Auction Vehicle Pickup: Copart, IAAI, Manheim & More
Winning the bid is the fun part. Then the clock starts: auction yards give you a few free days, and after that, storage fees eat into your win every single morning. Fast, correctly-papered pickup is the whole game, and it is one of the things we do most.
How the clock works
Copart and IAAI typically allow a short free storage window after payment clears, often just a few business days. Miss it and daily fees begin, and they do not stop for weekends. The move that protects your margin: book transport the moment the auction marks your invoice paid.
What we need from you
- The yard location, your pickup ZIP does the pricing
- Lot or stock number, there is a field for it in our booking form
- Buyer number, so the gate releases the car to the driver
- Runs or not, non-runners need a winch truck, priced automatically
- Title status, if documents are not at the yard, tell us at booking so the driver is never surprised
The mistakes that cost auction buyers money
Almost every failed auction pickup traces to the same three causes: the invoice was not fully paid, the release paperwork was not processed, or the gate pass was missing. A failed attempt can mean a carrier dry run charge on top of the storage meter still running. Thirty seconds of double-checking your auction account before pickup day prevents all of it.
Manheim and dealer auction pickups
Manheim is the dealer wholesale world, and its yards release vehicles to transporters all day long. The rhythm differs from Copart in one way: the release usually runs on your dealership or buyer credentials and a work order or gate pass rather than a simple buyer number. Give us the yard location, the gate pass or work order details, and a transporter authorization if that specific yard wants one, and the pickup runs like clockwork. The same recipe covers ADESA, ACV pickups, and local dealer-only sales.
Purple Wave, GovDeals, and equipment auctions
Government surplus and equipment auctions like Purple Wave sell more pickups, work trucks, and machines than sedans, and they expect fast removal just like the salvage yards do. Standard pickups and SUVs price instantly in our calculator. Heavy trucks, trailers, and equipment need different trailers entirely, covered in our RV and heavy equipment guide, so email us the lot listing and we quote those directly.
Bought on eBay Motors instead?
An eBay Motors win is usually a private seller or small dealer rather than an auction yard, so there is no gate and no storage meter, just a handoff to coordinate. That process, including why arranging your own transport usually beats the marketplace's built-in shipping referrals, is covered in our guide to shipping a car you bought online.
Dirt cheap does not survive the storage meter
A rock-bottom transport quote that takes ten days to find a truck costs more than a fair quote that loads tomorrow, the storage fees see to that. Our pricing is built to move cars the first time, explained in the cost guide, and Florida auction buyers sending cars north can see lane specifics in the Florida to New York guide.
Exporters, this is your first leg
Auction yard to export warehouse or port is routine for us, and the ocean crossing stays in the family through our FMC licensed sister company. Destinations like Georgia on the Black Sea are built on exactly this pipeline, and the paperwork side is covered in our export documents guide. Get the trucking priced instantly in the calculator, mark the lot number at booking, and email us for the export leg.
Auction pickup questions
How fast can you pick up from Copart or IAAI?
Usually within one to three days of booking on busy corridors. Book the moment your paperwork clears, because auction storage fees start stacking once your free days end.
What information do you need for an auction pickup?
The auction location, your lot or stock number, buyer number, and whether the vehicle runs. Put the lot number in its field when you book and the driver arrives with everything the gate needs.
The car I won does not run. Is that a problem?
No, non-running auction cars move every day. They need a carrier with a winch, which our calculator prices automatically when you mark the vehicle as not running.
What happens if the auction will not release the car?
Unpaid invoices, missing release paperwork, or gate pass issues stop a pickup at the yard, and a wasted trip can carry a carrier dry run charge. Confirm the car is fully paid and released before your pickup date and it never happens.
How do I ship a car I won at a Manheim auction?
Book transport with the yard location, your buyer or dealership information, and the gate pass or work order details. Manheim yards release to transporters daily, and the driver handles the gate.
How many free days does Copart give before storage fees start?
Usually only a few business days after payment clears, and the exact window varies by yard and buyer type. Check your invoice and book transport the moment it shows paid, because daily fees do not pause for weekends.
Can someone else pick up my Copart vehicle for me?
Yes, a licensed transporter can pick up on your behalf, that is exactly what we do. The driver arrives with your lot and buyer numbers and the yard releases the car to them.
Do you pick up from ADESA, ACV, or GovDeals auctions?
Yes, the same recipe as Manheim: yard location, buyer credentials, and any release or gate paperwork the site uses. Government surplus sites like GovDeals just need the removal deadline flagged at booking.
Can you deliver an auction car straight to a repair shop or body shop?
Yes, delivery can go to any address that can receive a carrier: a repair shop, body shop, your driveway, a dealership, or an export warehouse. Just put the shop as the delivery contact at booking.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Copart or IAAI?
An open carrier with a flexible pickup window, booked the moment your invoice is paid. Waiting days for a slightly cheaper quote usually costs more than it saves once storage fees start, and the instant calculator shows your real number with no email or phone required.
How much does auction vehicle transport cost?
It depends on distance, vehicle size, and whether the car runs, a non-runner adds a winch fee. Get the exact number for your lane in the instant calculator on the homepage, no contact info needed.
Can you pick up from Manheim or another dealer-only auction?
Yes. Manheim releases vehicles to transporters daily. We need the auction location, your dealership or buyer information, the work order or gate pass details, and a transporter authorization if the yard requires one.
Do you move trucks and equipment from Purple Wave?
Yes. Pickups and SUVs price instantly in the calculator, while heavy trucks, trailers, and equipment from Purple Wave and similar auctions are quoted by email with the lot details.
Can you take my auction car straight to an export warehouse?
Yes, auction yard to port or export warehouse is one of our most common runs, and the ocean leg can follow with our sister company handling the vessel booking.