NAICS 423140

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal statistical standard for classifying business establishments so agencies can collect, analyze, and publish data about the U.S. economy. Managed by the Office of Management and Budget and revised on a five-year cycle, NAICS was adopted in 1997; the current vintage is 2022. ¹

NAICS 423140 — Motor Vehicle Parts (Used) Merchant Wholesalers — covers establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of used motor vehicle parts and supplies. Federal statistical series publish data for this industry as part of Wholesale Trade Sector 42 and, in some cases, within the broader motor vehicle parts wholesale grouping. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 423140 overview: https://app.g2xchange.com/naics/423140
• G2X — NAICS 423120 (Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts)
• G2X — NAICS 423130 (Tire and Tube)

What this NAICS covers

• Merchant wholesaling of used motor vehicle parts and supplies. ³
• Wholesale distribution activities where used automotive parts are purchased and resold to other businesses (e.g., retailers, repair facilities, other wholesalers). ⁴
• Wholesaling of secondhand automotive parts obtained from dismantled vehicles. ⁵
• Wholesale salvage operations focused on parts resale (distinct from scrap processing). ⁵
• Excludes wholesaling of new parts and supplies, which is classified in NAICS 423120. ⁶
• Excludes wholesaling of new or used tires and tubes, which is classified in NAICS 423130. ⁶

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	423120	Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers
NAICS	423130	Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
NAICS	423930	Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesalers
NAICS	423110	Automobile and Other Motor Vehicle Merchant Wholesalers

Key inclusions and exclusions

• Included: Dismantling of cars for the purpose of wholesaling secondhand parts is classified in NAICS 423140. ⁷
• Excluded: Facilities primarily engaged in separating and sorting recyclable materials are classified in NAICS 562920 (Materials Recovery Facilities). ⁷
• Excluded: Wholesaling of new motor vehicle parts and supplies is classified in NAICS 423120; wholesaling of new or used tires and tubes is classified in NAICS 423130. ⁶

Data coverage in federal series

• Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS) publishes national estimates by 2- to 4-digit NAICS; the motor vehicle and parts wholesale group reported $1,106.9 billion in 2022 sales. ⁸
• The 2022 Economic Census provides NAICS Sector 42 (Wholesale Trade) tables and files that include this industry. ⁹

Frequently asked questions

• What types of businesses fall under NAICS 423140? Establishments whose primary activity is wholesaling used motor vehicle parts and supplies to other businesses, including firms that source secondhand parts from dismantled vehicles for distribution through wholesale channels. ³

• How is NAICS 423140 different from NAICS 423120 and NAICS 423130? NAICS 423140 covers used parts. NAICS 423120 covers wholesaling of new motor vehicle supplies and parts, while NAICS 423130 covers wholesaling of tires and tubes (new or used). ⁶

• Do auto dismantlers that wholesale parts belong in NAICS 423140? Yes. Dismantling vehicles primarily to wholesale secondhand parts is classified in NAICS 423140, not in recyclable material merchant wholesaling or materials recovery facility codes. ⁷

• Are retail used-parts stores included in NAICS 423140? No. NAICS Sector 42 covers merchant wholesalers that sell on their own account to other businesses; retail establishments fall under the Retail Trade sector rather than Wholesale Trade. ⁴

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 423140 overview: https://app.g2xchange.com/naics/423140
• Census — The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (definition, five-year revisions, 2022 vintage). ¹
• Census — Economic Census: NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems. ²
• Census — 2022 Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS) — Tip Sheet. ⁸
• Census — 2022 NAICS Sector 42 (Wholesale Trade) tables and files. ⁹

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau. Economic Census: NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/technical-documentation/code-lists/understanding-naics-redirect.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau. LEHD Snapshot Documentation — Selected Codebook Value Labels (includes NAICS 423140 title). https://lehd.ces.census.gov/data/lehd-snapshot-doc/latest/appendices/value_labels.html
4. U.S. Census Bureau. Factfinder for the Nation: Wholesale Trade Statistics (merchant wholesaler characteristics). https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2000/comm/cff-11.html
5. U.S. Census Bureau. Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesalers (Iron and Steel) — cross-reference to 423140 (2007 NAICS reference). https://www2.census.gov/econ2007/Reference_materials/htm%20files/42393011.htm
6. U.S. Census Bureau. Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers — cross-references (classifies used parts to 423140; tires to 423130). https://www2.census.gov/econ2007/Reference_materials/htm%20files/4231201.htm
7. U.S. Census Bureau. Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesalers (Nonferrous and Other) — cross-reference to 423140 and 562920 (2007 NAICS reference). https://www2.census.gov/econ2007/Reference_materials/htm%20files/42393030.htm
8. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022 Annual Wholesale Trade Survey — Tip Sheet. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/annual-wholesale-trade-survey.html
9. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022 NAICS Sector 42 — Wholesale Trade (Economic Census tables and FTP files). https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/econ/economic-census/naics-sector-42.html