Copy all 17 characters of the VIN from the Copart lot page. AutoVINReveal is not affiliated with Copart.
The lot page shows today's damage. The report shows the car's past — $5.99.
Accident and damage records, title brands, odometer readings, previous auction sales and open recalls for this VIN.
Get the full report — $5.99Copart VIN check: what to look up before you bid
Most cars at Copart are insurance write-offs, repossessions and fleet or dealer trade-ins. The lot page tells you what Copart saw when the car arrived. It can't tell you what happened before that — and on an auction car, the past is where the expensive surprises are. A VIN check before you bid closes that gap.
What the lot page tells you, and what a history report adds
| The Copart lot page | A vehicle history report |
|---|---|
| Primary and secondary damage as the car sits now | Earlier accidents and damage reports, including ones that were repaired |
| The title or sale document and the state it comes from | Title brands from every state the car was titled in — the way to catch a washed title |
| Whether it started or drove when it arrived | Service records and how the car was looked after |
| Today's odometer reading | Odometer readings over the years, so a rollback stands out |
| Photos and the sale type | Previous auction sales and total-loss records |
| — | Number of owners, flood records and open recalls |
Copart terms, in plain English
- Run and Drive: on arrival, the car started, went into gear and moved forward under its own power. No promise it will at pickup, or that it's roadworthy.
- Engine Start Program: on arrival, the engine started and idled. Nothing more was checked.
- Enhanced Vehicle: the seller asked for, or Copart may apply, services such as a wash or protective covering. It does not mean the car was modified, and it doesn't confirm the service was done.
- Pure Sale: no minimum bid and no reserve; the highest bid wins.
- On Approval and Reserve Price: the seller can accept or reject the top bid (until 5 p.m. PT the next business day).
- Seller Certified: the seller lets the buyer walk away without fees if they aren't satisfied, as long as the car hasn't left the yard.
Copart's own terms put it plainly: it is the buyer's job to research and inspect a vehicle before bidding, and everything is sold as-is. A history report is the cheapest part of that research.
A pre-bid checklist that starts with the VIN
- Decode the VIN (free, above) and make sure the year, model, trim and engine match the listing — lot titles are sometimes wrong.
- Run the history report and compare it with the lot page: the same damage, or older damage too? A title brand somewhere else?
- Check where the car has been. If it was registered or sold in a county hit by a recent flood, look it up on the flood car check.
- Watch for repeat appearances. A car that keeps coming back to auction often has a problem nobody wants to fix.
- Compare odometer readings in the report with the lot's reading.
- Check the free recall list above — open recalls are a free fix, but some, like Takata airbags, matter for resale.
- Price in the rest: buyer fees, transport, title work in your state and repairs. Then set your maximum bid.
Checking a whole run list
Bidding on several lots? The bulk VIN check takes up to 25 VINs at once and flags title brands, accidents, airbag deployment, odometer problems and open recalls in one line per car. If you buy every week, dealer plans bring full reports down to $1.30 each.
Guides that go with this check
- Dealer auction VIN checks — the pre-bid routine volume buyers use.
- Is a salvage-title car worth buying? — what each brand means for value and insurance.
- IAA VIN check — the same checks for Insurance Auto Auctions lots.
- Free VIN decoder and make guides such as Ford, Toyota and Honda.
AutoVINReveal is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Copart, Inc. Copart terms are summarised from Copart's own published definitions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Copart car's history?
Copy the 17-character VIN from the Copart lot page and enter it above. The free check shows the factory specs and the model's safety recalls; the $5.99 history report adds earlier accidents and damage records, title brands from every state the car was titled in, odometer readings over time and previous auction and total-loss records.
Does Run and Drive mean the car is drivable?
Not necessarily. Copart says Run and Drive means that when the car arrived at its yard it started, went into gear and moved forward under its own power. Copart does not guarantee it will do so at pickup or that it is roadworthy. Treat it as a good sign, not a promise.
What's the difference between the Copart lot page and a history report?
The lot page describes the car as it sits today: the damage that sent it to auction, the title or sale document, whether it started on arrival, the odometer reading and photos. A history report describes its past: earlier accidents, title brands in other states, odometer readings over the years and earlier auction sales. You want both before you bid.
Can a VIN check show if a Copart car was sold at auction before?
Often, yes. History reports frequently include earlier auction listings and total-loss records. A car that has been through salvage auctions more than once, or that carried a salvage title in another state, is worth a much closer look.
Can I check a whole list of Copart lots at once?
Yes. The bulk VIN check takes up to 25 VINs at a time and returns a one-line verdict per car, and dealer plans bring full reports down to $1.30 each.
Is AutoVINReveal affiliated with Copart?
No. AutoVINReveal is an independent vehicle-history service. Copart is a trademark of its owner and is used here only to describe the auctions our customers buy from.