Copart vs IAA: Which Auction Is Better for Flipping Cars?

Fees

IAA wins on cheap cars. Their graduated flat-fee system means a $1,000 car costs less in fees at IAA than Copart. On a $500 bid, IAA charges ~$125 in buyer premium vs Copart's ~$70 — but IAA's gate fee is higher ($95 vs $79).

At $5,000+, they're comparable. Both end up around 8-12% total fees. The difference becomes negligible on higher-value vehicles.

Data Available to Buyers

IAA gives you more data. IAA listings typically include:

• ACV (Actual Cash Value) — what the insurance company valued the car at clean
• Estimated repair cost — the insurance company's repair estimate
• Seller type (insurance, dealer, private, fleet)
• Full VIN (when logged in)

Copart masks the VIN. Last 6 digits are hidden unless you're a licensed dealer. IAA shows the full VIN to registered buyers. This matters for VIN decode and history checks.

Inventory

Copart has more volume. ~4 million transactions/year vs IAA's ~2.5 million vehicles offered. More inventory means more selection, but also more competition from international buyers (40% of Copart sales go overseas).

IAA tends to have more insurance total losses, while Copart has a broader mix including clean title vehicles, fleet disposals, and dealer consignments.

Photos

Both platforms provide 10-20 photos per listing. IAA's photos follow a consistent order: front-right, front-left, rear-left, rear-right, then interior and damage closeups. Copart's order varies but includes labeled damage photos.

Photo quality varies by location — some branches use better cameras than others. Don't rely on photos alone for expensive purchases.

The Verdict for Flippers

Use both. Serious flippers monitor both platforms. IAA gives better data (ACV + repair estimate = easier to calculate margins). Copart gives more selection. The best deal on any given car depends on who's bidding that day, not the platform.

The smartest approach: analyze cars from both platforms, compare the numbers, bid on the ones with the best margins regardless of which auction it's on.

Analyze Both in One Place

sendit scan works with both Copart and IAA. Paste any listing URL — we handle the fees, scrape the photos, analyze the damage, pull market comps, and give you a flip verdict. Same tool, both platforms, 15 seconds.