COPARTS salvaged vehicle auctions

[rocky61201]

http://www.copart.com/c2/copart_home_page.html

I came accross the website above and did as much research as I could to figure out how it works, but still came away with some questions. For instance, every state has different rules as to who can bid on vehicles. Some states private individuals can bid, and some states only brokers can bid. CA is one of those states that only a broker can bid on salvaged vehicles. How does that work? How do i find a broker and how much do you think they would charge for their services? What exactly is a broker?

Has anybody ever used this website and/or auction and had any good or bad experiences they would like to share?

There are quite a few wrecked/totaled late model hemi LX cars out there with useable drivetrains to pull out, just wondering if this is an option.

 

[wedge69]

I use to haul to them in MD. The best thing is to go look at the car if you can But thay do there best to describe them. I hauled ALOT of nice cars and trucks in there.
You can contact them and see where or get a list of buyers also then try to work a deal with one of them.

 

[Bruzilla]

You might also want to check if the CA laws apply only to California residents. The law in MD was a salvager like this couldn't sell a car to a Maryland resident unless the car was registrable in the state, meaning it would pass a safety inspection, and these cars couldn't so they were sold to dealers, other salvagers, and brokers, but there was nothing in the law that said they couldn't sell these cars to residents of other states, so I would have a friend of mine who was a Virginia resident go to the auctions for me.

 

[kellycom]

The way I understand the site works is: You are bidding for the right to have your bid presented @ Auction. Copart then bids in your behalf @ the actual auction. So if you're bid is 1000 on Copart and they take it to auction and someone bids 1001. you loose. They don't call you to see if you want to bid more. Then I'm sure there is some fee you'll pay to Copart.

This is my interpretation of it based on what I've read on it.

It is a great place to get parts cars for new LXs. If you can win the auction.

 

[Darius]

I live in Ca and I bought an 07 Charger through coparts in March 08. I was able to establish an account there through my business by telling them I had a fleet and would use the car for parts. All I needed was a business license to do so. I saw the car I wanted on their website and went to the yard where it was located ( about 50 miles) They let me go check it out and even start it up. As Irecall, I was able to set up an auto bid deal with a limit that automatically increased my bid by $1 any time I was out bid. I won the auction and drove the car off the lot on to a trailer... Rear was crunched and bumpers were missing. I now have the engine, trans, all 4 disc brakes, dash, console, steering column, havoc system, and computers with wire harness in my 70 GTX! I would think if you know someone in the automotive business they could easily get set up to bid. Maybe offer to pay registration fees as they were less than $100 as I recall

 

[rocky61201]

Thanks Darius! Exactly the kind of info I was looking for.