Buying at Scottish salvage auctions

1. Open your accounts

Copart and IAA both sell online. You'll need to register, verify your ID and, for some lots, show you're a trader. Some categories and lots are trade-only. Check each listing's buyer requirements.

2. Pick your yards

In Scotland, Copart has East Kilbride and Whitburn, with Dunfermline coming. IAA has Glasgow (Torrance), Carluke, Addiewell and Dumfries. Buying close to home keeps transport cheap.

3. Research the car

• Study every photo. Look for panel gaps, airbag lights, fluid leaks and missing parts.
• Check the category (Cat N vs Cat S), the keys and the V5C status.
• Run the free checks, a paid history check and the LEZ checker on the reg. See how to check a salvage car before you bid.
• Price the parts before you bid, not after.
• Find what the same car has actually sold for, not asking prices.

4. Set a max bid, then stick to it

Use the calculator. Put in a realistic resale, your repair estimate and the profit you want, and it gives you the most you can bid once fees, VAT and transport are counted. Auction fever is how flippers lose money.

5. Win, pay and collect fast

• Copart and IAA both charge late payment fees, and storage charges build up after the free period.
• Book your collection through the auction's process and give your recovery driver the lot details.
• Check the car on collection and photograph it.

6. Repair, MOT and sell

Repair properly, keep receipts, get a fresh MOT and take good photos. Be honest in the listing about the category and the repairs. Honest listings sell faster and keep you out of trouble.

Common mistakes

• Forgetting the internet bid, admin and retrieval fees, and the VAT on all of them.
• Under-estimating parts. Headlights, airbags and sensors are expensive.
• Buying an older diesel to sell in Glasgow or Edinburgh. See LEZ and resale.
• Using asking prices instead of sold prices for resale.