Buying a car in the US through an auction is a way to get a vehicle with a transparent history, often at a lower price than on the Ukrainian market. RoyalMotors shows Copart and IAAI lots in a single catalog and instantly calculates how much the car will cost you in US dollars, turnkey: delivery, customs clearance and our services included. You choose the car; the manager takes care of bidding, logistics and paperwork.
How Copart and IAAI auctions work
Copart and IAAI are the largest auction platforms in the US. Tens of thousands of vehicles go up for sale there every day: after insurance claims, from leasing, from rental companies and dealers. Only a licensed broker can buy there directly, so a buyer from Ukraine works through an intermediary. Every lot has a number, photos from the auction yard, a description of the damage, a document type (title) and an auction date. Some lots can be bought right away at a fixed Buy Now price; the rest are sold in online bidding.
On a lot page in our catalog you see this data in English, plus an estimated turnkey price. The manager checks the lot before bidding and agrees on a maximum bid with you. We never bid above that amount.
What makes up the turnkey price of a car from the US
The auction bid is only part of the total. To avoid surprises, we calculate the car's whole journey to you:
- lot price — the final bid or Buy Now;
- auction fee of Copart or IAAI — depends on the lot price and the payment method;
- insurance — a percentage of the lot price including the auction fee;
- shipping from the US or Canada to Klaipėda — by car carrier to the port and by sea in a container, depends on the yard where the car is located;
- port services — forwarding services, documents and storage at the port;
- delivery from Klaipėda to your city — broker included, depends on the city;
- certification;
- money transfer fee — a percentage of the lot price with the auction fee and of the delivery to Klaipėda with port services;
- customs clearance: 10% import duty, excise (depends on engine size and the car's age), 20% VAT and the pension fund fee;
- RoyalMotors commission — the cost of our work, which we quote before bidding begins.
The calculator on the site shows the calculation for a specific lot at today's NBU exchange rate. The final customs amount is determined by customs, so the calculation is an estimate, but every cost item is accounted for in it.
How long delivery takes
From winning at the auction to receiving the keys usually takes 35–50 days. The longest stage is ocean shipping; its duration depends on the departure port and the container schedule. Delivery within the US takes anywhere from a few days to two weeks, and customs clearance and certification in Ukraine take up to a week. At every stage, the manager tells you where your car is right now.
How we check a lot before purchase
An auction car is bought from photos, so checking before bidding matters:
- VIN history. We check mileage, number of owners, previous accidents and insurance payouts.
- Photos and damage description. We assess the primary and secondary damage, the condition of the airbags, and whether the car starts (Run & Drive).
- Title type. A Clean, Salvage or Rebuilt title affects the price, customs clearance and resale in Ukraine.
- Repair cost. For damaged cars we estimate the repair, so you see the full amount, not just the bid.
If a lot doesn't pass the check, the manager will tell you so — and suggest similar options from the catalog.
Which cars are imported from the US most often
The most popular are crossovers and sedans, which cost noticeably more in Ukraine: Toyota RAV4 and Camry, Honda CR-V and Accord, Hyundai Tucson and Santa Fe, Kia Sportage, Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester. Electric cars such as the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, and hybrids, are also in demand. In the catalog you can filter lots by make, turnkey budget, year, mileage, damage type and whether the car is drivable.
Why buy a car from the US through RoyalMotors
- Price in US dollars right away. The budget in the filter is the turnkey amount, not the auction bid.
- The full Copart and IAAI catalog, updated every 15 minutes.
- You don't bid yourself. The manager handles bidding within the agreed maximum bid.
- A transparent calculation of every cost item before bidding starts.
- Support all the way through registration: delivery, customs clearance, certification and registration.
Choose a car in the catalog or submit a request — the manager will pick several options for your budget and explain the calculation for each.
How to pay for an auction car
Payment is made in several stages, so you don't pay the whole amount upfront. First, a deposit is paid to take part in bidding — it is refunded if you don't win the lot. After a win, the lot price and the auction fee are paid: usually by bank transfer in dollars, within the deadlines set by the auction. Delivery, customs clearance and services can be paid separately, once the car is already on its way or at the port. You receive documents for every payment, and the contract states the estimated cost.
Contract, guarantees and transparency
Before bidding starts, we sign a contract that spells out the scope of services, the estimated cost and the timelines. We make the preliminary calculation before bidding. You see the car's photos and documents at every stage: after the auction purchase, at the warehouse in the port, after unloading in Ukraine. If damage occurs during delivery, cargo insurance applies. Our goal is for the price you see in the calculator at the start to be as close as possible to the amount you pay at the end.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a car without damage? Yes, auctions have lots with a clean title and minimal signs of wear — in the catalog you can filter them by damage type and the "Run & Drive" status.
Can I inspect the car before buying? Not in person, but we check the VIN history, the auction photos and the description, and if needed we order an additional on-site inspection.
What happens if the bid doesn't win? You lose nothing: the deposit is refunded or carried over to the next lot, and the manager suggests similar options.
