Madison Copart (2024)

FAQs

Is Copart a legitimate company? ›

Yes, Copart is a legitimate online auction and car sales site. Copart launched the industry's first mobile auction app in 2013.

If you win a lot and don't finalize the purchase (meaning, the lot is not paid in full within 8 calendar days including the day of sale) the Lot will Relist. The Relist fee will be 10% of the final sale price OR $600 – whichever is higher. If you have paid Copart already, contact the Yard directly.

Willis Johnson is the founder of Dallas-based Copart, a leader in online auctions for used and totaled cars; he owns about 6% of the stock. Johnson founded the company out of a single lot in Vallejo, California in 1982 after several years operating a dismantling yard near Sacramento.

Buying for personal use in California? Without business licenses, you will need a Broker's help to bid on clean and salvage titled vehicles in California. If you're buying in another state, view the State Licensing Overview or search our No License Required inventory.

You can drive a car directly off the lot if you have insurance on it and have access to dealer tags. Otherwise, we recommend you either have Copart ship it to your business address or hire a third-party transporter to bring it to you.

Pure Sale - There is no minimum bid or reserve price. The lot will be awarded to the highest bidder at the close of bidding during the virtual auction. On Approval - Seller has reserved the right to approve the final high bid achieved during the virtual auction.

Can I visit a Copart location to preview vehicles? Yes, and in fact, we encourage you to visit. Although Copart provides 10 high-quality images and accurate descriptions for each vehicle, any information provided is for convenience only.

Copart offers three membership types to meet the unique needs of our buyers. Guest Membership (FREE): Best for people who are new to Copart and simply want to browse inventory online and create a Watchlist to keep an eye on specific vehicles of interest.

When joining Copart for free with a Basic Membership, you will have the ability to create Watchlists and Saved Searches, access a personalized Member Dashboard and bid on up to 5 vehicles.

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.

How can I avoid potential pitfalls when buying a car from Copart? ›

Review the high quality photos provided by Copart, either online or on your mobile device. Determine title type (or Ownership Doc Type), estimated repair cost, odometer reading, damage type, and if the keys are included. Inspect the vehicle in person.

Tools of any kind, including diagnostic code readers, are not allowed in the yard. See a staff member if you need assistance with a vehicle. As a safety precaution, please do not attempt to start a vehicle without a Copart employee. Vehicles cannot be test driven.

Myth #1: Copart Has Hidden Fees

While Member Fees do exist at Copart, no fees are hidden from our Members, and the list can be accessed at any time. It is important for Members to educate themselves on which fees are relevant to them and what to expect before placing a bid on a vehicle.

You have won a vehicle! Please plan payment and shipping right away to avoid late payment and storage fees. You will have 3 business days to pay for the lot, including the day of sale.

Bidding Fees

Based on your final bid price and added to the total. If any portion of the payment is applied with non-secure funds, non-secure funds fees apply for that unit.