After paying for the vehicle, it is essential to quickly arrange for its pickup from the auction yard and transportation to the shipping port in the USA. Ground transport typically takes 2–7 days, and the method of loading depends on the vehicle’s condition. Once at the port, the car is prepared for export. Working with an experienced broker is key to avoiding delays and extra costs.
After winning the auction and paying for the vehicle, the first step in the logistics of importing a car from the USA to Poland is organizing ground transportation from the auction yard to a shipping port within the United States.
A car purchased at a Copart or IAAI auction must be picked up within a strictly defined time frame — usually within 2–5 business days after payment is confirmed. Missing this deadline results in storage fees, which can reach several dozen dollars per day. That’s why quick and efficient transport arrangements are crucial.
Vehicle pickup is typically handled by a transport company working with your import broker. The car is loaded onto a flatbed or auto transporter, depending on its technical condition. Damaged, inoperable, or wheel-less vehicles require specialized equipment — such as a winch or crane loading.
Important: Not all auction yards are equipped to load severely damaged vehicles, so it’s worth verifying in advance whether the chosen logistics provider has experience handling difficult cases.
Once loaded, the car is transported to the export port. The choice of port depends on the location of the auction yard and the preferences of the shipping company. The most commonly used ports include:
Transport from the auction yard to the port usually takes between 2 and 7 business days. Travel time is influenced by distance, weather conditions, traffic, and the availability of carriers.
Upon arrival at the port, the vehicle is delivered to a dedicated warehouse, where it is prepared for export. At this stage, a full photo documentation is created, customs paperwork is completed, and the vehicle is secured for ocean transport.
In some cases, a short wait may be required for available space in a shipping container, which can slightly extend the total delivery time.