Add up the whole purchase before bidding
Your total is the bid plus applicable fees, VAT, transport, repairs and a reserve for unknown costs. Check the lot and your account’s fee schedule: charges and VAT treatment vary.
Arrange collection within the venue’s deadlines and get a transport quote. Do not assume the car can be driven home. Storage or late-collection costs can change the deal.
Use the official Copart fee schedule and IAA fee guide, checking the venue’s current charges before payment.
Check the lot in a practical order
- Identify the car. Match the registration or VIN and listing details.
- Read the free MOT and mileage history. Compare dates, recurring findings and the current odometer. A conflict needs explaining, not labelling as fraud.
- Assess today’s damage. Read the lot description and photographs. Use the inspection access available; photos miss hidden faults.
- Check the background markers you need. Free MOT information does not clear finance, stolen or write-off records.
- Price the repairs and collection. Confirm scope, part fitment, labour, delivery and applicable charges.
- Set the ceiling before the sale. Leave the lot if bidding passes it or important evidence remains unresolved.
Read the venue’s sale terms, buyer eligibility and inspection rules. Test drives and returns depend on the purchase; do not assume dealer-style access or protections.
Choose the report for your next decision
For a supported auction, start with the lot URL and registration or VIN. Ralph checks it can read the link during the flow; not every page can be extracted.
| Pathway | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Free Check | Identity, MOT and mileage as an initial filter |
| Auction Bid Report, 15 credits | The lot’s repair and cost plan, valuation and bid guidance |
| Premium Check, 25 credits | The auction assessment with the relevant licensed history checks |
| Custom | The named evidence you select, with its credit total shown before running |
Auction Lot Analysis is a Custom item that reads the listing; it does not itself produce a maximum bid. Previous Advert History is separate for auction buyers. Compare free and paid evidence.
Ralph’s finance, stolen and write-off sections say Data provided by Experian. Other sections name their sources.
Keep the bid limit separate from the reason to buy
A maximum bid is a ceiling under the entered costs, valuation and target saving. It does not guarantee repair costs or profit. A car’s unresolved history can still make it unsuitable.
Work through the Copart bid example, read the sample’s history, or start your lot check.
