Copart 101

Before bidding on a Copart vehicle, it is important to understand the various words, terms and phrases that appear on our website that will help you become a more educated Copart buyer. Whether you’re a veteran or a rookie at Copart, it is important to educate yourself on commonly misunderstood language.

The term Run and Drive often causes the most confusion among Copart Members, so let’s clear this up.

When a vehicle arrives at a Copart yard, Copart confirms that the vehicle starts, can be put into gear and can move forward under its own power. There is no guarantee that this will still be true by the time the vehicle is picked up on location. There is also no guarantee that the vehicle is in roadworthy condition, or can be legally driven upon the roadways of the state in which the vehicle resides.

The term Run and Drive was put in place to ensure that Copart Members understand the condition of the vehicle they are bidding on. Learning and understanding this term will help you become a smarter, more experienced Copart buyer.

A Title Type signifies the ownership documents that will be transferred to the Buyer. There are a variety of different ownership documents that each state can issue a vehicle. Each individual document type conveys with it certain ownership rights and/or restrictions. Buyers should research the viability of each type of title document for their projected use of the lot prior to bidding. States maintain information on their website for this reason. Not all Copart Members are able to bid on all title types; some title types require explicit business licenses. Refer to our licensing page for more information.

It is always smart to keep in mind that the listed Title Type is only the current ownership document. They do not in any way represent or attempt to represent any prior history of the lot. To learn more about the history of any vehicle you are welcome to use vehicle history companies such as AutoCheck.

Copart has numerous Damage Types, listed as codes, that are used to designate what damage the lot has sustained. There are Primary Damage codes as well as Secondary Damage codes. Both damage codes describe significant information about the damage of the lot and one code should not carry more importance than the other.

The damage codes only represent reported and/or known damage. Copart explicitly disclaims the accuracy of damage codes, as the information may not accurately represent the damage on any vehicle. Damage codes should not be relied on during the bidding process. Copart strongly recommends that Members thoroughly examine lots before bidding and purchasing.

Many states require a business license to buy certain Title Type vehicles. As these requirements vary state to state, it is crucial to verify with your state’s licensing requirements before bidding on a Copart lot.

What happens if you run across a vehicle that requires a business license to bid on? You can use one of Copart’s Registered Brokers to gain access to vehicles that you would not normally be able to bid on. However, when buying a vehicle through a Broker it is important to remember that you are not buying the vehicle through Copart, but through the Broker. The Broker may have additional terms and conditions, as well as fees. Be sure to carefully review these terms. Finding a Registered Broker is easy since Copart provides a list of Brokers for your needs.