is buying cars on copart car auctions online worth it?

6 Responses to is buying cars on copart car auctions online worth it?

1. The Eagle Keeper says:

   September 12, 2010 at 22:24

   You should never bid on any car online unless you have personally looked at said car. It’s always buyer beware when you do that & so many people have regretted it. I would never do it myself.
2. ken k says:

   September 12, 2010 at 23:01

   all those net auctions and craigslists and e-bay are turning out frauds faster than you can think/almost useless to participate/phony titles/stolen-unpaid cars/beside down rite junk/the scams are good and the recourse is nothing/you have to go where the owner lives in his county to sue/not criminal only civil/dont do it/if you cant see it and touch it and drive it and the guy has a license dont buy it
3. N says:

   September 12, 2010 at 23:57

   Maybe if you are a licensed re-builder.

   I doubt employees bid against you.

   Bottom line is salvage auctions are no place for newbies.
4. chris c says:

   September 13, 2010 at 00:19

   No too much pressure to buy a car unseen undriven. Buying cars is hard enough without having to go thru that stress. Plus thinking someone was placing ghost bids to jack up the price (and they do).

   I use Craig List by owner. Go with a buddy. Tell him his job is to point out every stain, leak squeak, and rattle. Take a camera so you remember. Meet the owner. Drive the car. Then go home and sleep on it. Look at three before you buy one.

   Craig List by owner.

   There’s an auction place by my home and it’s really a bunch of small dealers who can’t afford a lot. These guys have 7 or 8 cars in the auction. Those are dealer’s.
5. xx_satanic_mechanic_xx says:

   September 13, 2010 at 00:40

   First off, do some research

   Copart is a $4B, publicly traded company. THey are a Fortune top 500 company, with over 150 domestic locations, as well as facilities in the UK. They have been in business more than 25 years, and continue to grow despite the weak economy. (NASDAQ: CPRT)

   Second, no, Copart employees do not bid on the cars. In fact, it is a termination offense for a copart employee to buy or bid on any car in the auction.

   Copart uses the internet as their conduit for auctioning cars. The buyer base is over 200,000 registered buyers in more than 130 countries. You are welcome to visit the facility in person and look at the car(s) you are interested in purchasing the day before the sale. So although the auctions are conducted online, you are able to see, feel, and inspect the vehicles in person.

   The cars are primarily insurance claim vehciles -cars that have been in an accidnet, fire, flood or theft. However, the business of bank repossessions, private party sales, and dealer trade ins is increasing.

   Before bidding, be aware that all sales are as-is where-is, and final. There are no do-overs. So be sure you check any car you are interested in thoroughly. If the car is in a facility that you cannot physically go to, look into hiring an inspector to check the car for you.
6. ElGrande says:

   September 13, 2010 at 01:23

   Copart rhymes with “fart”.

   Copart is very legit.