Copart vs IAAI — Which Auction to Choose for Importing
6 min read
The two biggest US auction platforms differ in fees, lot availability, and labels. We compare them point by point.
Copart and IAAI are two sides of the same market — cars written off by insurers. The platform you choose affects cost and convenience, but not the quality of the car itself.
The key differences
| Criterion | Copart | IAAI |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer fee | Progressive, higher | Progressive, slightly lower |
| Lot availability | Very high | High |
| Condition label | Run & Drive | Run & Drive / Starts |
| Logistics to port | Dense network of yards | Dense network of yards |
In practice, the specific lot matters more than the platform. A good agent bids on both and compares the total delivered cost, not just the hammer price.