How to Place Bids in a Live Auction
Last edit: March 30 2025 • 1712 view
Looking to buy a car, truck, motorcycle, boat, or RV from insurance car auctions? We’ve got great news! Now you can bid live on cars from Copart and IAAI right on CARS4.BID. No need to go to other websites. You can do everything here, in one place, with real-time bidding just a click away. Whether you’re searching for salvage vehicles, used cars, or repairable vehicles, our new Live Bidding feature puts you in control of the auction, letting you bid in the Live Auction.
Find and Buy Car Near You
Use our advanced filters to easily search for vehicles based on your location. Just enter your ZIP code to buy a car near me and see results from auctions across the country. Whether you’re in California, Texas, or Florida – we’ve got listings close to you.
Looking for a Copart broker or IAAI broker? You’re in the right place. At CARS4.BID, you don’t need a dealer license to participate. Anyone can register and start buying vehicles from Copart and Insurance Auto Auctions – 100% online.
How to Start Live Bidding on CARS4.BID
1. Select the vehicle you want to bid on.
Auctions have 2 parts:
- Preliminary Bidding (before the live auction starts)
- Live Auction (real-time bidding)
If it still says “time left to place bids,” you can enter your max bid during Preliminary Bidding.
You can only bid LIVE from the lot’s page.
2. Wait for the Auction to Start. Every lot has a timer till the live auction. When the Preliminary Bidding ends, you’ll need to wait 1 hour for the Live Auction to start broadcasting.
3. When there are less than 30 minutes left, you’ll see your lot number and how many cars will be in the auction. Watch your lot number to know when it’s your turn.
For example, this 2018 Dodge Challenger is lot number 62 out of 113 total. That means you’ll need to wait for 61 cars to go before it’s your turn to bid.
4. When Live Bidding starts, you can watch the auction live and wait for your lot to come up.
Important: You can only bid from your lot’s page. If you click “View Lot,” a new tab will open with the car that’s being sold at that moment.
5. When it’s your lot’s turn, the screen will turn yellow and say “Your lot is selling now.” You’ll see the current bid. Click the Bid button if you want to place a bid.
Important: Only bid if you really want to buy the car. All bids are live and final. If you win and don’t pay, you’ll be charged a cancellation and transaction fee. Refer to Terms and Conditions for more information.
6. If you click “Bid,” your bid will go up by one step higher than the current bid. If you’re the highest bidder, the screen will turn green and say “Winning.”
7. If another buyer bids more than you, the screen turns red and says “Outbid.” That means you’re not winning anymore. Click “Bid” again to raise your bid and try to win the vehicle.
Important: Don’t wait until the last second to bid. Your internet might be slow, and the bid won’t go through. Bid as soon as you see “Outbid.”
8. That’s it! Easy and fun! Good luck with live bidding – and may the force be with you! 😊
Important: Only bid if you really want to buy the car. You can’t take your bid back. All bids are final. If you bid by accident or on the wrong car, you still have to buy it. If you win, you must pay.
There is no buyer’s remorse – no backing out or canceling after you win.
Please bid carefully – and good luck with Live Bidding!
Why Bid Live on CARS4.BID?
- Access to Copart and IAAI auctions
- Real-time bidding from your browser
- Use filters to buy a car near you
- No dealer license required – buy as a public buyer
- Get help from a trusted Copart and IAAI broker
- Buy salvage, damaged, and used vehicles online from anywhere
- One simple platform for all your auction needs
Whether you’re looking for a project car, rebuildable vehicle, or affordable used car, CARS4.BID makes it easy to buy from live auctions online. Start bidding today and drive away with your dream vehicle!
