You just won a car at IAA — now the clock is running. IAA (Insurance Auto Auctions) sells mostly insurance total-loss and salvage vehicles, and its yards are built to move metal out fast: pay late or leave the car sitting and the fees stack up quickly. This is the exact sequence to get a car you won at IAA paid for, released, and onto a truck without paying a dollar in storage.
Do you need a dealer license to buy from IAA?
In most states, no. IAA has a Public Buyer program: where state law allows it, you can register and bid without a dealer's license. Registration means completing IAA's online form, uploading a government-issued photo ID, and paying an annual membership fee (currently around $200). A few states restrict public salvage buying — in those, you bid through a licensed broker who handles the purchase for you. Either way, the shipping process after the win is the same.
How fast do you have to pay and pick up?
Two separate clocks start the moment the hammer falls, and missing either one is where surprise costs come from:
| Milestone | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Payment due | Generally within two to three business days of the sale — check the exact deadline on your invoice. Miss it and IAA charges a late-payment fee; leave it unpaid and IAA can cancel the sale, apply a relist/cancellation fee, and suspend your buying privileges. |
| Free storage window | Roughly two to five business days after the sale, depending on the branch. This is your window to get a truck to the gate. |
| Storage fees begin | Once the free window closes: about $20–$50 per day, varying by vehicle size and branch, and billed on calendar days — weekends included. |
The takeaway is simple: book your carrier within 24 to 48 hours of winning. A dispatched truck usually reaches an IAA branch within two to five business days — which is the entire free window. Wait until the fees start and a car that sat one week can add $150–$350 on top of the transport.
How do you ship a car from IAA, step by step?
- Pay in full, fast. Log into your IAA buyer account and pay the invoice (vehicle price plus buyer fees and any taxes). Pay by a method that clears quickly — IAA will not release a vehicle until payment is confirmed, and a slow-clearing payment eats into your free storage window.
- Get a shipping quote and book the same day. Have your pickup branch and destination ready. A free AutoMove quote takes about two minutes; booking the day you pay is what keeps the whole pickup inside the free window. New to the auction-pickup process? Our step-by-step Copart shipping guide walks through the same fundamentals that apply at any auction yard.
- Authorize your carrier on your IAA account. IAA releases a vehicle only to a motor carrier that is listed/authorized on your buyer account. Some branches require you to formally assign the carrier as your agent; others accept the printed gate pass alone. Do this as soon as you book so the truck isn't turned away.
- Send the gate pass and stock number to your carrier. Once payment clears, IAA issues a gate pass (and, at some branches, a PIN) tied to your lot. Forward it with the stock/lot number the moment you have it — the carrier cannot schedule a pickup appointment without it.
- Declare the exact condition. Tell your carrier precisely how the car behaves — not just "runs" or "doesn't run," but whether it starts, steers, rolls, and brakes. IAA has a healthy share of run-and-drive vehicles, but sending an open carrier for a car that won't roll means a refused pickup, a rescheduled truck, and more storage days.
- Coordinate the pickup and receive the car. IAA branches load during business hours, Monday through Friday. Your carrier presents the gate pass and ID at the gate, loads the vehicle, and you receive it at the destination — inspect it against the auction condition report before signing the driver's bill of lading.
What does the carrier need at the IAA gate?
Give your carrier this full packet up front and the pickup is routine. Leave one item out and the truck can be turned away — with the meter running:
- Your IAA buyer ID / buyer number
- The stock (lot) number and the VIN
- The exact branch address of the pickup yard
- The gate pass (plus the gate pass PIN if the branch requires one)
- Confirmation that payment has cleared — no release happens without it
- The vehicle's operational status (runs/steers/rolls/brakes)
You do not need the title in hand to pick up — the gate pass is what releases the car. The title follows separately by mail once IAA processes it.
How much does it cost to ship a car from IAA?
The transport price depends on distance, vehicle size, whether the car runs, and open versus enclosed carrier — not on the fact that it came from IAA. An inoperable (non-running) car costs more because it needs a truck with a winch. The reliable way to price it is to run a quote with your specific branch and destination. Popular IAA pickup points where AutoMove moves a lot of auction cars include IAA Dallas, IAA Atlanta, IAA Phoenix, and IAA Charlotte — or browse every branch on our IAA locations page.
IAA vs Copart — what's different when you ship?
The mechanics are nearly identical: pay fast, authorize a carrier, hand over a gate pass, get the car out before storage starts. The differences are in the details. IAA leans toward insurance total-loss and run-and-drive inventory, while Copart carries a broader salvage mix. IAA authorizes the carrier on your buyer account and issues a gate pass; Copart requires a Gate Pass PIN plus the lot number. Payment and free-storage windows are similar but set per branch at both, so always confirm your specific yard's clock rather than assuming a national rule.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ship an IAA car that doesn't run?
Yes. Inoperable vehicles ship all the time — the carrier just needs a truck equipped with a winch, and you must declare the condition accurately when you book. Tell the dispatcher exactly what does and doesn't work (starts, steers, rolls, brakes) so the right equipment shows up. An undisclosed non-runner is the most common reason a pickup is refused.
How long do I have before IAA charges storage?
Most IAA branches give a free storage window of roughly two to five business days after the sale, then charge about $20–$50 per day. Because the window is short and set per branch, book transport within 24–48 hours of winning and confirm your specific yard's window.
Do I need the title to pick up the car?
No. IAA releases the vehicle on the gate pass once your payment has cleared — the carrier does not need the title at the gate. The title is mailed separately after IAA processes the sale, which can take a couple of weeks.
Do I need a dealer license to buy and ship from IAA?
In most states you can buy as a registered Public Buyer without a dealer's license (registration, a government ID, and an annual membership fee apply). A few states require you to purchase through a licensed broker. Shipping the car afterward works the same either way.
Open or enclosed transport for an auction car?
Open transport is the standard, most affordable choice and is fine for the vast majority of salvage and total-loss cars. Choose enclosed only for high-value, rare, or already-restored vehicles where road exposure is a concern. For a typical IAA purchase, open carrier is the right call.
Won a car at IAA? Get the truck booked before the storage clock starts — grab a free AutoMove quote in about two minutes and we'll handle the pickup from any IAA branch in the country.