widely published as they would be for a public company.
Several unrelated businesses across the country also operate under variations of the Continental Auto Parts name, particularly local salvage yards, which are separately owned and unrelated to the New Jersey based warehouse operation.
Continental Auto Parts Company History
Continental Auto Parts was founded in 1997, building its business around a full service warehouse model for aftermarket collision and mechanical parts, according to its official company website.
The company grew from a single New Jersey base into a four state warehouse network spanning New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio in addition to its home state.
This regional expansion reflects a common growth pattern among aftermarket parts distributors, adding warehouse capacity to shorten delivery times for nearby customers.
Today Continental Auto Parts maintains more than 500,000 square feet of warehouse infrastructure supporting its four state distribution network.
What Products Does Continental Auto Parts Sell
Continental Auto Parts maintains an extensive inventory including headlights, sheet metal, mirrors, body panels, radiators, air conditioning condensers and intercoolers.
The company also offers alloy wheels, both new and refinished, along with an in house OEM bumper cover recycling program.
Like most aftermarket collision parts distributors, Continental Auto Parts does not manufacture these components itself, instead sourcing them from outside manufacturers similar to competitors covered in our Who Makes Continental Batteries guide.
This broad inventory across both collision and mechanical categories lets Continental serve a wide range of repair shop needs from a single supplier relationship.
Where Are Continental Auto Parts Made
Continental Auto Parts sources its bumper covers, sheet metal and lighting components from third party manufacturers rather than producing them in house.
Like most aftermarket parts distributors, country of origin varies by part category, with many components produced overseas alongside domestically sourced items.
This outsourced manufacturing model is standard across the collision parts industry and mirrors sourcing strategies used by competitors covered in our Where Are Continental Tires Made guide.
Continental role centers on warehousing, technology and logistics rather than manufacturing, letting it maintain such a broad multi category inventory.
Continental Auto Parts Distribution Network
Continental Auto Parts operates warehouse locations across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, serving customers throughout the mid Atlantic and Ohio regions.
The company built a computerized inventory system offering customers online access to check stock and place orders at any time.
This technology forward approach helps Continental compete with larger national distributors despite operating primarily within a four state regional footprint.
Most items are stocked for immediate delivery or shipment, reducing wait times for collision repair shops working on tight repair schedules.
Is Continental Auto Parts Really Good or Worth It
Continental Auto Parts has operated since 1997, giving it nearly three decades of experience serving the mid Atlantic and Ohio collision repair markets.
Its technology driven ordering system and large warehouse footprint help ensure consistent parts availability for repair shops in its service area.
As with most aftermarket collision parts suppliers, fit and finish quality can vary by specific part number, since Continental sources from multiple outside manufacturers.
For collision shops within its four state footprint, Continental Auto Parts is generally considered a dependable regional supplier with a wide product range.
Continental Auto Parts Compared to Other Regional Suppliers
Continental Auto Parts competes with other regional aftermarket collision parts distributors, differentiating itself through its four state warehouse network and online ordering platform.
Unlike smaller local salvage yards that happen to share a similar name, the New Jersey based Continental Auto Parts focuses specifically on new aftermarket and recycled bumper cover inventory.
This distinction matters for shoppers, since search results for Continental Auto Parts can surface unrelated local businesses in cities across the country.
Confirming the specific business and location before ordering helps avoid confusion between these separately owned Continental Auto Parts operations.
Continental Auto Parts Business Profile
Business profile and contact information for Continental Auto Parts can be reviewed through directories such as its LinkedIn company page, which lists its core distribution business.
This kind of directory listing can help shoppers confirm they are contacting the correct Continental Auto Parts entity rather than an unrelated local business with a similar name.
Industry researchers can also review ownership and company profile summaries through databases such as Mergr business profile records.
Cross checking these sources is a reasonable step for repair shops setting up a new account with Continental for the first time.
Continental Auto Parts Warranty and Customer Support
Continental Auto Parts backs its inventory with standard aftermarket parts warranties, with specific terms depending on product category and manufacturer.
Repair shops working with Continental can access ordering, account support and warranty claims through the company online platform and customer service team.
Because Continental sells primarily business to business, individual car owners typically interact with the company indirectly through their chosen repair shop.
This business to business support model is standard among regional aftermarket collision parts warehouses of Continental size and scale.
Frequently Asked Questions About Continental Auto Parts
Who Makes Continental Auto Parts
Continental Auto Parts does not manufacture parts itself. It is a privately held distributor, founded in 1997, that sources aftermarket parts from outside manufacturers.
Where Is Continental Auto Parts Located
Continental Auto Parts is headquartered in New Jersey, with additional warehouse locations in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Is Continental Auto Parts The Same As Other Businesses With That Name
No, several unrelated local salvage yards also use the Continental Auto Parts name in different cities, separate from the New Jersey based warehouse distributor.
Is Continental Auto Parts A Good Supplier
Yes, Continental Auto Parts is generally considered a dependable regional supplier, backed by nearly three decades of experience and a large warehouse network.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.