AI DamageShort answer
Not every auction lot was in a crash. Some cars reach the sale after a theft, because of an electrical or mechanical fault, or simply from a dealer. Their bodies are often intact, but the risk hides elsewhere: in keys, wiring, the engine and the paperwork.
How often and in what condition
| Type | Lots | Do not start | Clean document | Who sells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theft | 3,469 | 49% | 21% | Insurers — 92% |
| Electrical | 908 | 72% | 55% | Dealers — 57% |
| Mechanical | 22,680 | 45% | 74% | Dealers — 82% |
| All lots | 1,000,000 | 22.5% | 24% | Insurers — 78% |
“Do not start” is the Stationary status on the lot page. What start statuses mean is explained in the Run and Drive guide.
After a theft (Recovered Theft)
The insurer paid out for a stolen car, and then the car was found. It now belongs to the insurer, which sells it at auction. Condition varies from intact to stripped.
- 32% of these lots sell without keys, three times the average (9%). Programming new keys and immobiliser modules is a separate cost.
- In 6% of theft lots the secondary damage is “Stripped”: wheels, seats, infotainment or airbags removed.
- A damaged ignition lock, steering column or driver’s door are typical signs of a break-in. Look for them in the interior photos.
- Check that the car is no longer listed as stolen and that the numbers on the body and glass match.
Electrical
72% of these lots do not start, and more than half are sold by dealers rather than insurers. The cause may be minor (a flat battery, a fuse) or expensive (a control module, wiring after rodents or water). Photos cannot tell them apart.
40% of electrical lots are model year 2012 or older, versus 29% of all lots. On an old car an expensive control module can cost more than the car itself.
Mechanical
This is the most common non-collision type: 22,680 lots in two months. 82% are sold by dealers: trade-ins that did not sell on the forecourt. Their median mileage is 139 thousand miles versus 107 thousand across all lots.
The document is mostly clean (74%), because insurance plays no role here. But there are no guarantees either: the seller simply got rid of a car with an engine, gearbox or running-gear fault.
How to assess such lots
- Treat the fault as unknown until you see a diagnosis. “Does not start” can mean the battery or the engine.
- Budget for keys and programming on theft lots without keys.
- For older cars with electrical or mechanical faults, compare the lot price with the cost of an engine or module, not with the price of a sound car.
- Check the VIN history: a theft total loss can also change the title (see Total Loss and ACV).
How to read the damage fields on a lot page: Copart and IAAI damage codes.
Sources
- VinWind editorial analysis: 1,000,000 US auction lots with a sale result, 24 Jul – 30 Sep 2025. Primary and secondary damage, start status, keys, document, seller type, year.