How to Ship a Car You Bought at a U.S. Auction (Copart, IAAI, Manheim)
The complete step-by-step playbook: winning the bid, beating storage fee deadlines, handling the title, choosing container vs. RoRo, and clearing customs at destination.
In this guide
How auction-to-overseas shipping works
Every week, thousands of vehicles sold on Copart, IAAI, and Manheim leave the U.S. in containers. The process has five moving parts: winning and paying for the lot, towing it off the auction yard before storage fees start, getting the title to your forwarder, loading at a port warehouse, and clearing customs at destination. Each part has a deadline — and missed deadlines, not ocean freight, are where buyers lose money.
A licensed freight forwarder like Seaway Export handles everything after the gavel: auction pickup, port warehousing, export paperwork (including the U.S. Customs 72-hour title rule), container loading with photos, and ocean freight to 105+ countries. You bid; we move it.
Before you bid: 4 things to check
- Title type — "Salvage" and "Clean" titles export easily; "Certificate of Destruction" and "Parts Only" lots cannot be registered in most countries. Check your destination's rules first.
- Yard location — a car in Georgia or New Jersey costs $150–$350 to tow to port; a car in Montana can cost $1,000+. Factor inland distance into your maximum bid.
- Destination import rules — age limits (Saudi Arabia: 5 years; Nigeria: 12), right-hand-drive bans, and salvage restrictions vary by country. Our destination guides cover all 105.
- Auction fees — buyer fees, internet bid fees, and gate fees typically add 10–15% to the hammer price. Budget them before you bid, not after.
After you win: the 5-step process
- 1
Pay the auction (within 2–3 business days)
Copart and IAAI charge late-payment fees after day 3 and may relist the car after day 7. Wire transfer is fastest for international buyers.
- 2
Book your forwarder the same day
Free storage at the auction yard is only 2–4 days. After that, yards charge $25–$80 per day. Send us the lot number and we dispatch a tow truck immediately.
- 3
Vehicle arrives at our port warehouse
We photograph every vehicle at intake, note its condition, and store it until your container is ready. Consolidation with other vehicles on your lane cuts your cost.
- 4
Title + export clearance (72-hour rule)
U.S. Customs must hold the original title for 72 hours before a vehicle can be loaded. We file the AES export declaration and manage the CBP submission for you.
- 5
Loading, sailing, and arrival documents
You receive loading photos, the bill of lading, and tracking. At destination, our partner agents or your own broker clear customs — we send the document pack either way.
The #1 money-loser: storage fees
At $25–$80/day, two weeks of yard storage can cost more than the tow to port. Book your forwarder the day you win — not the day you pay.
Container vs. RoRo for auction cars
Most auction vehicles ship in shared containers: 3–4 cars loaded into one 40ft container heading to the same port. It is the cheapest method and the only practical one for non-running salvage vehicles, which RoRo carriers refuse. RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) suits running, drivable vehicles on lanes where it operates — mainly West Africa, the Middle East, and Northern Europe.
| Factor | Shared container | RoRo |
|---|---|---|
| Non-running vehicles | Yes — forklift loading | Usually refused |
| Personal items inside | Allowed if declared | Not allowed |
| Typical cost (sedan) | $1,100 – $2,600 | $1,200 – $3,000 |
| Departure frequency | Weekly on major lanes | Weekly to monthly |
Full cost breakdown: what to budget
| Cost item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Auction fees | 10–15% of bid | Buyer + internet + gate fees |
| Tow to port warehouse | $150 – $600 | Distance-based |
| Ocean freight (shared) | $1,100 – $2,600 | Lane-dependent — see calculator |
| Destination clearing | $300 – $800 | Broker + port handling |
| Import duty & tax | Varies by country | See our destination guides |
Realistic timeline: auction to your driveway
Plan for 4–8 weeks door-to-door on most lanes: 1–2 weeks from auction win to container loading (pickup, title hold, consolidation), 10–35 days of ocean transit depending on destination, and 3–7 days for customs clearance and release at arrival. Lanes with weekly consolidated departures — Germany, the Netherlands, UAE, Georgia, Nigeria — run at the fast end of that range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ship a non-running car from Copart or IAAI?
Yes. Non-running vehicles are loaded into containers with forklifts or winches at our port warehouse. They cannot ship RoRo, so a shared or dedicated container is the standard method.
Do I need a U.S. bank account or address to buy and ship?
No. International buyers bid through a registered broker or the auctions' own international programs and pay by wire transfer. Your forwarder's warehouse serves as the delivery address.
How fast do I need to move the car off the auction yard?
Free storage is typically 2–4 business days after payment clears. After that, yards charge $25–$80 per day. Booking your forwarder on auction day is the single best way to protect your budget.
What happens with the title?
The auction mails the original title after payment. It must reach U.S. Customs at least 72 hours before loading. We track the title, file it with CBP, and return it to you with the shipping documents at destination.
Which countries are best for importing U.S. salvage cars?
The biggest repair-and-resale markets are the UAE (Jebel Ali free zone), Georgia, Lithuania, Poland, Nigeria, Ghana, and Jordan's Zarqa free zone — all with weekly consolidated departures and established rebuild industries. Check each destination guide for duty rates and restrictions.
Popular shipping destinations
See country-specific costs, transit times, and customs rules for the markets covered in this guide.
Ready for an exact quote?
Tell us what you're shipping and where it's going — we respond with a locked-in rate within 1 business day.