The Simple Explanation
When you click a link on CarCompatibility.com that goes to Amazon, and then you buy something, Amazon gives us a small commission. You pay the same price as always. It’s that simple.
This commission helps us pay for:
- Web hosting and server costs
- Domain name registration
- Content research and writing
- Keeping guides up to date
- Adding new car models and consumables
In short: You get free guides. Amazon gets your order. We get a small fee for the introduction. Everyone wins.
How It Actually Works
The Step-by-Step Process
Your price is exactly the same as if you searched for the product directly on Amazon. The commission comes from Amazon’s marketing budget, not from you.
Key Facts About Affiliate Links
What’s Different?
Almost nothing! Here’s what’s the same:
- Same product
- Same price
- Same Amazon customer service
- Same returns policy
- Same delivery speed
- Same Prime benefits (if you’re a member)
The only difference is that Amazon knows you came from us. That’s it.
How Long Does the Link Work?
Amazon affiliate links stay active for up to 90 days. This means:
- You can click our link today and purchase a week later
- You can add items to your cart over several days
- As long as you complete checkout within 90 days, we get credit
Commission Rates
We don’t control commission rates. Amazon sets them by product category:
- Automotive parts: Typically 2–3%
- Car accessories: Typically 1–5%
- Tools: Typically 3–5%
- Some restricted categories: 0% (no commission)
Commission is calculated on the product price (not shipping or taxes). The rates are the same whether it’s our link or someone else’s.
How Much Do We Earn?
It varies widely. A £20 wiper blade purchase might earn us 50p. A £200 car battery might earn us £3–5. Across hundreds of guides and thousands of visitors, these small commissions add up to keep the site running.
We’re not getting rich from this. We’re covering costs and continuing to improve the site.
Why We Recommend Products This Way
The Business Reality
Creating comprehensive car consumables guides requires:
- Research: Hours reading manufacturer handbooks and technical specs
- Writing: Creating detailed guides for 180+ car models
- Updates: Keeping information current as new models and products arrive
- Hosting: Paying for servers and bandwidth
- Support: Answering user questions and fixing errors
This costs money. Without funding, the site would go offline.
Our Funding Options
We chose affiliate marketing because:
- It’s transparent: We tell you exactly how it works
- It aligns incentives: We succeed by recommending quality products you actually want
- It’s fair to you: You pay nothing extra
- It’s better than: Paywalls, aggressive ads, or selling your data
The alternative would be expensive subscriptions or intrusive advertising. We think affiliate links are fairer to you.
Doesn’t This Bias Your Recommendations?
Short Answer: No
Commission rates are the same regardless of which product we recommend. Amazon doesn’t pay more for recommending Brand A over Brand B. So we have no financial incentive to recommend one product over another.
We recommend based on:
- Compatibility: Does it fit your specific car model?
- Quality: Reviews, durability, reputation
- Value: Good price for the quality
- Availability: In stock in the UK
Not on commission rates (which don’t vary by product).
Multiple Options
We usually recommend 3–5 options for each consumable type. This lets you compare and choose what suits your budget and preferences. If we were purely profit-driven, we’d push one expensive option.
Transparency & Trust
Why We’re So Honest About This
We could hide affiliate links or bury disclosure in legal documents. We don’t. Instead, we:
- Clearly disclose all affiliate relationships
- Explain how affiliate links work
- Be honest about our business model
- Allow you to shop elsewhere without judgment
We believe transparency builds trust. You deserve to know how websites make money, especially when reviewing product recommendations.
Legal Requirements
UK law requires us to disclose affiliate relationships. This protects you from undisclosed advertising. We embrace this requirement because honesty is our policy anyway.
See our Affiliate Disclosure page for the full legal statement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Have to Use Your Links?
No, absolutely not. You can:
- Go directly to Amazon and search for the product yourself
- Buy from another retailer (Halfords, Eurocar Parts, local garages)
- Use a different affiliate link from another website
- Support us in other ways (share our guides, send feedback)
Our guides are free and helpful regardless of where you buy.
Can I Clear the Affiliate Tracking Cookie?
Yes. You can delete cookies from your browser at any time. However, this might prevent us from getting credit for your purchase.
See our Cookie Policy for instructions on managing cookies in your browser.
Does This Affect Amazon Prime Benefits?
No. Affiliate links work the same way as direct Amazon links for Prime members. You still get free delivery, Prime Video, Music, etc.
What If I Return a Product?
Returns work normally. If you return a product within Amazon’s return window, the commission is reversed. This is fair to everyone.
Are You Recommending Products Because Amazon Pays Well?
No. Commission rates don’t vary by product, so we have no reason to recommend one brand over another based on commission. We recommend based on compatibility, quality, and value.
Do You Get Data About Me from Amazon?
No. We don’t receive any personal information about you (name, email, purchase history, etc.). Amazon doesn’t share that data with us.
We only see aggregated data like “50 visitors purchased automotive parts” — never individual details.
See our Privacy Policy for details on how we handle your data.
How Do I Know These Links Are Safe?
Affiliate links are safe. They’re just regular Amazon links with tracking codes. You go to Amazon normally and complete checkout normally.
You can verify this:
- Hover over a link and check the URL
- It will say amazon.co.uk with a tag parameter
- The tag just identifies that you came from us
- It doesn’t affect the product or your purchase
What About Other Retailers?
Currently, we only have affiliate partnerships with Amazon. We’re open to partnerships with other retailers (Halfords, etc.) in the future, but Amazon is where most UK car owners shop for consumables.
If you prefer a different retailer, you can take our specifications and search for the product elsewhere.
Supporting CarCompatibility.com
If you like our guides and want to support our work, here are ways to help:
- Use our affiliate links: It costs you nothing but helps fund the site
- Share our guides: Tell friends about CarCompatibility.com
- Send feedback: Help us improve by telling us what works and what doesn’t
- Request new models: Let us know which cars you’d like us to cover
- Report errors: Help us stay accurate by catching mistakes
None of these cost you anything, but they all help us improve and continue providing free guides.
Learn More
Want to know more about how we operate?
- About CarCompatibility.com — Learn who we are and what we do
- Affiliate Disclosure — Legal disclosure of our partnerships
- Privacy Policy — How we handle your data
- Contact Us — Send us questions or feedback