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IP Interview
Published September 29, 2025

Copart, IAA and the International Salvage Market: A Buyer’s Perspective

Executive Bio

Former International Vehicle Buyer (Copart)

Summary

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Interview Transcript

Disclaimer: This interview is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions. In Practise is an independent publisher and all opinions expressed by guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of In Practise.

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So the majority of cars are imported. Why is this the case?

There might be a benefit to buying a car outside of Guatemala, especially regarding the car itself. Cars in the U.S. are often more fully equipped and have features that official or authorized sellers in Guatemala don't offer. It's still cheaper to buy outside if you know how to do it. If you understand the process of buying a car in the U.S., including picking it up from the yard, storage, shipping costs, and which port is better for shipping, as well as the customs process, it can be cheaper to buy in the U.S. than to buy it here.

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Why is it cheaper to ship it from the US?

I believe it's because there are many more options and opportunities there. For example, if we're talking about the same car, like a Toyota Corolla, which is popular here, there might be only two available in Guatemala, increasing competition and driving the price up. In contrast, Copart might offer 100 of this same Toyotas. So there's more supply. If I don't get this Toyota, I can get another one. In Guatemala, there might only be two available.

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If I take the same Toyota Corolla and compare buying it on Mega Subastas versus Copart through AutoBidMaster, for example, how much cheaper would it be on average from Copart?

Generally speaking, when buying a car from Copart, it depends on several factors, like where the accident or damage occurred on the car. But typically, if I buy a car from Copart, it will be around 25% to 30% locheaper than the market price in Guatemala.

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