Buying from Copart and IAAI: how to pick a lot and not overpay

Copart and IAAI sell cars from insurers, leasing companies and private owners, in any condition from a minor scratch to a fully totaled wreck. The price on the photo often looks tempting precisely because it doesn't include repair or shipping costs.

The damage code is the first thing to read

Every lot carries a code like Front End, Side, Undercarriage, Flood or Burn. The same words "Front End" can mean a broken headlight or a bent frame rail. The code is a starting point: check it against the photos and, ideally, a live inspection or an expert's report.

Title status decides whether the car can be driven at all

• Clean title: minor damage, the insurer never declared it a total loss
• Salvage title: declared a total loss; needs a separate re-inspection after repair
• Flood title: was submerged; electronics can keep failing long after it's dried out
• Junk / parts only: intended for parts, legal road use is not possible

Auction photos don't tell the whole story

Auction photos are taken after the tow, not before, so they won't show hydro-lock, hidden frame corrosion, or an airbag that's already fired. A Carfax or AutoCheck VIN report before the bid closes some of these gaps, but not all: post-accident damage descriptions don't always make it into the report.

The mistakes buyers make most often

The most expensive mistake is bidding on price and body photos alone, without adding up the full cost: the hammer price, auction fees, container shipping to Poti, customs clearance and, if needed, repair. The total often ends up higher than a comparable clean car on the local market, and the savings from buying at auction disappear entirely.

Calculate the full landed cost in Tbilisi before the bid. Once the lot is won and the money is committed, you can't back out without a loss.