Bidding on Copart and IAAI — Step by Step

Buying a car from the USA through Copart and IAAI is a fully remote process with real-time online auctions, mostly held in the evening hours (Polish time). Auctions are divided into Pre-Bid phase (initial offers) and Live Auction (live bidding). Key auction statuses include: Pure Sale (highest bid wins), On Minimum Bid (highest bid wins but must exceed the minimum price), and On Approval (highest bid wins but must be approved by the seller). After the auction ends, you may receive a Counter Bid – a counteroffer from the seller. Once you win, you have a few days to make the payment, and the final price includes various additional auction fees, such as commissions, environmental fees, handling fees, and document service charges.

Buying a car from the USA through Copart and IAAI auctions is a completely remote process conducted online. All auctions take place in real-time according to US time zones (typically CST or EST), which means for someone in Poland, the auctions usually occur in the afternoon or evening.

1. Pre-Bid (Initial Offer)

Each car auction on Copart and IAAI begins with the Pre-Bid phase, which typically lasts from a few days to a few hours before the live auction. This is the time when users can submit their first bids on the vehicle. The Pre-Bid works as a closed auction — meaning you cannot see other users’ offers, and the system will automatically raise your offer only when necessary, up to the limit you’ve set.

Submitting a bid during the Pre-Bid phase does not guarantee winning — it only sets an initial price limit. Pre-Bid ends just before the live auction starts and sets the starting bid for the real-time auction. Participating in the Pre-Bid phase helps avoid last-minute rush and can give you an advantage if you’re not planning to participate in the live auction.

More → Auction Stages and Types on Copart and IAAI — In Detail

2. Live Auction (Real-Time Bidding)

On the auction day, the vehicle moves to the live auction, which occurs in real-time, online, according to American time zones (usually EST or CST). Each car is presented for a few seconds during which participants can outbid each other. The process resembles fast-paced “live” auctions — the highest bidder wins.

It’s crucial to understand the auction status assigned to the vehicle, as it influences whether your bid results in an immediate win or just opens the door for further negotiations:

• Pure Sale – the vehicle will be sold regardless of the final price. This is the most straightforward and certain auction type — if your bid is the highest, the car goes to you without any additional steps. It’s ideal for buyers who want to avoid negotiations.
• On Minimum Bid – the seller sets a hidden minimum price below which they won’t sell the vehicle. If your bid does not exceed this minimum, the vehicle won’t be sold automatically, but you may receive a Counter Bid — a counteroffer from the seller with their minimum price.
• On Approval – the highest bid is sent to the seller, who has the right to accept or reject it. This status mainly applies to vehicles listed by leasing, finance, or dealership companies. The seller may also present a Counter Bid if they consider your offer too low.

More → Auction Stages and Types on Copart and IAAI — In Detail

3. Optional: Counter Bid (Offer from Seller)

If you’re bidding on a vehicle with the "On Minimum Bid" or "On Approval" status and your offer is too low, the auction won’t end immediately. In this case, the seller can make you a Counter Bid — their proposed price at which they’re willing to sell the vehicle.

The Counter Bid typically appears within a few hours after the auction ends, and you have 24–48 hours to respond. You have three options:

• Accept the offer and finalize the purchase,
• Reject it completely,
• Submit your own counteroffer, lower than the seller’s, as part of negotiations.

This is a convenient way to negotiate if your bid was close to the seller’s expectations. However, keep in mind that the seller is not obligated to accept your counteroffer, and failure to respond within the specified time means the negotiation ends without a purchase.

4. Payment and Auction Fees

Depending on the auction house, after winning the bid, you have 3–5 business days to make the payment without penalties. The price includes:

• The amount for the winning car
• Buyer Fee (Copart / IAAI) — the base commission of the auction house, which increases with the value of the car. The more expensive the vehicle, the higher the fee: $0 – $720 or 6% of the value for high-end cars.
• Virtual Bid Fee (Copart) or Internet Bid Fee (IAAI) — applied when you participate in an online auction. This applies to both Pre-Bid and live auctions. The amount depends on the vehicle’s price and ranges from $0 to $160.
• Gate Fee (Copart) or Service Fee (IAAI) — a standard service fee applied to each purchase for preparing the car for pickup (e.g., positioning the vehicle on the lot, loading with a forklift) — $95.
• Environmental Fee (Copart / IAAI) — a small environmental fee for vehicles that are not roadworthy. This applies, for example, to the recycling of fluids — $15.
• Title-Handling Fee (Copart / IAAI) — a fee for preparing and shipping the ownership document (Title) — $20.
• Additionally, depending on the location of the vehicle, there may be other fees related to storage or transportation.

More → Payments and Penalties on Copart and IAAI Auctions