Whether you buy your cell phone new, or opt for a used or refurbished phone, sooner or later you may want accessories, like headsets, cases, or AC adapters. You may also find that your battery life is slowly growing shorter and shorter, in which case you may want to replace the battery rather than the whole phone.

When looking for cases and other accessories for used cell phones, remember that many phone models may fit the same case. Check to see whether a current phone model uses the same case as your phone; this will make it easier to find a suitable case. If no similar phone models are being sold anymore, you may still be able to find a used or old-stock case, either online or locally, though you probably won’t be able to purchase one directly from the cell phone dealer.

One of the most often purchased accessories for cell phones are hands-free kits. Some states have recently passed laws making so that drivers must use such a kit if they wish to talk on their cell phone while driving. Most newer phones are Bluetooth compatible, so that you can use a wireless Bluetooth handset. If this is important to you, choose a used cell phone that is recent enough to offer Bluetooth. If you have a used phone that is not Bluetooth-ready, you can still find a hands-free system that will work. These will have a wire connecting the phone to the headset, much in the same way an Ipod or CD player uses wires to connect the device to the ear buds.

Finding replacement batteries and accessories for used cell phones may be a little trickier than finding these items for a phone you purchased new, because they are usually specific to that model of phone or a small group of very similar models. If the phone is no longer being sold by the dealer or company, then the accessories may not be sold new either. In that case, you can look online or locally for used replacement parts.

If your refurbished cell phone needs a new AC adapter or battery, it is almost always cheaper to replace these items rather than upgrading to a new phone, even if you plan to buy a used phone to replace the one you currently have. Unfortunately, there is no nationwide or worldwide standard for cell phone AC adapters; each model of phone has a specific charger. The same goes for the battery inside the phone. This means that you cannot usually purchase an AC adapter or battery for another phone model and use it with your phone model. However, most manufacturers do produce a range of similar phones which may use the same battery or charger.

If you’re looking for a replacement, first check online to find out the model number for the replacement part, as well as a list of any other phone models which use this charger or battery. If the phone is new enough, the dealer may still have these parts. For example, if you need a replacement part for your used AT&T cell phone, contact AT&T first to inquire about availability. They can also be located online fairly easily, especially if you own one of the more popular cell phone models. When buying replacement accessories for your cell phone, make sure that they are authentic; there are some counterfeit cell phone batteries, and these can cause trouble. However, as long as you find the real thing, these simple replacements can give your cell phone years of use, saving you money on a replacement phone.