You found a cheap car on Copart or IAA, it is sitting in the St. Louis area, and you do not have a dealer license. What you can bid on depends on which side of the river the car sits and what kind of title it has. Here is how the rules work in Missouri and Illinois, what it costs, and what you need to title the car after you win.
The short answer: Yes, partly. Copart lets the public bid on clean-titled cars at its St. Louis yard in Bridgeton, Missouri with a $99 Basic membership. Salvage cars in Missouri, and every Copart lot in Illinois, need a licensed broker. IAA does not list Missouri or Illinois as public buyer states, so its St. Louis branch in Caseyville, Illinois means using a broker.
Updated October 15, 2026. Checked against Copart and IAA buyer rules, the Missouri Department of Revenue, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Illinois Department of Revenue. Sources are linked at the bottom.
Key takeaways
- Copart, Missouri: private buyers can bid on titled cars. Salvage lots need a broker.
- Copart, Illinois: private buyers need a broker for both titled and salvage lots.
- IAA: Missouri and Illinois are not on its public buyer list, so plan on a broker at the St. Louis branch.
- Membership: Copart Basic is $99 and Premier is $249, before any buyer fees.
- Pickup clock: Copart St. Louis gives three free days for online bids, then storage starts at $5 a day and climbs to $30.
- Salvage title: in Missouri it cannot be used to register the car. You rebuild it, pass a Highway Patrol inspection, and get a title branded Prior Salvage, step by step in our Missouri salvage title guide.
- Simpler option: Remarket Space is open to the public with no license and no membership fee, and every listing shows the out-the-door price.
Can the public buy at Copart in St. Louis?
Yes, for some cars. Copart says the laws where a car is located decide who can buy it, not where you live. Its State Licensing Overview lists what a private individual with no license can bid on in each state. Here is what it says for the two states around St. Louis:
| Car located in | Titled cars (clean or used) | Salvage cars |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri (St. Louis yard in Bridgeton) | Yes, open to private individuals | Broker required |
| Illinois (Metro East and Southern Illinois) | Broker required | Broker required |
So a St. Louis buyer can usually bid directly on a clean-titled car sitting at the Missouri yard. The salvage cars need a broker. Copart’s search also has a No License Required filter that shows only lots anyone can buy.
Why Missouri salvage cars need a broker
It comes from Missouri law. The Department of Revenue’s salvage titling manual says only these buyers can take part in sales at salvage pools or salvage disposal sales:
- Missouri salvage license holders: businesses with a current Missouri salvage license.
- Out-of-state businesses: buyers legally allowed in their home state to buy vehicles to resell, rebuild, dismantle, crush, or scrap.
- Exporters: people living in a foreign country who buy salvage vehicles for export.
A private buyer in St. Louis is not on that list. A broker is a licensed business that bids under its license for you and charges a fee for it. Copart says it can connect you with one. Ask for the full broker fee in writing before you bid, because it is added on top of Copart’s own fees.
Can the public buy at IAA in St. Louis?
Not directly, as of today. IAA offers a Public Buyer account that only needs a government ID, but it only works in states where IAA allows public buyers. Its Public Buyer State by State Eligibility list, updated August 7, 2025, does not include Missouri or Illinois.
IAA’s locations page lists its St. Louis branch in Caseyville, Illinois, in the Metro East. Without a business license, the path there is a broker. IAA keeps a broker listing on the same help page. IAA search also has an Available to the public filter, so check where a car sits before you bid on it.
What does it cost to buy from Copart or IAA?
More than the winning bid. Here is what to add up before you set your number. For the buyer fees themselves, our Copart fee calculator and IAA fee calculator do the math for any bid.
| Cost | Copart (from its own pages) | IAA |
|---|---|---|
| Membership | Guest free (watch only). Basic $99. Premier $249. | Guest accounts cannot bid. A Registered Buyer account is needed. |
| Deposit and limits | Basic with no deposit: 1 car a day up to $2,000. With a deposit: 10% of your buying power. Premier: one $400 refundable deposit, up to $100,000 a day. | IAA says Registered Buyers have no deposit and no bidding limits. |
| Buyer and auction fees | Set by Copart and vary by price | Set by IAA and vary by price |
| Broker fee | Charged by the broker, if you need one | Charged by the broker |
| Storage | See the St. Louis table below | Ask the branch |
| Transport | You cannot drive cars off Copart property. Plan a tow or a transporter. | Plan a tow or a transporter. |
| Missouri tax and title | 4.225% state sales tax plus your local rate, $8.50 title fee, $9 processing fee | Same if you title in Missouri |
Buyer premiums at online auctions vary a lot between sites. Our guide to the car auction buyer premium compares how they are built, and Missouri car sales tax in St. Louis shows your local rate.
How fast do you have to pick up at Copart St. Louis?
Fast. The Copart St. Louis location page says sales run multiple days a week at 12:00 p.m. Central, and storage is charged daily after three business days. Here is its storage table:
| Day after sale | Online bids | Buy It Now |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (sale day) and day 2 | Free | Free |
| Day 3 | Free | $5 |
| Day 4 | $5 | $5 |
| Day 5 | $10 | $10 |
| Day 6 | $15 | $15 |
| Day 7 | $20 | $20 |
| Days 8 and 9 | $25 | $25 |
| Day 10 and after | $30 a day | $30 a day |
Weekends and holidays count unless they fall inside the free days. Copart’s pickup page also says you cannot drive a car off its lot, and picking up your title in person costs a $20 service fee. Line up a tow before you bid, not after you win.
How do you title a salvage car from Copart in Missouri?
Slowly, and not until it is fixed. Under the Department of Revenue manual, a salvage title is proof of ownership only. It cannot be used to register the car, so you cannot plate it and drive it. Missouri generally treats a car as salvage when it was damaged within seven years of its model year and repairs cost more than 80% of its value, or when an insurer declares it salvage.
To get it back on the road, Missouri’s rebuilt vehicle brochure (Form 4698) lays out the steps:
- 1. Get the salvage title assigned to you, plus a bill of sale with the price.
- 2. Repair the car. Keep every receipt. The Highway Patrol wants a receipt for each used part that shows the VIN of the car it came from.
- 3. Buy Form 551, the Vehicle Examination Certificate, at a license office. It costs $25 plus a $9 processing fee.
- 4. Schedule the inspection with the Motor Vehicle Inspection Office at your local Missouri State Highway Patrol troop headquarters. In the St. Louis area, the St. Louis City or County Auto Theft Unit can also do it.
- 5. Drive only on a trip permit. Missouri sells a $5 single-trip permit, good for up to 30 days, only to drive the car to and from the inspection.
- 6. Apply for the title with Form 108, notarized bills of sale for major parts, donor titles, the $8.50 title fee, the $9 processing fee, and sales tax on the price and on any parts bought without tax.
- 7. Get your new title, branded Prior Salvage. Every Missouri title after that keeps the brand.
The Highway Patrol salvage inspection requirements list what to bring for each type of exam. If you are rebuilding to resell, check how many cars you can sell in Missouri without a dealer license first, and see our guide on repairing and flipping salvage auction cars for the money side.
What about a clean-titled Copart car?
Much easier. It titles like any used car. The Missouri Department of Revenue gives you 30 days from purchase to title it and pay sales tax, with a $25 penalty that grows every 30 days up to $200. You also need a safety inspection unless the car is under 11 years old with under 150,000 miles, and an emissions test if you live in St. Louis City or St. Louis, St. Charles, or Jefferson County. Our Missouri title transfer guide and St. Louis emissions testing guide walk through both.
Live in the Illinois Metro East?
Two things change. First, Copart lists every Illinois lot as broker-only for private buyers, and IAA’s St. Louis branch sits in Illinois. So a Metro East buyer usually ends up with a broker either way, or buys at the Missouri yard. Second, your tax is paid to Illinois. The Illinois Department of Revenue says a car bought from a private party is reported on Form RUT-50, due within 30 days of purchase, and a car bought from an out-of-state dealer is reported on Form RUT-25. Rebuilt and salvage titles in Illinois go through the Illinois Secretary of State. Our guide to car auctions in Illinois covers the rest of the state.
Is Copart or IAA worth it for a regular buyer?
It can be, if you can fix cars and you are ready for the paperwork. Most first-time buyers underestimate the extras. Common complaints are covered in our look at whether Copart and IAAI auctions are a scam, and the difference between the two kinds of auction car is in certified vs salvage cars.
| Good | Watch out for |
|---|---|
| Large inventory and several sale days a week | Salvage cars need a broker in Missouri |
| Clean-titled cars at the Missouri yard are open to you | Membership, buyer, broker, and storage fees add up |
| Online bidding | Photos only. You cannot test drive. |
| Clear storage and pickup rules | Storage starts after three days, and you must tow it out |
For every other way to buy at auction around here, including police and tow lot sales, see our hub on car auctions in St. Louis and the guide to police impound car auctions in St. Louis. Outside the metro, our list of car auctions in Missouri shows which licensed auctions let the public bid.
A simpler way to buy at auction prices in St. Louis
If you want auction pricing without a broker, a membership fee, or a tow from a salvage yard, Remarket Space is an online car marketplace open to the public. You need a free account and an ID, not a dealer license. Every listing has an inspection by a Verified Remarket Space Inspector, a free Carfax, an HD virtual test drive, and the out-the-door total with the delivery quote. Buy Now or bid live, pay by card within 48 hours, and the car is delivered to the St. Louis metro, typically within 48 hours. Undisclosed engine, transmission, frame, or flood damage reported within 72 hours of delivery is covered by our 3-Day Major Mechanical Guarantee.
See cars up for auction now, read how bidding works, or check the buyer premium and fees. On a $2,000 winning bid, the buyer’s premium is $459 and the admin fee is $189, for $2,648 before delivery. Start with cars under $5,000 or used SUVs. Those cars are currently in Minnesota and ship to St. Louis with a quote. Title paperwork can take 8 to 12 weeks, so ask how titling works before you bid to stay ahead of Missouri’s 30-day clock.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, for clean-titled cars at the Missouri yard in Bridgeton. Copart lists titled cars in Missouri as open to private individuals. Salvage cars in Missouri need a licensed broker, and you still need a paid Copart membership to bid.
IAA’s public buyer list does not include Missouri or Illinois, and its St. Louis branch is in Caseyville, Illinois. Without a business license, you would bid through a licensed broker who buys under their license for a fee.
Missouri limits who can buy at salvage pools to Missouri salvage license holders, out-of-state businesses allowed to rebuild or dismantle cars, and foreign buyers exporting the car. A private buyer is not on that list, so a broker bids for you.
Copart lists a free Guest account that can only watch, a Basic membership for $99, and a Premier membership for $249. Basic with no deposit allows one car a day up to $2,000. Buyer fees, broker fees, and storage are extra.
Online bids get three free days, counting sale day. After that, Copart St. Louis charges $5 on day four, rising to $25 on days eight and nine and $30 a day after that. You cannot drive the car off the lot.
No. A Missouri salvage title cannot be used to register the car. You repair it, pass a Highway Patrol inspection with Form 551, and get a title branded Prior Salvage. A $5 trip permit only covers driving to and from the inspection.
Yes. Remarket Space is an online marketplace open to the public with no dealer license or membership fee. Every car has an inspection, a free Carfax, and an out-the-door price, and it is delivered to the St. Louis area.
Sources
- Copart: State Licensing Overview
- Copart: Licensing and documentation requirements
- Copart: Choosing a membership
- Copart: St. Louis location, sale days and storage fees
- Copart: How to get your vehicles
- IAA: Register with IAA
- IAA: Public Buyer State by State Eligibility
- IAA: Branch locations
- Missouri Department of Revenue: Salvage business registration and titling requirements
- Missouri Department of Revenue: Form 4698, Titling a rebuilt motor vehicle
- Missouri State Highway Patrol: VIN and salvage inspection requirements
- Missouri Department of Revenue: Buying a vehicle
- Illinois Department of Revenue: Tax requirements for cars
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Copart and IAA change their rules and fees, so confirm on their sites and with the Missouri Department of Revenue before you bid.
