Copart Auctions Near Me [Locator Map + Winning Tips + FAQ]

Copart is a company that does only online vehicle auctions featuring used, wholesale and salvage vehicles. They run their auctions online, but maintain properties you can visit to inspect the vehicles before bidding. Their auctions includ cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, and other vehicles. Below I’ll discuss finding a Copart, inspection and bidding tips, how the events work, and my experience with the Copart auctions near me.

Map of Copart Auctions Near Me

For “Copart Auctions Near Me”, see the map below for locations…

How to Find Copart Auctions Near Me

Copart auctions are only held online and are not live public auctions. They feature their auctions on their website and via their app. The company maintains 200 facilities world wide. Each facility has it’s own inventory that you can visit and then bid on online. They hold auction events 7 days a week M-F starting at 9:00 am. They feature over 200,000 cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, and other vehicles for online auction.

Google Business and Yelp Listings

For your local Copart facility you can also check Google Business and Yelp listings. Searching for “Copart Auctions Near Me” will produce not just your local Copart locations, but potentially other vehicle auctions in your area. When dealing with an auction company you should read reviews and testimonials from their customers. One of the things I like about Copart is they are a reputable auction house.

Finding Other Vehicle Auctions Locally

A trick I like to do to find other smaller auctions for vehicles locally is use Google Events. The average person who doesn’t know much about finding auctions, simply looks for Copart auctions and thinks it’s their only option. When you use Google Events you can find other local auctions to bid on cars. The advantage of local auctions is that you have less competition to bid against which improves your probability of winning.

Try Google Events here: Auto Auctions Near Me This Week

How Do Copart Auctions Near Me Work

These auctions feature alot of different vehicles in varying conditions. Whether you are a used car dealer, salvage buyer, dismantler, body shop, or individual buyer, they have something for you.

A online Copart Auction is a 5 part process:

Register (when you sign up you only have $1K in buying power)
Upload your license (they do have auctions which are no license required)
Search for vehicles to bid on and save your favorites
Bid on vehicles or buy now (I highly suggest visiting a Copart to inspect them before you bid or buy)
Have the vehcile delivered

Using the Online App to Live Bid and Pre Bidding

The Copart online app uses something called Virtal Bidding Technology. You can use it on a desktop, mobile phone, or tablet. You can place bids directly during a live auction event, but there is a way to do it even if your schedule doesn’t permit. The app has feature called “pre-bid”, which let’s you set your price before the auction starts. Then when the auction is going, the system will incrementally place bids for you, up to your limit. It will bid on your behalf until someone out bids your pre-bid or you win.

How Do You Get The Vehicles if You Win?

If you win a Copart auction, you have 3 choices for vehicle transportation:

Copart Delivery: Copart does Domestic and International delivery. You need to check to make sure that the location the vehicleis has delivery available on the Lot Details page after the auction is complete.

3rd Party Transport: You can schedule a vehicle transportation service to come to a Copart facility and pick up the vehicle on your behalf.

Pick It Up Yourself: You can visit a Copart yourself and get the vehicle. They recommend using the Transporter App for scheduling. For heavy duty vehicles, salvage vehicles etc…you should use a flat bed wrecker to pick it up. Heavy and medium duty size vehicles you have to load on your own.

Note: Copart will only stor your vehicle for 3 days free if you win. After that you start to incur storage charges.

Whats The Deal with Licenses?

To bid you need a license, but that doesn’t mean you have to have a “Dealer’s License“. Here are the license requirements for Copart…

Individual License

If you are a private individual buyer, you only need a government issues photo ID. You are however limited to bidding on inventory that is marked “No Business License Required”. It will depend on the state the vehicle is in as different states have different laws.

Businesses License

A business needs to provide proof via a government-issued photo ID. They also need to present the Multi-State Exemption Form and the Affidavit for Purchase before they can bid on any vehicles. There may be other requiremnets as well depending on the state. There are also other special rules regarding International business licenses.

Copart New Jersey Facility

The Real Benefit of Copart Auctions

While the main tagline of Copart auctions is about bidding on 200K vehicles globally, that to me isn’t the real benefit. The app is also nice and it’s easy to use and place bids. The real benefit in my opinion is the ability to visit a Copart location and perform your own inspection. This is what sets Copart aprt from other vehicle auction platforms.

When you visit a Copart you can inspect a vehicle thoroughly. That means lifting the hood, getting under it, starting it, etc. The advantage you get by doing an inspection is that you can properly evaluate what the vehicle is actually worth. That means tighter bids and not overpaying for it.

Tips for Buying a Vehicle at a Copart Auction

Here are some tips for winning a Copart vehicle auction….

Go through the vehicles online carefully and pay attention to the condition and description.
Only bid on vehicles that you personally inspected. Write down the highest and lowest value you estimate for the vehicle.
If you plan on bidding on vehicles above $1K, increase your buying power to the highest potential bid you think you will place.
Inspect the vehicle with a mechanics eye, look for rust, leaks, smoke, funny engine sounds, etc…
Ask a Copart employee as many questions as you can about the vehicle.
Know exactly the day and time of the auction, If you can;t make it schedule a pre-bid amount with your top offer.
For bidding live, set a bid price in your mind and stick to it.
If you don’t want to deal with the stress of bidding, use the buy it now button.
If you win the easiest thing to do is have it shipped.

There is a great article on Car & Driver with more tips here.

My Personal Bid and Inspection Process

One of my favorite ways to go about finding and bidding on vehicles is to do it right at a Copart location.

The night before I like to find and save vehicles I am interested in on the app. Then the next day I go to my local Copart and find the vehicles. One by one I do a routine inspection and then determine how much each is worth. Once I complete my nspection, I write down what I think the vehicle is worth. Then I go and set a pre-bid for that amount in the app. That is my set it and forget it approach. I never pay more then I value the vehicle to be and I don’t have to worry about the date and time of the online auction.

Other Auctions Like Copart

If you are looking for other auctions to bid on used vehicles you can search for the foloowing: