AutoZone Return Policy Without A Receipt (Updated 2023) (2024)

AutoZone is one of the largest car part retailers in the United States with more than 6,000 stores across the country.

You probably have an AutoZone near you, and it may even be your store of choice when you need a new car battery or new brake pads.

When you buy the wrong item from AutoZone, can you return it?

What if you don’t have a receipt?

AutoZone Return Policy Without A Receipt

Yes, AutoZone will allow you to return items without a receipt, but you have to follow their directions.

They ask that you contact Autozone Customer support at 800-288-6966 to get the transaction information for your order.

When you are speaking to a representative, they will give the instructions and procedure for returning your items to your nearest AutoZone location.

In most cases, items can be returned to AutoZone within 90 days.

They ask that you provide the original packaging, receipt, and a government-issued ID.

You can return items in-store or by mailing the item to the fulfillment center (if you bought it online).

Government-issued IDs accepted at AutoZone include:

US/Canadian driver’s license
US state ID/Canadian providence ID
US military ID
Mexican voter registration card
Passport

You cannot make a return without an ID.

AutoZone uses the ID to track returns and identify any red flags, such as excessive returns in a short period of time.

AutoZone reserves the right to refuse any return of a used item, especially if the customer broke it.

AutoZone also reserves the right to refuse a return if you do not have the original packaging.

You cannot return a product if you are missing an accessory.

If AutoZone does accept the return, they will keep the product in an assumed transfer of property.

You do not get to keep the product.

1. Core Products

Products that don’t have a receipt or proof of purchase are referred to as “core” items.

You may still be able to return core items as long as they pass an inspection.

The inspection ensures that the product can be resold.

Customers are responsible for all core products sent to the fulfillment center.

2. Returning Batteries

Batteries contain battery fluid.

Some stores won’t take back batteries, especially if they are out of the packaging, but AutoZone will accept battery returns.

Ideally, you can return the battery unopened in its original packaging.

However, AutoZone will take back a faulty car battery within the warranty period, even if you already installed it in your vehicle.

3. Without A Receipt

If you don’t have the receipt, you may run into some complications.

4. AutoZone Rewards

One final way employees may be able to locate your receipt is if you purchased it using your AutoZone Rewards account.

To purchase something under your AutoZone Rewards account, you start by signing up.

You can sign up online or in-store.

When you make a purchase, you simply enter the phone number associated with your rewards account when you buy your products.

You will be able to look up all purchases quickly and easily through an app on your phone or the website.

Other benefits you receive with the AutoZone Rewards program include:

Receive a $20 reward after every five credits
Mange vehicles
Access free repair guides
Get exclusive discounts

If you aren’t already part of the rewards program, you should sign up today to receive all the benefits and never worry about losing your receipt again.

Before Returning A Product to AutoZone

Before you return a product to AutoZone, they expect you to take certain precautions and courtesies.

1. Empty All Fluids

Certain items you buy from AutoZone, especially power tools, grills, and engines, may run off of gas or incorporate some other sort of liquid.

If you need to return the item, you need to empty all liquids from it in advance.

AutoZone asks customers to do this to ensure safety and eliminate the possibility of an unwanted mess.

2. Clean Oil And Grease

If you try a car part that doesn’t work, it may get dirty in the process.

As a courtesy, it’s your responsibility to clean the component before you return it.

Since grease and oil are notoriously difficult to clean, you need the right products.

Mild situations may only require soap and water.

However, a degreaser will keep the car parts from feeling sticky.

Many people find success using Pine-Sol or oven cleaner.

AutoZone Items You Can’t Return

There are a couple of items that AutoZone will not accept as a return under any circ*mstances for a variety of reasons, whether you have the receipt or not.

However, you may have alternative ways to resell the items yourself.

1. Gift Cards

Most retailers do not accept gift card returns under any circ*mstances, and that also applies to AutoZone.

Most retailers do this to eliminate the chance of fraud.

AutoZone sells gift cards in denominations between $20 and $200.

You can buy them in-store, or you can buy them online and send the gift card to the recipient’s email address.

If you buy a gift card from AutoZone and decide against the purchase, you still have options, even if you can’t return the gift card to the store.

Some things to do with your unwanted gift card include:

Sell it to someone you know for cash
Gift it to a friend or family member
Donate the gift card to charity (Kars-4-Kids)
Exchange or sell the gift card online

You may not be about to recoup the entire amount of the gift card when you sell it as many people look for deals when buying resold gift cards.

2. “Final Sale” Items

When you walk through the aisles of AutoZone, you may notice products for sale with a “Final Sale” sticker on it.

As the signage indicates, this is your last chance to buy the product.

However, these products are usually sold under the “Final Sale” policy for a reason, such as the product has been discontinued or deemed obsolete.

3. Customized Products

AutoZone sells personalized products, such as floor mats with your name on them.

Once they make the customized item, you cannot return it.

There’s very little chance that another person with your exact name will want to buy it.

Before you purchase customized floor mats, always double-check the spelling and make sure that every letter is easy to read.

If you plan to make the purchase as a gift for someone else, it’s best to talk to them about it first in case they get stuck with a second personalized floor mat that they can’t replace.

Returning Online Purchases

Many people prefer buying items online these days, and AutoZone accommodates these customers by allowing people to buy items on their website for delivery or in-store pickup.

One benefit of making purchases online is that you can always find records of your purchases online so that you always have a receipt available.

When you buy something and have it delivered to your home, you may receive it only to find out that you misunderstood the description, or the product got damaged in transit.

When this happens, you can return the product in-store.

However, you probably purchased online to avoid having to go into the store.

You can return online purchases to the nearest Fulfillment Center via mail.

Keep in mind that AutoZone only pays for the return shipping in the case that they made an error.

You will be responsible for covering the shipping cost otherwise.

If you live outside of the United States, you will need to cover the delivery costs for the return upfront.

If they find that you deserve reimbursem*nt for the delivery costs, they will refund you for the expense in the form of a check.

How To Return Items To Fulfillment Center

If you don’t mind waiting a couple of days for your refund and don’t want to replace your product with another item right away, returning your item via mail may be the most convenient solution for you.

Here are the simple steps you need to take to mail a return to AutoZone’s fulfillment center:

Step One: Fill Out Return Form

AutoZone asks that all customers fill out a return form when returning an online purchase to provide people at the warehouse with the information they need to process the return quickly.

The return form asks for basic information about the purchase and your contact information.

You can find the return form on part B of your shipping invoice.

Step Two: Package Product

Put the product you want to return back into its original packaging.

Then, you will put the package into a larger box appropriate for delivery.

Don’t forget to include a copy of your receipt.

If returning something fragile, you should include additional packaging to keep your item safe in transit, such as bubble wrap.

Step Three: Stick Shipping Label On Package

If you qualify for a free shipping label, you can get one by calling AutoZone customer support.

They will send the shipping label to you, which may take a couple of days.

Once you get the shipping label, you will put the label onto your package.

Step Four: Take To Local Post Office Or Delivery Company

You will need to take the package to a local delivery service to send it out.

Some of the most popular delivery services include:

United States Postal Service (USPS)
FedEx
UPS

While USPS tends to have the lowest rates, they also tend to have the slowest delivery times.

If shipping from outside of the United States, don’t forget to include the receipt for the delivery services so that they know how much to reimburse you.

Step Five: Wait For Return

Once the fulfillment center receives your package, they must process the return, including an inspection of the product.

Assuming that the product passes the inspection, you can expect to see the return applied to the cc you used to purchase it within five to seven days.

Once you get your money back, you can make your next purchase.

If your product doesn’t pass the inspection, you will get a notice clarifying their findings and why they made their decision.

AutoZone Return Policy Vs. Advance Auto Parts Return Policy

One of AutoZone’s greatest competitors is Advance Auto Parts.

They both have a very large presence in the United States and Canada.

Advance Auto Parts has 5,261 stores in the United States and Canada, while AutoZone has 4,982 stores in the United States and Canada.

However, AutoZone has 5,384 stores when you include the stores in Mexico.

Advance Auto Parts does not have a presence in Mexico yet at this point.

How do the car part retailers compare when it comes to their return policy?

AutoZone has the more accommodating return policy by far.

AutoZone allows you to return items after 90 days, while Advance Auto Parts only give you 45 days.

Furthermore, Advance Auto Parts has a much larger number of items they consider “final sale” items.

Items Advance Auto Parts won’t accept include:

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