How to Buy With Confidence

Video Transcript

Every day, people all over the world buy vehicles from online auctions. They may buy them for parts to rebuild for profit or fun, or they may be for personal use. Whatever the purpose of your vehicle purchases, there are some things to know about buying from an auction that can make you a savvier bidder and a pleased winner.

Start by reviewing the photos provided by Copart online and on the mobile app. Next, read through the vehicle details on the lot page, check the title type, estimated repair cost, odometer reading, primary damage type and whether or not the keys are available. If you're still interested, dig a little deeper.

Copart encourages all Buyers to inspect the vehicle in person. Registered Members can preview the vehicles in the upcoming auction for free. Just stop by Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you are unable to make it to a location yourself, contact an independent professional who can inspect the vehicle for you. We provide a list of certified inspectors online. Visit Copart.com/Inspectors.

You can also purchase three types of reports depending on the type of vehicle and information needed. Auto Check Enrollment provides you with any available clean title history reports for a small annual fee. This report will tell you things like previous accidents, serious past damage or other problems, mileage and any odometer tampering or breakage, former uses such as rental, lease and fleet, and any loans or liens on the vehicle. Purchasing a Market Guide report will give insight into the VIN decode, NADA values, historical auction values on similar units and a list of comparable sales. An instaVIN report includes DMV title data, insurance total loss records, vehicle specifications, junk and salvage events and open lien status.

After you feel confident that the vehicle condition fits your needs, you'll want to take a glance at things only a seasoned Buyer might pay attention to. These things help you see beyond the surface.

Air bags: be sure to examine more than just the steering wheel air bags. Check the curtain and seat airbags as well.

Body lines and visible panel gaps: look at the body lines and where the panels meet. If you notice any inconsistencies or gaps, there may have been work done on the vehicle. You'll just want to make sure it was done properly.

Paint color: if the paint color of the vehicle seems really bright or not a factory standard shade, then it’s probably new paint. You should consider why the vehicle was recently painted.

Missing parts: pay attention to missing parts. If you see a decent looking vehicle but there is a missing part, like the bumper or a headlight, you may want to look into the partial repair further. Be sure to fully inspect the rest of the vehicle for potential damage.

Non-automotive screws: this might seem unnecessary to point out, but not everyone looks at the screws in a vehicle which look and function differently than a traditional screw. It's important to point out that many repairs are done to factory standards and are not cause for concern. Just be smart and look for things like screw type to ensure repairs were done properly.

With a little extra time spent on inspection and research, you can bid with confidence and buy with peace of mind. Learn more about how to become an educated Buyer at Copart.com/Educate.