Copy all 17 characters of the VIN from the IAA (IAAI) listing. AutoVINReveal is not affiliated with IAA.
The listing shows how the car arrived. The report shows where it's been — $5.99.
Accident and damage records, title brands, odometer readings, previous auction sales and open recalls for this VIN.
Get the full report — $5.99IAA VIN check: reading an Insurance Auto Auctions listing
IAA — Insurance Auto Auctions, often written IAAI — sells mainly insurance total losses, theft recoveries and fleet vehicles. Its listings are detailed about the car's condition when it arrived. What they can't show is the car's life before the loss, and that is exactly what a VIN check adds.
IAA start codes
| Start code | What IAA says it means | What to do with it |
|---|---|---|
| Run & Drive | On arrival the engine started (with or without a jump) and idled, forward and reverse engaged, and the steering wheel turned fully each way. | A good sign, not a guarantee — batteries die and cars deteriorate on the lot. |
| Starts | On arrival the engine started (with or without a jump) and idled. | Nothing about the transmission or steering was checked; budget for drivetrain surprises. |
| Stationary | It wouldn't start, has engine damage or wasn't tested on arrival. | Price it as a non-runner and plan for towing. |
IAA is clear that start codes reflect the car's condition on arrival and are not a promise about pickup or roadworthiness, and that vehicles are sold "as is, where is." Where IAA offers an engine-start video or 360-degree photos for a car, use them.
What the listing tells you, and what a history report adds
| The IAA listing | A vehicle history report |
|---|---|
| Loss type and primary damage | Earlier accidents and damage reports, including repaired ones |
| The title or sale document and its state | Title brands from every state — catches a title that was "washed" clean |
| Start code and photos | Service records and maintenance history |
| Today's odometer reading | Odometer readings over the years |
| — | Previous auction sales, total-loss and flood records, owners and open recalls |
Loss types that deserve extra care
- Flood: water damage hides in wiring, modules and seats and shows up months later. Check the car's counties on the flood car check and look for flood records in the report.
- Theft recovery: often light damage, but check for missing parts, ignition or lock damage and, in the report, an earlier theft record that matches.
- Collision: compare the listed damage with the report — older, separate accidents change what a car is worth.
A pre-bid checklist that starts with the VIN
- Decode the VIN (free, above) and confirm the year, model, trim and engine match the listing.
- Run the history report and look for earlier accidents, title brands and previous auction appearances.
- Match the odometer in the report to the listing.
- Check the free recall list above.
- Add up the real cost: buyer and gate fees, transport, title and inspection in your state, and repairs — then set your maximum bid.
Checking several IAA cars
The bulk VIN check handles up to 25 VINs at once with a one-line verdict per car, and dealer plans bring full reports down to $1.30 each for regular buyers.
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.
- Copart VIN check — the same checks for Copart lots.
- Free VIN decoder and make guides such as Chevrolet, Nissan and Jeep.
AutoVINReveal is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by IAA, Inc. (Insurance Auto Auctions). Start-code definitions are summarised from IAA's own published descriptions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check an IAA car's history?
Copy the 17-character VIN from the IAA (IAAI) listing 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, odometer readings over time and previous auction and total-loss records.
What do IAA's Run & Drive, Starts and Stationary mean?
They are IAA's start codes, recorded when the car arrives at the branch. Run & Drive: the engine started (with or without a jump) and idled, forward and reverse engaged and the steering turned fully each way. Starts: the engine started and idled. Stationary: it wouldn't start, has engine damage or wasn't tested. None of them is a promise about pickup or roadworthiness.
What does IAA's loss type tell me?
Why the car came to auction — a collision, flood, theft recovery and so on — alongside the primary damage. A flood or theft-recovery loss deserves an especially careful history check, because the damage you can't see is the expensive kind.
Can a VIN check show if an IAA car was sold at auction before?
Often, yes. History reports frequently list earlier auction sales and total-loss records. A car that has been through salvage auctions more than once, or that carried a salvage title in another state, deserves a closer look.
Can I check a list of IAA cars 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 IAA?
No. AutoVINReveal is an independent vehicle-history service. IAA and Insurance Auto Auctions are trademarks of their owner and are used here only to describe the auctions our customers buy from.