Useful guides on car import
We explain how to buy a car at Copart auction, clear customs in Moldova or Transnistria, and deliver it turnkey.
Where to start
Checks before bidding
Directions and reference pages
How to bring a car from the USA to Moldova: step by step
A practical guide: choosing a platform, the selection brief, VIN and title checks, bidding, payment, logistics, and preparing for clearance in Moldova.
Car customs clearance in Moldova in 2026
What changed on January 1, 2026: VAT under general principles, a road fee for electric vehicles, the data needed for a calculation, and typical mistakes before purchase.
Car customs clearance in Transnistria in 2026
Where to check the current rate of Transnistria's State Customs Committee, what data and documents are needed, how temporary import differs from permanent, and which mistakes increase risk.
How much it costs to deliver a car from the USA to Moldova
What the logistics consist of: release from the platform, transport within the USA, container or Ro-Ro, port costs, insurance, and delivery to Chișinău or Tiraspol.
How to choose a Copart lot without missing critical risks
VIN, title type, auction remarks, damage geometry, Run & Drive, CARFAX, and AutoCheck — a practical method for checking a lot before bidding.
Copart, IAA, and Manheim: how the platforms differ
Seller types, access and participation, documents, auction remarks, and fees at the three largest US platforms — and why you shouldn't choose based on the lowest bid alone.
CARFAX and AutoCheck: what each report shows
Data sources, typical differences in mileage, accidents, and maintenance, gaps in the history, and a checklist for matching the report to the specific lot.
US vehicle documents: title, salvage, rebuilt, and other statuses
What the main statuses of a US vehicle's ownership document mean, and why their acceptability for export and registration is checked separately by state and destination country.
What the budget for a car from the USA consists of
The cost structure for importing a car from the USA by group — purchase, logistics, clearance, and restoration — without fixed prices, with an example of the calculation logic.
How to assess vehicle damage from auction photos
The limits of remote assessment: hidden damage, body geometry, airbags, suspension, cooling system, signs of flooding and fire, and missing parts.
How to read a Copart lot listing
The main listing fields: seller, title, damage, keys, odometer, Run & Drive, and remarks — what they mean and why Run & Drive does not confirm mechanical soundness.
Delivering a car from the USA: the logistics stages
Transport within the USA, the terminal, loading, the sea leg, the destination port, and land delivery — what the route consists of and why delays occur.
What documents are needed to import a car into Moldova
Pre-purchase, transport, commercial, and customs documents — by group, with the currency date noted and a caveat about individual verification.
An electric vehicle from the USA to Moldova: what to check before buying
The battery, high-voltage system, charging standard, software restrictions, underbody damage, and the logistics of damaged EVs — without outdated tax promises.
A hybrid from the USA: risks and checks before bidding
Hybrid types (HEV, MHEV, PHEV), battery and inverter condition, cooling, typical damage, and the documents that need checking before purchase.
What to do after the car arrives
The sequence of actions after receiving the car: inspection, document verification, the handover act, repairs and technical checks, and registration procedures.
How to estimate future repair costs before bidding
What the repair estimate consists of: parts prices, labor, electronics calibration, hidden defects, and why the estimate should be a range, not an exact figure.
A car after flooding: the main risks
Why a flooded car is one of the riskiest categories: hidden corrosion, electronics, the high-voltage battery, and the limits of remote assessment.
A car after a fire: why remote assessment is limited
Heat damage affects wiring, control units, and materials beyond the visibly scorched area — why such lots require special caution.
How to check the mileage of a car from the USA
The Actual, Not Actual, and Exempt flags, cross-checking against history reports and service records, and signs that mileage doesn't match the car's condition.
A relisted lot: how to find older photos
Why a car may be sold again at auction, what that can mean, and how to use earlier photos to check its condition.
What questions to ask a company before signing a contract
A checklist of questions about the company's role in the deal, the scope of the service, payments, and liability — before signing the contract and before bidding.
How to compare two lots of the same model
A single comparison framework: documents, damage, mileage, logistics, and total cost — so you don't choose based on the bid price alone.
How to choose a family car in Moldova
Practical selection criteria: body style and capacity, safety, maintenance and parts costs, registration requirements — without ready-made model rankings.
A car from Europe or the USA: how to compare the options
A comparison framework based on documents, condition, logistics, and total cost — instead of a blanket answer about "what's better."
A glossary of US auction terms
Short definitions of the main Copart, IAA, and Manheim terms — title, salvage, Run & Drive, primary damage, and others — on a single page.
A client checklist before the first bid
A summary checklist for first-time auction participants: requirements, budget, documents, lot verification, and agreeing on deal terms.
How these materials are prepared
Articles rely on the publicly available rules of the platforms (Copart, IAA, Manheim), history services (CARFAX, AutoCheck), and official sources on customs clearance in the Republic of Moldova and Transnistria. Currency dates are noted in texts covering tax and customs questions — materials are updated when the rules change.