How to buy salvage cars at Copart auctions
Four simple steps, each with a short video. Register, find your vehicle, bid, and pay. We handle the broker side so you can buy Copart salvage and clean title cars without a dealer license.
Why buy through SalvageReseller?
Copart auctions are dealer only, and the small selection open to the public tends to sell for more. A registered broker gets you the full inventory at dealer level. Here is why buyers choose us.
Buy in four steps
Each step has a short video walkthrough.
Register
Create your free account in under five minutes with just your name, email, and a valid government ID (international buyers use a passport). You must be at least 18, and no credit card is needed for the free membership. Then submit a refundable security deposit to unlock bidding. The minimum is $600 or 10% of your intended bid limit, whichever is higher, and it is fully refundable whenever your account has no outstanding obligations. Your deposit sets your maximum bid limit.
Choose your membership
Every plan has unlimited purchases and bidding. You only pay a transaction fee when you win a vehicle.
Find your vehicle
Use our advanced search to filter more than 200,000 vehicles by make, model, year, damage type, location, and price. Listings include photos and lot details for reference only; not every lot has a condition report, and you can order a VIN history report for any vehicle. Because vehicles sell as is with no returns, inspect before you bid. To visit a Copart yard in person you need a Basic membership directly with Copart, and once it is approved you can access the yards. You can also use an independent inspection service such as CarInspector.
The winning bid is not your final price. Add the buyer premium, gate and storage fees, transport, and any repairs to see your all in number. Our broker fees are among the lowest of any registered Copart broker, so more of your budget goes to the vehicle.
Place your bid
Choose your maximum bid and let our Bid4U system bid automatically up to your limit, join the live virtual auction to bid in real time on weekdays, or use Buy It Now to skip the auction on select vehicles. Here are the three ways to bid:
Preliminary Bidding
Set your maximum bid before the auction begins. The system bids on your behalf, raising only as needed up to your limit, so you do not need to be online. Best for auctions you cannot attend live or when you want a strict budget.
AutomaticLive Bidding
Join the virtual auction and bid as the auctioneer calls, available on weekdays during auction hours. You watch the bidding and choose when to raise. Best when you want full control and can be online at auction time.
Real timeBuy It Now
Skip the auction entirely. Select vehicles are listed at a fixed price. Pay it and the vehicle is yours immediately, with no waiting for auction day. Prices are usually higher than auction estimates, but you gain certainty and speed.
InstantPay and get your vehicle
Win and you will receive a confirmation email right away. Pay Inloher Corp within three business days, counting auction day, by bank wire. You cannot pay Copart directly. A late payment adds a $50 fee, and non payment within seven calendar days cancels the sale and forfeits your deposit. Once payment clears you receive a Vehicle Release Authorization. Bring it with a valid photo ID to the yard, or have the vehicle delivered. Copart charges daily storage fees after three days, so arrange pickup promptly, and title processing is estimated at about 30 days.
Get an instant national or international shipping quote and have your vehicle delivered door to door.
How to buy: frequently asked questions
