Copart is the biggest name in US salvage car auctions, and for many buyers it is the first place they ever bid on a car online. This guide answers the questions people ask most often: what Copart actually is, how to register, how bidding works, how long an auction takes, how to pay, and what the confusing lot statuses mean.

What is Copart and how does it work?

Copart is an online vehicle auction platform founded in 1982 in California. It sells millions of vehicles a year, mostly on behalf of insurance companies that declared them a total loss after an accident, flood or theft recovery. Banks, fleets and private sellers also list cars there. Everything happens online: you browse the catalog, inspect photos and condition reports, place bids and pay - without visiting the yard. Besides the USA, Copart also operates in other countries, including the UK, Canada and Germany.

Important: not every Copart car is wrecked. Many lots are clean-title vehicles from fleets or dealers, and a large share of damaged cars are repairable. The key is to check the vehicle's history and past auction prices before bidding - you can do that for free by entering the VIN on BidCheck.

How to register on Copart

Basic registration on copart.com is free: you create an account, confirm your details and upload an ID document. To actually bid you need a refundable deposit, which unlocks bidding up to a limit related to the deposit amount. Some vehicle titles and some states additionally require a dealer or business license - private buyers usually access those lots through a registered broker. Buyers from outside the USA most often use a broker too, because the broker handles the license, paperwork and export.

How to bid on Copart

Copart uses two bidding stages. First, preliminary bidding: you can place your maximum bid in advance, any time before the auction. Then the live virtual auction: lots are sold one after another in a fast online auction, where the system combines pre-bids with live bidders. If your bid is the highest and meets the seller's expectations, the lot ends as "Sold"; if the reserve is not met, it may end "On Approval" and the seller decides whether to accept the offer.

How long does a Copart auction take?

A single lot usually sells in well under a minute - live bidding is very fast. The full picture is longer: a car typically appears in the catalog days or even weeks before the sale date, so you have time to research it, and auctions for each yard run on scheduled weekdays. If a lot does not sell, it is usually relisted for a future auction.

How to pay for a car on Copart

The winning bid is only part of the final cost. Copart adds a buyer fee that depends on the price, a virtual bid fee and a gate fee, and storage charges if you are late with pickup. Payment is due within a few business days of winning, and the standard method for larger amounts is a bank wire transfer; late payment triggers extra fees. If you buy through a broker, you normally send the money to the broker, who pays Copart and later invoices transport and shipping.

What do Copart statuses and terms mean?

  • Run and Drive - when the car arrived at the yard, it started, could be put in gear and moved under its own power. It is a snapshot from intake, not a guarantee that it still drives.
  • Engine Start Program - Copart verified that the engine starts (often with a short video on the lot page). It does not mean the car is roadworthy.
  • Enhanced Vehicles - lots for which Copart prepares extra documentation: more photos, an engine video or additional condition details, which makes the car easier to assess remotely.
  • Normal Wear - a damage code meaning no accident damage was recorded, only traces of normal use.
  • Undercarriage - a damage code pointing at the underside of the vehicle: suspension, floor pan or exhaust, typically after hitting a curb or debris.
  • Lot Sold - the auction of this lot ended with a final sale, as opposed to "On Approval", where the seller still has to accept the highest bid.

How to check what a car sold for on Copart

Copart itself does not show you the archive of finished sales, and that information is exactly what you need to bid sensibly. Enter the VIN on BidCheck to see past Copart and IAAI listings of the vehicle: photos, damage descriptions and final prices. We also wrote a separate guide on checking Copart auction history by VIN.

Copart USA or Copart UK (copart.co.uk)?

Copart.com and copart.co.uk are the same company but separate markets: the US site sells left-hand-drive cars priced in dollars, the UK site right-hand-drive cars priced in pounds. For imports to continental Europe, the US market is usually the better choice - the selection is bigger and prices of comparable cars are often lower, even after adding shipping and import costs.

Summary

Copart is a legitimate, well-organized way to buy cars from the USA, as long as you do your homework: check the VIN history, compare past auction prices, and budget for fees and transport. Start by browsing current Copart lots on BidCheck, and if you are planning a full import, read our step-by-step guide to importing a car from the USA.