Bidding & Buying FAQ

Why am I unable to bid?

If you find you can’t bid, check a few common things that you may have overlooked.

• Did you pay for a Membership?
• Did you upload all required documents?
• Were your documents approved?Did you pay your deposit?
• Did you confirm bidding has started?

You can also get more information by selecting the “Check Now” button in the eligibility section on the vehicle details page

How can I tell if a broker is needed to buy a vehicle?

Vehicles that will require you to use a Broker can be easily identified by looking under the “Vehicle Information” section in the upper right corner of the vehicle details page and checking the Eligibility Status field.

What do I do if I hit bid limits?

If you hit your bid limit, you’ll need to either increase your buying power or wait. Once a vehicle you’ve bid on sells, the bid amount will return to your available Buying Power.

If you are a Premier Member, contact Member.Services@Copart.com to see if you are eligible for a one-time waiver for specific purchases.

Can I place bids or buy vehicles on-site?

Copart auctions are held entirely online. You can place bids from a mobile device while at the Copart location where the vehicle is located. Please remember that people who come to our locations may be subject to long wait times and service fees.

Can I purchase a vehicle before or after the auction?

You can purchase a vehicle before an auction by searching for Buy It Now vehicles, or vehicles with the Make An Offer option.

If you didn’t win a vehicle but you still want to buy it after the auction, it may re-list if the sale isn’t successfully completed.

What is relisting?

Sometimes a sale isn't successfully completed, such as when the high bidder doesn't pay for the vehicle within 8 business days including the day of the sale,  or the Seller doesn't approve of the final bid. In such cases a vehicle is relisted for a future auction. A relisting fee of 10% of the final sale price or $600 - whichever is higher - will be charged.

If you have paid Copart already, contact the location directly. Copart locations are individually managed and responsible for addressing all vehicle-specific inquiries and disputes.

What happens if my bid is a tie?

Ties aren’t possible in Live Bidding. If a Live Bidder ties your Max-Bid, the system will bid one more increment above your limit to try to win the vehicle. In the event a tie still occurs, the live bidder will win the vehicle.