Short answer
Before placing your first bid at auction, it's worth going through five groups of checks: defining your requirements and overall budget, checking the specific lot, agreeing on the contract and payment scheme, determining the clearance jurisdiction, and confirming your maximum bid in writing. Below is a consolidated checklist for each group.
1. Requirements and budget
- The desired make, model, year, and trim are defined.
- Acceptable damage and a repair-cost cap are specified.
- The overall budget after delivery and mandatory payments is calculated, not just the lot price.
- The location for future registration is chosen — the Republic of Moldova or Transnistria.
2. Checking the lot
- The VIN has been cross-checked in the lot listing, the history report, and, if available, the photos.
- The document type and issuing state are clear and verified.
- CARFAX and/or AutoCheck reports have been reviewed.
- Photos of all areas of the vehicle have been checked, not just the declared damage.
- Missing parts and completeness have been taken into account.
3. Contract and payment
- The contract is signed before bidding and before transferring a significant amount.
- The payment recipient, fees, and payment deadlines are clear.
- Refund terms and liability for delays have been clarified.
- Payment details are verified against the contract, not just a messenger message.
4. Jurisdiction and clearance
- The registration jurisdiction is chosen before bidding.
- Preliminary data for the customs calculation has been gathered.
- The set of documents required for declaration is clear.
5. Maximum bid
- The bid limit is calculated backward from the overall budget — after deducting fees, logistics, clearance, and a repair reserve.
- The limit is confirmed in writing before bidding starts.
- A course of action is set for if the lot is not won.
Frequently asked questions
Can you bid for the first time without the full checklist?
Technically yes, but it increases the risk of overpaying or buying a lot with unverified restrictions.
What if some of the data needed for the budget calculation is unknown?
Use a range with explicit assumptions and update the calculation as new data becomes available.
Next step
Go through the full lot-verification methodology in the article "How to Choose a Lot on Copart" and discuss your requirements with a manager via AUTO-M contacts.
