Winning a car at auction feels like the finish line, but the clock starts the moment the sale closes. COPART and IAA both give buyers a short window to pay and remove the vehicle, and every extra day after that window costs money. In this guide, Repay Now explains how pickup deadlines usually work, how storage fees add up and how to plan transport so your deal stays a good deal.
How Pickup Deadlines Work at COPART
At most COPART yards, you have about three business days to pick up your vehicle before storage fees begin, and many locations count the day of the sale. The exact free period and the daily rate depend on the yard, so the location page in your COPART account is the place to confirm them.
Keep in mind that the pickup clock and the payment clock run together. If your payment takes a few days to clear, those days come out of your free time. Paying early is the simplest way to protect your pickup window.
How Pickup Deadlines Work at IAA
IAA branches commonly give free storage through the day the vehicle is awarded plus four more days. After that, a daily storage fee applies, and many branches list it at around $50 per day. Some branches also note that if a purchase is not picked up within five business days, IAA may move the vehicle to another facility, which adds transport and storage charges.
As with COPART, each branch publishes its own rules. Always check the branch details before you bid, not after you win.
How Storage Fees Add Up
Storage fees look small on day one, but they grow quickly. A car that waits a week past its free period can add hundreds of dollars to your total. The most common reasons buyers end up paying them are:
- They arrange transport only after winning, and the carrier is not available for several days.
- Their payment clears late, so the free window is already short.
- They buy a car far from El Paso and underestimate how long the trip takes to schedule.
- The transporter arrives without the right release information and has to come back.
A Simple Plan to Avoid Storage Fees
- Check the yard before you bid. Confirm the free storage days, the daily fee and the pickup hours for that location.
- Line up transport in advance. Know who will move the car and what type of truck it needs before the auction ends.
- Pay right away. The sooner your payment posts, the more of your free window you keep.
- Send the release information to your transporter. COPART and IAA both require a gate pass or pickup authorization to release the car.
- Keep your documents together. Save the invoice, the bill of sale and any title paperwork in one place for the next steps.
Buying for Use in Mexico
Many buyers in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez purchase auction vehicles to take them to Mexico. In that case, getting the car out of the yard on time is only the first step. The vehicle still has to reach the border and go through the import process. Planning the whole route from the start, from the yard to El Paso and then to Mexico, helps you avoid delays and extra fees along the way. If you are in that situation, read our overview on how to import cars from the USA to Mexico.
How Repay Now Helps You Beat the Deadline
At Repay Now, we help buyers pay their COPART and IAA invoices quickly, in person and in cash, so the pickup window is not lost waiting for a payment to clear. Our bilingual team also helps you coordinate the next step: auction car transport from the yard to El Paso, with your documents reviewed and ready.
Learn more about our COPART and IAA payments or visit us at our Magoffin Ave or N. Loop Dr office. We are here to help you move your auction car without surprises.