Salvage cars appeal to individuals needing a fixer-upper or dismantlers looking for parts. One can sift through the extensive listings of Copart vehicles for sale and start bidding immediately. However, it’s important to be familiar with state regulations and licensing requirements for Copart auction vehicles to streamline the process. Some states may require markets or brokers to guide transactions, as they possess the expertise to determine what suits each need.

Register with Copart
Becoming a member of Copart opens up opportunities to participate in their salvage car auctions.   As a member, one can start bidding and buying with Copart. The registration process is straightforward and involves a simple procedure. 

• Fill in the mandatory  details.

Upgrade to  premium  or add a  deposit
In order to  participate in the Copart auto auction and find deals nearby, it is important to have sufficient buying power, which indicates the maximum amount one can bid on the vehicle.  Premier members have higher buying power  compared to Basic members, which starts  at $2000.  But they have the option to increase their buying power by:

Adding a deposit
Basic members who  do not  want to upgrade to Premier can boost their buying power by adding a deposit.

Upgrade to Premier
It is the most suitable selection for Copart buyers. It gives one substantial buying power without additional deposits. It is a better choice for:

• Those who wish to buy multiple vehicles
• Those who want to bid on several Copart salvage car auctions simultaneously
• Those who wish to avoid the hassle of adding deposits whenever they reach a bidding limit

Those who want to upgrade to the Premier membership can:

• Pay a $249 annual fee
• Bear a fully refundable, one-time $400 deposit

Start bidding
Both basic and premier members, irrespective of their licensing status, can bid on the No License Required Copart salvage car auctions, provided they have a valid government-issued photo ID and a minimum necessary deposit. Members may have to pay sales tax if they buy vehicles that do not need licenses.

However, to bid on vehicles that require a license, members must use a broker or register as a business. One can also start buying from Copart as a business. Copart has an extensive selection of approved brokers; one can choose and bid through them.

Search vehicles
Start the vehicle search “Copart auto auction near me” through the Vehicle Finder. One can refine the search by selecting from various categories, such as Copart Select, Hot Items, and more. New cars are added to their auction inventory daily, so  be sure to  check the website often for the latest listings.

Join auctions
After selecting the vehicle one is interested in, submit a preliminary bid. Alternatively, one has the option to join live auctions online. While it’s  not necessary  to log in to view the auction, one might require a membership to start bidding. After creating an account with the credentials, navigate to the “Today’s auctions” section to view the ongoing live auctions. Additionally, one can check the Auctions Calendar to stay informed about the upcoming auctions. There’s enough flexibility to add multiple ongoing auctions to the watchlist.

For additional convenience, one can use the Copart Mobile app, which allows one to participate in the auctions from a smartphone. By selecting the “Today’s Auctions” tab, one can easily identify ongoing auctions marked with a red “Auction in Progress” notice. In addition, tapping on the live sales will seamlessly direct one to the auction in  real time .

Place bids
One can place pre-bids or preliminary bids before and during the live auction, as late as two units or two minutes before the vehicles show on the block. Place an incremental bid on the car before the sale during the pre-bid. It is represented during the live auction and may be the warning bid if no other bidder places a higher bid during the live auction or pre-bid phase. If there is a tie between live and pre-bid amounts, the live bidder prevails as the highest bidder. One can bid from a smartphone, computer, or through a broker by choosing from one of the automatic increment options or selecting the bid amount. Ideally, one competes against the other Members to become the high bidder. So, if the bid is the highest when the dynamic, circular countdown timer stops, one will win the vehicle sale. However, sellers who set a minimum bid or marked the vehicle as sold pending approval can submit a counter-bid against the highest bidder once the sale concludes.

Pay and pick up
Pay  for the chosen car through convenient payment options.  Some payment options are meant solely for domestic vehicles. So, check the convenient method and process the payment accordingly.