Buyer guides for cars from the US
Plain answers to what buyers ask before bidding on a car from Copart or IAAI, written to match what CarTraceAI actually checks.
All guides
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Copart and IAAI lot page terms: what each one means
Run and Drive, Stationary, Primary Damage, Title Pending, Pure Sale and other lot page labels: what each one means and what it does not promise. -
How to check a Copart or IAAI car by VIN before you bid
Where to find the VIN on an auction lot, what a free VIN check confirms against the listing, and what only a vehicle history report can show. -
Salvage, flood and rebuilt: what a US title brand means
Many cars sold on Copart and IAAI carry a US title brand. What each brand means, how a brand can disappear, and what to check before you buy. -
What a VIN is and how to read it
What each character of a VIN means, how to tell the model year and the plant, and what a VIN can and cannot tell you about a car.
Start with the VIN
Find the 17-character VIN on the vehicle or its registration documents.