IAA (Insurance Auto Auctions, now under RB Global) is Copart's principal competitor and, for a buyer, a close substitute: similar national footprint, similar insurance-sourced inventory, similar as-is terms. It is an established platform — the operational risk of “does the car exist and will it be released” is low.
Differences that matter in practice
- Fee schedules differ at the margins; on mid-value lots the totals land close, but always price the specific lot on the specific platform.
- IAA's buyer tiers and licensing rules also route unlicensed buyers through brokers in most states.
- Yard photo quality varies by location more than Copart's, in our sampling — insist on every photo and, where offered, the engine video.
Trust the platform mechanics; verify the vehicle. Same rule as everywhere in the salvage trade.