Is the Bunnings auto aisle really cheaper? 

Bunnings Warehouse is an Australian icon, as famous for its sausage sizzles as it is for stocking just about any hardware or household item you’d ever need. 

You can buy anything from a bonsai tree to a new toilet; garden implements to an outdoor furniture setting. And, if you’d rather build your own furniture, guess what? It has every tool and material for that too. 

In recent years, it’s even introduced an entire aisle for pet owners, stocking pet food, bedding, toys, treats, grooming supplies, and worming tablets. Just about the only thing it doesn’t have is a vet. 

But now, the pièce de résistance: the automotive aisle.  

Set to be introduced across more stores in coming months, a designated aisle for auto goods can now be found at major Bunnings outlets across the country, brimming with items you’d normally get from dedicated automotive retail stores like Supercheap Auto, Autobarn or Repco. 

That includes engine oil, car wash/wax/polish, sponges, cleaning rags, car batteries, fuses, jump starters, air fresheners, jack stands, tyre pumps, wiper blades, tow balls, and plenty more. But is it really better value compared to your regular auto store? We hit our local Bunnings and ran some math. 

One of the marketing messages Bunnings has spruiked for years is that it’ll beat any competitor’s price on the same, stocked item by 10 per cent. 

But we noticed many items – particularly in the auto aisle – appear to be exclusive to Bunnings, meaning you won’t always be able to match them to something from Autobarn or Supercheap. 

Then again, that may not be an issue. 

Where those Little Tree air fresheners are $3.99 each at Supercheap, Bunnings sells them in a twin-pack for $5, which means it’s better value but can’t be price-matched. 

Another example is a 300ml bottle of Nulon Oil System Cleaner (aka oil flush) – a common item used before an oil change. At Bunnings, it was significantly cheaper than what appears to be the exact same item and size at other outlets ($13 at Bunnings versus $20 at auto stores), but it had a different label. 

Engine oil? Same deal. 

We found a 5-litre bottle of Valvoline Durablend 10W40 semi-synthetic engine oil at Bunnings for $52.20. 

Again, what appears to be the exact same oil (but with a slightly different label) retails for $72.99 at Supercheap Auto. 

We also looked at car batteries. 

You won’t find the same Exide brand Bunnings offers at the major auto stores, so again, no price beating for you. But then they appear cheaper than most auto stores’ RRPs anyway. 

We looked at a fairly common car battery that sells for $222 (with 42 months of warranty) at Bunnings. The equivalent (same size, specification and similar CCA) at Autobarn retails for around $260 in the Supercharge brand (with 50 months warranty).  

While the Bunnings battery is better value in this instance, it’s worth noting that auto stores often have sales on car batteries (and other high-priced items), so it’s well worth shopping around when you actually need one. 

Auto stores will usually be able to fit your battery on the same day and recycle your old one for free, while Bunnings doesn’t offer either of these services (although it does recycle smaller, household batteries). 

A bottle of Armor All car wash was several dollars cheaper at Supercheap than Bunnings (even when on sale at the latter), so this is an item to which the price-beating guarantee may apply. 

Meanwhile, a 400g can of degreaser was $1 cheaper at Bunnings ($2.99 each). 

Unfortunately, it all depends on what you need as to whether it’s worth hitting your local auto retail store or Bunnings, and it really is worth shopping around if you’re looking for the best price. 

Some items are significantly cheaper at Bunnings, but it doesn’t stock everything. 

If you need items for a service, such as spark plugs or an oil filter, you’re out of luck. The closest you’ll find are lawn mower spark plugs (which you can’t use in a car) and an oil filter removal tool. 

So, you might be wasting precious time and money going to multiple stores to get everything you need – the same way most Aldi shoppers almost always need to go elsewhere to get the last few grocery items on their list.

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