Get the Inside Scoop on Auto Auctions from Copart
Become a car auction pro and you could save thousands on the cars you want
Want to get the inside scoop on auto auctions? Then you’re in the right place—Copart doesn’t just throw you into auctions blindly, we give you the tips and tricks to bid on, and win the cars, trucks, SUVs and other vehicles that you want.
Copart’s Top Insider Tips
1. Know the Difference: Salvage vs. Clean Title Vehicles
Salvage title vehicles are totaled vehicles that usually need repairs in order to function. The extent of damage can vary from relatively minor damage to major repairs—that’s why it’s important to properly inspect the vehicle. Clean title vehicles are similar to used cars and are usually in better condition.
2. Optimize Your Bidding Selection
You may not be able to bid on all vehicles when you’re browsing our auto auctions. Don’t panic—that’s usually due to licensing restrictions in your area. If you don’t want to worry about licensing, you can buy salvage or clean title vehicles from 34 states without a business license. You can also buy from one of the following states with no restrictions at all: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming. Check our licensing page for more details.
3. Insuring a Salvage Vehicle
It’s important to go into an auto auction with realistic expectations: some insurance companies won’t insure salvage title cars, even if they’ve been completely repaired and given a rebuilt title. Check with your current company about coverage or look at alternative insurance companies or options.
4. Check Out Our Selection
A common question we get is “is this like a police auction?” And our answer is… kind of. Copart’s inventory is mainly composed of wrecked cars from insurance companies, but we also have some consumers who sell their clean title vehicles through us as well. You can find boats or power sports vehicles like jet skis at Copart too!
5. Find What You’re Looking For
Just because we have hundreds of thousands of vehicles doesn’t mean you want to see all of them. Rather than navigate through every listing, we make it easy to search for the car you're looking for with the Vehicle Finder. Whether you’re looking for pure sales, specific damage types or auctions with less participants—there’s a filter for that. Customize your auctions your way.
Simplify Your Search
Copart auto auctions can be significantly more affordable and convenient than buying cars through swap meets or classifieds.
- No meetings with strangers.
- No sales pitches or negotiating.
- Multiple payment options.
- No credit checks.
There are multiple ways to win: Preliminary bidding, live bidding and Buy It Now. And when you win, you can pick a convenient way to pay and pick up. Whether it’s wire transfer, money order, cashier’s check, credit/debit card (domestic accounts only) or MoneyGram payments, you can pay how you want.
Don’t want to wait in line to pick up your vehicle? You can also arrange to have it delivered through your Member Dashboard.
Membership has its Privileges
Being a Copart Member grants you access to bid on all sorts of vehicles. And upgrading your Membership to Premier unlocks even more features. Check out our New Member Guide for more information.
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Basic | Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Add vehicles of interest to your Watchlist. | ✔ | ✔ |
| Save time looking for vehicles with Saved Search. | ✔ | ✔ |
| Copart Member Protection Pledge covers your purchase up to $49,999.99. | ✔ | ✔ |
| Increased Buying Power allows you to bid on more than one vehicle at a time without adding more than one deposit. | ✔ | |
| Access to Priority Member Services phone support. | ✔ | |
| Free water bottle and safety vest when visiting a Copart location (limit of one free vest per Membership year) | ✔ | |
| Add a Deposit › | Upgrade to Premier › |
Membership Checklist
Are you ready to register? Here’s a checklist of everything you need to know about bidding and winning on Copart auctions.
Buy Like a Pro
Make the most out of your bidding experience:
- Get the most out of your Membership by choosing Premier Membership.
- Start your search with No License Required vehicles.
- Optimize your search by state, make and model with the Vehicle Finder.
- Can’t bid on a specific car in your state? A Broker can help you bid on the vehicles you want.
- Keep an eye on the cars you like by adding multiple vehicles to your Watchlist.
- Don’t fixate on just one car—check out multiple listings.
- Do your homework and try to find the best deal.
Ready to Register? Let’s Begin.
What is Copart?