Guides
How to read VINs and auction records, written for buyers doing their own checks.
- How to Decode a VIN: Position by PositionThe 17 characters split into three sections. Here is what each one tells you and what it does not.
- How to Find Copart Auction Photos by VINMatch the VIN, then the lot number and date. Photos belong to a listing, not to the car forever.
- What Does Primary Damage Mean on an Auction Listing?It is the main area of damage as categorised at check-in, not a measure of how bad or costly it is.
- How to Read an IAAI Auction RecordEach field answers a narrow question. Here is what the main ones mean and how far you can rely on them.
- Understanding Salvage Title InformationTitle brands are set by each state. The label on an auction record is a starting point, not the full story.
- How to Interpret Auction Odometer RecordsA reading is only as good as its status. Compare readings in date order and check the units.
- What a Free VIN Decoder Can and Cannot Tell YouA decoder reads the factory pattern. It knows nothing about what has happened to the car since.