Salvage Car Inspection: Auction Pre-Bid & State Checks

A salvage car goes through two different inspections. The pre-bid inspection is the one you do, or pay an inspector to do, at the auction: it tells you what you are buying. The state salvage or rebuilt inspection comes after repairs, before the car can be retitled and registered: it checks the car's identity and the origin of its parts and, in some states, safety items. This guide covers both, with a pre-bid checklist for Copart and IAA lots.

Auction programs and state rules below are as of October 2026. Check the official page before you bid or apply.

How Copart and IAA listings describe a vehicle

Copart

Copart's buyer checklist tells bidders to review the photos and to identify the title type (also called the ownership document type), the estimated repair cost, the odometer reading, the damage type and whether keys are included. The same checklist lists items to examine even when a car looks fine on the surface:

• Airbags: check the curtain and seat airbags, not just the steering wheel.
• Body lines and panel gaps: inconsistencies can point to earlier repairs.
• Paint color: paint that looks too bright or customized is probably new, so ask why the car was repainted.
• Missing parts: an intact bumper with a missing headlight is a reason to look closer.
• Non-automotive screws: household fasteners suggest repairs that may not have been done properly.

IAA

IAA uses three vehicle start codes, recorded when the vehicle arrives at the IAA branch:

• Run & Drive: the engine started (with or without a jump) and idled, forward and reverse gears engaged, and the steering wheel turned one full rotation each way.
• Starts: the engine started (with or without a jump) and idled.
• Stationary: the vehicle will not start, has engine damage, or was not tested on arrival.

IAA says these codes are not a promise that the vehicle will start or drive later, or that it is roadworthy. IAA listings can also include high-resolution images, a 360-degree view and a short engine-running video, according to IAA's vehicle information page. IAA also sells a Vehicle Score subscription that rates damage on a 0 to 50 scale, from non-repairable to little damage.

On both platforms, the damage type and start status describe what was seen and tested at check-in. They are not a mechanic's diagnosis. Treat them as a starting point for your own inspection.

Check the title or sale document first

The ownership document decides what you can legally do with the car, so check it before anything else. Texas is a clear example: a vehicle with a Texas salvage title or a comparable out-of-state document can be rebuilt and retitled, but the TxDMV Salvage/Nonrepairable Motor Vehicle Manual says a vehicle may not be rebuilt, retitled or registered if it has:

• a Texas Nonrepairable Vehicle Title issued on or after September 1, 2003;
• an out-of-state document showing it is nonrepairable, junked, for parts or dismantling only, or otherwise not allowed to be rebuilt or retitled where it was issued;
• a salvage or nonrepairable title stamped or recorded "for export only."

Other states have their own brands and rules, so check the rules in the state where you will title the car. Our guide to title brands by state explains the main differences.

Inspection options before you bid

• Copart preview: Copart's checklist says members can preview vehicles in the next auction for free. At most locations, preview hours are between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. Members can also hire an independent professional to inspect the vehicle.
• IAA preview: IAA's help center says registered buyers can inspect vehicles on site before the auction, during the preview times listed for each branch.
• IAA third-party inspection: IAA points buyers to third-party inspections by CarInspector.US. The report covers the under-hood area, interior, body, tires and brakes, engine and transmission, steering and suspension, and more, with close-up photos. IAA notes that the inspection is visual only. For example, the inspector cannot judge how much life the brake components have left, and steering and suspension are reported only if the vehicle starts.

Whoever inspects the car, ask them to check the items in the table below. If you are buying remotely, our guide to buying from Copart and IAA online covers registration and bidding, and the Copart vs IAA fees comparison helps you add buyer fees to your maximum bid.

Pre-bid checklist

The water-damage signs come from the FTC's flood car advice. Our flood damage guide covers more checks.

What a state salvage or rebuilt inspection consists of

Before a repaired salvage vehicle can be titled and registered again, states such as California, Texas and Florida require an inspection or inspection paperwork. The focus is the car's identity and the legal origin of its parts, with basic safety checks in some states. It is not a substitute for a mechanic checking the repair. Requirements differ by state:

California

To register a revived salvage vehicle, the California DMV requires a vehicle verification (form REG 31 or a CHP Certificate of Inspection, CHP 97C) and an electronic Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection (VSSI) certificate, along with the application and proof of ownership. Under the CHP Salvage Vehicle Inspection Program, an officer checks that identification numbers have not been removed, falsified or altered, and looks for stolen vehicles or parts. Bring bills of sale or invoices for the vehicle and every replaced part, showing the year, make, model and VIN of the vehicle each part came from. The DMV then issues a branded title.

Texas

The Texas DMV FAQ sets out the order: get a Salvage Vehicle Title, make the repairs and pass any required safety or emissions inspection, then apply at the county tax office. The application includes the Rebuilt Vehicle Statement (VTR-61), where the rebuilder describes the work and lists the source of any replaced engine, frame, body and other major panels. Bills of sale are required for an engine, frame or body. The new title is branded "Rebuilt Salvage."

Florida

Section 319.14, Florida Statutes requires a physical examination of a rebuilt vehicle to confirm its identity and that major component parts have been repaired or replaced. The title is stamped to show the vehicle has been rebuilt, and a decal is added. FLHSMV also authorizes private rebuilt vehicle inspection providers in some counties.

In every state, keep receipts for every part and photos of the damage before repair. Buy parts only from sources that give you a bill of sale.

How a VIN history report helps before you bid

Auction photos show the car as it is now. A VIN history report shows what happened before. It is most useful for spotting a car that was sold at auction, repaired and put up for sale again, or a mileage reading that does not match earlier records. VIN Data Hub's report includes auction records with sale date, primary and secondary damage, title description, odometer, repair estimate and photos when available. It also includes sales and listing history with a mileage-inconsistency flag, a salvage check and a theft check. It does not show insurance claims, accident reports or a full state title brand history. The free preview on the VIN check page shows how many records exist before you pay.

Frequently asked questions

What does a salvage inspection consist of?

A state salvage or rebuilt inspection mainly verifies the vehicle's identity and the legal origin of its replacement parts. In California, a DMV employee or CHP officer checks that identification numbers have not been altered and that no parts are stolen, and a safety systems certificate is also required. Texas requires a rebuilt vehicle statement listing replaced parts and their sources, plus any applicable safety or emissions inspection. Bring receipts for all parts.

Can I inspect a Copart or IAA car before bidding?

Yes. Copart says members can preview vehicles in the next auction for free during preview hours and may hire an independent professional. IAA offers on-site preview for registered buyers and points buyers to third-party inspections by CarInspector.US, which are visual only.

What does Run and Drive mean at IAA?

At IAA, Run and Drive means that when the vehicle arrived at the branch, the engine started with or without a jump, the forward and reverse gears engaged, and the steering turned fully each way. IAA says this is not a guarantee that the vehicle will start or drive later or that it is roadworthy.

Can a nonrepairable or parts-only vehicle be rebuilt?

Usually not for road use. In Texas, for example, a vehicle with a nonrepairable title issued since September 2003, an out-of-state document marking it nonrepairable or parts only, or an export-only title cannot be rebuilt, retitled or registered. Check the rules of the state where you plan to title the car before you bid.

Does a VIN history report show insurance claims?

Not VIN Data Hub's report. It shows salvage auction records with damage type, title description, odometer, repair estimate and photos when available, plus sales and listing history, salvage and theft checks. It does not include insurance claims or accident reports, so pair it with a physical inspection.

Related: Salvage vs rebuilt title, How to check a salvage title, VIN Data Hub pricing.