U.S. vehicle auctions have become a popular way to find good prices and wide selection. Copart and IAAI are two of the best known, with thousands of vehicles listed every week. You make the purchase; IMPOCAR brings the vehicle to you: we pick it up, take it to our yard in Davie, Florida, and ship it to Panama. Here is how it works and what to check before bidding.
What are Copart and IAAI?
Copart and IAAI (Insurance Auto Auctions) are online vehicle auction platforms with yards across the U.S. Much of their inventory comes from insurers, lenders, fleets, dealers and donations, so you will find everything from vehicles in great shape to units damaged by collision, flood or hail. They list cars, SUVs, pickups, trucks, motorcycles, boats, ATVs, UTVs and SxS.
Why people buy at auction
- Competitive prices, often below market value.
- Wide selection of hard-to-find makes, models and years.
- Online information: photos, damage description, reported mileage and title type.
Most vehicles are sold “as is”, without warranty.
You buy, we ship
IMPOCAR does not buy vehicles or bid at auctions: you make the purchase directly at the auction (or through your own licensed buyer). Some auctions require a license or membership for certain vehicles, so check their terms before bidding.
1. You choose and evaluate the vehicle
Before bidding, review photos, damage report, title type and VIN history, and estimate the total cost: price, auction fees, transport, shipping and destination taxes.
2. You buy at auction
Set a maximum and stick to it.
3. Let us know and we arrange pickup
Send us the lot number and pickup details. Vehicles must be picked up within the auction’s deadline to avoid storage fees.
4. Pickup and transport to the yard
Our truck picks up vehicles at points in Florida and nearby states and brings them by land to our yard in Davie, Florida, where they are checked, photographed and prepared; from there they ship to the destination country. If the vehicle is farther away in the U.S., we arrange land transport directly to the nearest port. You can also drop it off at the yard yourself.
5. Export and shipping
Export documents are handled and the vehicle ships to Panama or elsewhere in Central America and the Caribbean.
6. Customs clearance
A customs broker clears the vehicle. Taxes depend on each vehicle, so confirm them for your case before bidding.
Title types
- Clean title: never declared a total loss; the simplest option.
- Salvage title: declared a total loss by the insurer (collision, flood, theft, hail). Lower prices, but may need major repairs.
- Rebuilt/reconstructed title: a former salvage vehicle repaired and inspected; usually lower resale value.
- Other documents: some lots are sold as parts only or non-repairable, which may prevent registration or export. Always read the document description before bidding.
Accepted title types vary by country and may change. Confirm for your specific case.
Inspection tips
- Study every photo: body, interior, engine, underside and tires.
- Watch for flood signs: water lines, interior rust, damp carpets.
- Check primary and secondary damage and whether it “runs and drives”.
- Run a VIN history report.
- Consider an in-person inspection when worthwhile.
- Factor in auction fees.
- Set a bidding limit and stick to it.
IMPOCAR shipping rates
Shipping to Panama starts from $1,300 for sedans and from $1,900 for SUVs. Other countries in Central America and the Caribbean are priced by prior quote. Boats, motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, SxS, trucks and other motorized vehicles are quoted individually. We also import fleets from South Korea, by quote.
Why IMPOCAR?
- 20+ years of experience.
- Yard in Davie, Florida.
- Coverage across Panama, Central America and the Caribbean.
- Auction pickup, focused on Florida and nearby states.
Get a quote for your auction vehicle
Found a vehicle on Copart or IAAI? Send us the link or lot number on WhatsApp at +506 8301 0303.