If you are looking for a car from the USA, you will almost certainly come across two names — Copart and IAAI (Insurance Auto Auctions). This is where insurers, leasing companies and dealers sell thousands of vehicles every day: after a collision, a flood, hail, theft, or simply at the end of a lease. Here is how the two auctions are alike and how they differ.
What they have in common
- Online bidding. Both run their auctions online, so you can buy a car from Poland or Ukraine without flying to the US.
- Hundreds of yards nationwide. Every car sits at a specific yard in a specific state — and that location drives the cost of getting it to the port.
- Photos and a basic description. Mileage, damage type, keys, title type and whether the car starts and drives.
- Access through a broker. Most lots, especially Salvage-title ones, cannot be bought directly by a private buyer from abroad — a licensed intermediary is needed. That is exactly what BidBridge does.
Where they differ
Auction fees
The buyer fee depends on the price. On Copart, for a price between USD 5,000 and 15,000 it is roughly 8–8.5% of the price, plus small fixed gate and environmental fees. IAAI fees are usually a few percent higher than Copart's. Our calculator accounts for the difference automatically.
Bidding format
Both auctions offer preliminary bids (before the sale) and live bidding on auction day. Some lots have a Buy Now option — a fixed price that lets you take the car without bidding.
Lot numbers
On Copart the lot number is the number you see on the auction site. On IAAI the lot (Stock #) number and the internal page number are different, so IAAI cars are easiest to find by VIN or through our catalogue.
Inventory
Both sell cars, SUVs, pickups, motorcycles and even equipment. Specific models are spread between them more or less at random — what Copart doesn't have today may be on IAAI, and vice versa. That is why it pays to watch both at once.
Which auction should you choose?
The right answer is not an auction but a specific car. Compare the full landed cost rather than the venue: price + fees + US inland transport + ocean freight + customs. Sometimes an IAAI lot with higher fees ends up cheaper because it sits closer to the port.
Our auction catalogue shows Copart and IAAI lots together: filter by make, model, year and fuel, and calculate the full delivered cost to Poland or Ukraine for every car.
In short
- Copart and IAAI are the main US auctions and work in a similar way.
- IAAI fees are usually slightly higher.
- Choose the car by its total cost, not by the auction's name.
- All the costs in detail: How much does it cost to import a car from the USA.
General information only; auction rules and fees may change.