RockAuto Return Policy: Clear Guide to 30-Day Returns, Cores & Shipping

RockAuto is an online-only auto parts store, so you can’t just walk into a branch and hand something back. Everything – orders, returns, and even customer service – runs through their website.

Their return policy is actually pretty simple once you understand the basics: a 30-day return window on most parts, strict rules about parts being uninstalled and in original packaging, and a separate process for core refunds. The tricky part is knowing how to use the Order Status & Returns page and what happens with shipping costs.

This guide walks you through how RockAuto returns work in practice so you know what to expect before you click “Buy”.

RockAuto Return Policy – Quick Overview

Here are the key points in one place:

Return window: Most parts can be returned within 30 days of purchase.
Eligible parts: “Every part we sell” can be returned within 30 days except:
- Liquids that have been opened (oil, paint, etc.).
- Gift Certificates / gift cards.
Condition requirement: Parts must be uninstalled, unmodified, complete, and in their original, unmarked manufacturer’s box.
How to start a return: All returns are arranged online through the Order Status & Returns page; you can’t just ship things back without doing this.
Return shipping: For most “changed my mind / wrong part” returns, you pay return shipping (often by using a discounted label RockAuto sells you and deducts from your refund).
Shipping not refunded: Original shipping charges are not refundable unless the return is due to RockAuto’s mistake.
Cores: Core deposits can be refunded when you send back your old part; cores must be returned within six months and in the manufacturer’s box.
No phone support: RockAuto customer support and returns are handled entirely online.

Standard 30-Day Return Policy

RockAuto sums up their policy with one core line: every part they sell may be returned within 30 days for a refund of the part price, as long as it meets their condition rules and isn’t one of the excluded items.

What You Can Return Within 30 Days

Most new parts (brake rotors, alternators, sensors, filters, shocks, etc.).
Parts that turned out not to be needed.
Parts that don’t fit (as long as you didn’t try to “make them fit”).
Parts that arrived damaged or defective.

For standard, unused parts, the 30-day countdown starts from the date on your order or delivery (depending on how RockAuto phrases it). If you’re close to the 30-day mark, set up the return online right away so you’re clearly inside the window.

Exceptions: Opened Liquids & Gift Certificates

Two categories are specifically called out as non-returnable:

Liquids that have been opened –
motor oil, additives, paint and similar products cannot be returned once opened.
Gift Certificates –
these are treated like cash value and are not refundable as a return.

Even if you’re inside 30 days, these items are basically yours once you open or activate them.

Condition Rules: “Uninstalled” and Original Packaging

RockAuto is strict about what “returnable” means. To get a refund, your part has to be in true resellable condition.

No Installation, No Modifications

One of their most important lines is:

“We will not accept returns of parts that have been installed or modified.”

That means:

You cannot install the part “just to try it” and then send it back.
You cannot grind, drill, cut, paint, or otherwise alter anything.
If a part doesn’t fit, do not try to make it fit – they specifically warn against this.

Once a part has been installed, you’re generally in warranty territory, not return territory.

Packaging & Completeness

To receive credit, you must send the part back:

Complete – all hardware, brackets, clamps, instructions, and accessories included.
In the original manufacturer’s box – not just any box; their policy expects the OEM or brand box to be present and unmarked.
With the box in good shape – not smashed, taped over heavily, or soaked in fluid.

They also warn that a return may not be refundable if the part or the manufacturer’s box is damaged while in transit back to them. So double-box expensive parts and use plenty of packing material.

How to Start a Return (Order Status & Returns Page)

RockAuto does not handle returns by phone. Everything starts on the website:

Go to the Order Status & Returns page on rockauto.com.
Look up your order (using your email/phone and order number, or through your account if you have one).
Find the part you want to return and click:
“Arrange a Return / Report a Problem”.
Choose the reason for the return:
- Part no longer needed / ordered wrong part
- Part didn’t fit
- Part arrived damaged or broken
- Wrong part shipped / catalog error
- Warranty failure (if it failed after use)
Follow the prompts to:
- See your return instructions, and
- Either:
  - Buy a discounted return label from RockAuto, or
  - Choose to ship it yourself with your own carrier.

Your return address and instructions depend on the part and the warehouse that originally shipped it, which is why you must use the site instead of guessing where to send things.

Who Pays for Return Shipping?

This is where many people get caught off guard. RockAuto’s default stance is:

Shipping charges are not refundable unless the return is due to their mistake.
If you refuse delivery or the carrier returns the package because of an invalid address, the cost of return shipping is deducted from your refund.

Discounted Return Labels

In most cases, you’ll see an option on the return page to use a RockAuto shipping label:

You can generate a prepaid label through the Order Status & Returns page.
The label uses RockAuto’s discounted rates with carriers like FedEx or UPS.
The cost of the label is deducted from your refund once the return is processed.

For many customers, this ends up cheaper than walking into a carrier office and paying retail shipping rates.

When RockAuto Pays Return Shipping

There are situations where RockAuto may cover return shipping or refund it after the fact, for example:

The wrong part was shipped compared with what you ordered.
The catalog clearly listed the part for your vehicle, but the part wouldn’t work because of a catalog error.
The part arrived obviously damaged or defective.

In those cases you still start on the Order Status & Returns page, choose the problem type, and follow their specific instructions. If they determine the issue is their fault, they will typically provide or cover return shipping and may refund original shipping as well.

Core Charges & Core Return Policy

Many RockAuto parts include a core charge – an extra deposit you pay up front when buying remanufactured parts like alternators, starters, calipers, or pumps.

To get that core deposit back, you have to return your old part (the “core”) following RockAuto’s core rules.

Core Return Time Limit

The current core policy states:

Cores must be returned within six months of the date your order was placed.

After six months, RockAuto is not required to accept the core or refund the core charge, so don’t sit on old parts for too long.

How to Arrange a Core Return

Go to the Order Status & Returns page.
Find the order and part with the core charge.
Click “Arrange Core Return” next to that part.
Follow the prompts to:
- Get core return instructions, and
- Choose whether to use a discounted RockAuto shipping label or ship on your own.

You are usually responsible for core return shipping, unless the part listing or instructions say otherwise. When you use a RockAuto label, the shipping cost is deducted from your core refund.

Core Condition Requirements

RockAuto passes your old part back to the manufacturer to be rebuilt, so it has to be something they can work with. Typical core rules include:

Cores must be returned in the manufacturer’s box that your new part came in.
The core must:
- Be complete (with all the same pieces and housings as the new unit).
- Fit the same vehicle application as the part you bought.
- Not be smashed, broken in half, or rusted into a solid lump.
Cores do not need to be working – normal wear is fine.
Drain all fluids (oil, power steering fluid, brake fluid, etc.) and pack it so it doesn’t leak in transit.

If the box or the core is too damaged to be rebuildable, the manufacturer may reject it and you may not receive your core refund – so keep the original box and treat the old part like it still has value (because it does).

International Orders, Taxes & Duties

If you order from outside the United States and use RockAuto’s option to pre-pay taxes or import charges at checkout, the return rules have an extra twist:

If you return the product, RockAuto can refund local taxes that were collected on your behalf (for example, VAT) when they receive the part back.
RockAuto cannot refund import duties in many cases, because those payments are handled by customs and are outside their control.

So on international orders, you may get the part price back and tax back, but not necessarily all of the import duty or broker fees.

Returns vs. Warranties

It helps to separate RockAuto’s 30-day return policy from the warranty on a part.

The return policy is mainly for parts you don’t need, ordered by mistake, or that arrive incorrect but not yet installed.
The warranty covers parts that fail after installation due to defects, within the warranty period for that brand/part.

Some important warranty notes:

Warranties start when the part is delivered.
Wholesaler Closeout items have a shorter, 30-day warranty, but still can be returned under the standard return policy within that period.
Warranty remedies are usually replacement of the part, not a refund, and do not cover labor, towing, or consequential damage.

If a part fails after you’ve used it, you’ll normally go through the warranty process described on the Order Status & Returns page instead of the simple “send it back and get money” route.

Practical Tips for Smooth RockAuto Returns

Check the part before installing: Compare it side-by-side with your original part for connectors, mounting points, and overall shape.
Keep boxes and packaging: Don’t throw out the manufacturer’s box or packing materials until you’re sure you won’t be returning or sending a core back.
Don’t “make it fit”: If something seems off, stop and set up a return or report a problem instead of forcing it.
Use discounted labels: RockAuto’s return labels are often cheaper than buying shipping directly from a carrier, and the cost simply comes out of your refund.
Return cores early: Aim to send cores back well before the six-month limit so you don’t forget and lose the deposit.
Take photos if there’s damage: Pictures of damaged parts or boxes can help in cases where the shipper or manufacturer may be at fault.

RockAuto Return Policy – Quick FAQ

How long do I have to return parts to RockAuto?

Most parts may be returned within 30 days for a refund of the part price, as long as they’re uninstalled, unmodified, complete and in the original manufacturer packaging.

Can I return a part after I installed it?

No, installed or modified parts are generally not accepted as returns. If a part fails after installation, you normally handle that through the warranty, which usually means replacement, not a cash refund.

Are shipping charges refunded?

For change-of-mind or wrong-part returns, original shipping is not refunded, and you are responsible for return shipping. If RockAuto made a mistake (wrong part shipped, catalog error, etc.), they may cover some or all shipping costs.

How do core refunds work?

If you were charged a core deposit, you can get it back by arranging a core return on the Order Status & Returns page, sending your old part back within six months in the manufacturer’s box and in rebuildable condition. You usually pay return shipping, but discounted labels are available.

How fast will I get my refund?

Once RockAuto receives and processes your return, they issue the refund to your original payment method. The exact time until you see the money depends on your bank or card provider, but many customers report seeing refunds shortly after RockAuto shows the return as completed.