[michaelt]

In my country, if your car is missing (say) a wingmirror, you can go to a 'scrap dealer' who has a yard full of written off cars, and they'll sell you a wingmirror taken off a scrapped car.

There isn't any greater authority, keeping track of every car part or ensuring the number of wingmirrors leaving stock matches the number legitimately entering stock.

[lillecarl]

We're not talking wingmirrors, we're talking interior. And it's different for cheap stuff one could pay cash, but cars are registered when they come in to the junkyard and parts sold are declared.

I'm not saying it can't happen every now and then, but it wouldn't work systematically.