Glossary of terms

The estimated pre-loss market value of a car — a benchmark for whether a purchase makes sense.

Deployed airbags — a significant component of the repair cost after a collision.

Damage spread across the entire vehicle — often the result of a rollover or hail.

A licensed intermediary with access to Copart/IAAI auctions, bidding on the client’s behalf.

The ocean waybill — a document confirming the car’s acceptance for transport and the terms of carriage.

A document confirming the purchase-and-sale of a car — proof of acquisition in the import procedure.

A title with a permanent note about the car’s past (e.g. Salvage, Flood, Lemon, Rebuilt).

Fire damage. High risk — a fire destroys electronics and the structure.

The option to buy a car instantly at a fixed price, without waiting for the auction.

Auction fees added to the winning bid — they rise with the purchase amount.

A certified translation of the car’s documents (title, Bill of Sale) required for registration in Poland.

A clean title of ownership — the car was not written off as a total loss. The highest title category.

Shipping a car in a sea container — safer, and often shared (2–4 cars).

The largest US auction platform for salvage and wrecked vehicles. One of the two main sources of the cars we import.

The entity that carries out customs clearance on your behalf and prepares the documents.

Declaring a car to EU customs authorities and assessing duties on entry into the customs territory.

The duty on importing a car from outside the EU. For passenger cars it’s usually 10% of the customs value.

The base for assessing duty and VAT — the car price plus transport costs to the EU border.

Delivery of the car from the EU port to a specified address in Poland — by tow truck or under its own wheels.

The EU identification number of an entity in customs operations. Needed for import clearance.

Excise duty on a passenger car in Poland: 3.1% (up to 2.0 L) or 18.6% (above 2.0 L).

The title of a flooded car. It calls for special caution — water damages electronics and causes corrosion.

Damage to the load-bearing body/frame elements — the most structurally serious type of damage.

The organizer of the sea and land transport of a car from the US to Europe.

Damage to the front of the vehicle — the most common type at auction, usually repairable with bodywork.

Hail damage — dents on the bodywork, usually without affecting the mechanics.

The second-largest salvage car auction in the US. Alongside Copart, a main source of vehicles in US imports.

A point-based condition rating assigned by IAAI — a helpful hint about the extent of damage.

VAT (23%) charged at customs clearance on the customs value plus duty.

The title of a car meant only for parts or scrap — with no right to re-registration.

Whether the car comes with keys. Their absence raises the cost and complicates starting it.

The title of a car bought back by the manufacturer due to a recurring factory defect.

Live bidding on auction day, where offers are placed in real time.

A unique identifier for a vehicle at auction. Use it to find a specific car on Copart or IAAI.

Mechanical damage — engine, transmission, drivetrain. Often costlier than bodywork.

Natural wear from use, with no specific damage. The lightest “damage” category.

The car’s odometer reading. In the US it’s usually given in miles — we convert it to kilometers.

Information on the odometer’s reliability: Actual, Not Actual, Exempt or TMU (unreadable).

An offer placed before live bidding starts. The system bids for you up to a set amount.

The main, most serious damage to the vehicle recorded by the auction.

The maximum amount up to which the system bids automatically on your behalf.

Damage to the rear of the vehicle — bumper, tailgate, rear panel, lights.

The title of a previously written-off (Salvage) car that has been repaired and put back on the road in the US.

The lowest price the seller will accept for the car. Below it, the sale needs approval.

Sea transport in which the car drives on and off the ferry on its own wheels. Cheaper than a container.

A marker that the car started, drove and braked in the yard. It’s not a full guarantee of soundness.

The day the lot enters live bidding. Until then, you can place pre-bids.

The lot’s sale mode: Pure Sale (no threshold), Minimum Bid, or On Approval (subject to seller approval).

A total-loss title — the car was written off by an insurer. The most common title at auction.

An additional, secondary damage to the vehicle beyond the main damage.

Damage to the side of the vehicle — doors, sills, fenders, pillars.

The Single Administrative Document — the customs declaration of the goods (the car) on import into the EU.

Daily fees for a car sitting in the auction yard, charged once the free pickup period is exceeded.

An inspection at a regional vehicle inspection station (OSKP) — a condition for registering an imported car.

Confirmation of a car’s compliance with EU technical standards, a condition for admission to traffic in Poland.

Damage to the underbody — the parts beneath the car: suspension, exhaust system, floor.

Damage from an act of vandalism — scratches, broken windows, a wrecked interior.

The final stage of import — entering the car into the register and issuing Polish plates and a registration certificate.

The 17-character vehicle identification number. The key to checking a car’s history, equipment and authenticity.

Water/flood damage — it corrodes electronics and mechanics and surfaces over time.

Transporting a car from the auction yard to the loading port in the US, usually by tow truck.