# Auto parts from Copart cars

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Tags:** escape, ford\
**Created:** [September 18, 2021, 3:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452 "2021-09-18T15:17:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 12:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/21 "2021-09-19T00:32:28Z")

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This person does not seem to want a single part but a whole bunch off a salvage vehicle shipped to some place in Europe . Has he even concidered that he will not sell all of those parts . He might not even sell any of them .

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 12:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/22 "2021-09-19T00:48:35Z")

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> [@Beancounter](#):
>
> if I’m a South Carolina recycle yard and I can get $250 for a MB fender in Belgium because of their Scrapping Tax or $200 in the US without $51 in shipping/customs/handling costs, I’m gonna sell it for $200 in the US

Understand… but if an EU importer can buy every part from that MB from you at a bulk discount and take the risk and responsibilty for shipping, import and selling, why not?

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**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 1:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/23 "2021-09-19T01:47:42Z")

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> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#):
>
> due to a long-standing political feud about which few if anybody outside of politics cares.

Don’t be so sure. There are a whole bunch of Cubans in Florida that care.

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**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 1:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/24 "2021-09-19T01:57:27Z")

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It’s hard to get a handle on this whole scheme not knowing anymore details. We had a friend in Germany though that said he paid something like a 50% tax when he bought a car. He also made many trips between here and there and we sometimes would need to get parts that he could take back to his son for his American car.

There is a pretty good demand for some US parts but the OP doesn’t detail that that is his target. I would think body parts would be more valuable but who knows? So I guess first thing is to ID the type of cars, type of parts, potential mark-up, and so on. The whole thing makes me tired thinking about it but I think it would be better to start as a source and then get them from a cooperative junk yard here. Most or at least a lot ship the parts-likely just the lower 48 or 57 whatever.

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**Author:** ![jagoallegro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jagoallegro](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jagoallegro)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 9:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/25 "2021-09-19T09:20:46Z")

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Sorry for my English but it’s not my native language.

Importing whole cars “for parts” is also risky, as local authorities may consider it importing waste. The fine can be up to $ 100,000. There is no such risk when importing car parts.

We have a lot of parts for European cars and they are cheap because they are produced and tested here. The problem is with parts for American cars (for example Ford, Chevrolet), because we have practically no parts. I know this because I used to sell parts for a Ford Mustang and there was so much interest that I sold everything.

You can buy parts at one of the popular auction sites in my country. For example:  
Hood for new Audi A5 - about 300$, 250 items  
Hood for new Ford Mustang - about 1200$, 10 items.

Customers are looking for auto parts for american cars so i am sure it is good business

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**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 1:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/26 "2021-09-19T13:56:50Z")

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> [@jagoallegro](#):
>
> Customers are looking for auto parts for american cars so i am sure it is good business

Sure they are but how will you know if the wrecked vehicle you buy at auction will have those parts good enough to use . You have to bid on those Copart vehicles , pay someone to haul it to a shop that will charge a large fee to break it down and pack what ever parts they can , also charge you to dispose of the stuff you don’t want , pay to ship it across the ocean to where ever you are ( you have never said ) and pay what ever tarrifs your country might have. You have a business idea that has more potencial for failure than success .

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**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 2:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/27 "2021-09-19T14:34:00Z")

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Consider buying scrap cars, stripping the parts, and then selling the body and other parts you don’t want to a scrap yard. A lot of donated cars are essentially scrap and you could buy them at wholesale auctions. Compare the cost to buying lots of parts you want and shipping them to Europe.

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**Author:** ![jagoallegro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jagoallegro](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jagoallegro)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 9:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/28 "2021-09-20T09:15:43Z")

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I have already bought several cars at copart auctions and transported them to eastern europe. I know how it is all done and how much it costs. But you can see that I’m not looking for advice here if it’s good business. I asked a clearly defined question, does anyone know the company that disassembles cars and ships them.

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**Author:** ![jagoallegro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jagoallegro](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jagoallegro)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 9:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/29 "2021-09-20T09:19:29Z")

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What do you mean about “wholesale auctions”? Is it Copart or Iaa? Are there any other places where I can buy such vehicles?

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**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 9:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/30 "2021-09-20T09:33:29Z")

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Wholesale is dealer only. Maryland has car auctions where cars that can be registered have auctions open to anyone. For those vehicles that can’t be registered without major work, there are wholesale auctions where only registered dealers can bid. The last group will have donated vehicles that don’t run and flood cars, for instance.

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**Author:** ![Beancounter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@Beancounter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beancounter)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 11:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/31 "2021-09-20T11:55:15Z")

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My overall point is that an “efficient” (low cost) international market already exists for used auto parts and international buyers are already active on auctions like Coparts so when a modern recycler bids for a junker at auction they already know their potential income and costs.  
i.e. A Ford pickup will yield $X dollars for the body parts (sold in the US or shipped to South America), $Y for the mechanical bits, $Z for the scrap metal (sold to China or South America) and the cost of disassembly, disposal, etc.

Returning to your original question “Where can I find a recycling company that can legally disassemble this car and ship it in parts?”, practically any modern recycler can do it because their already doing it BUT I think your real question was, “Where can I find a recycler foolish enough to accept a stripped out car with the valuable/profitable parts already removed?” and you can’t unless you’re willing to pay them to take the car.

Much of a car consists of nonsaleable “trash” (plastics, rubber, glass, fluids) that will cost the recycler to remove, separate and dispose of which can easily exceed the remaining scrap metal value, currently about $200/ton for clean steel shred, so if the valuable parts are already gone (Saleable body parts, cat’s, rebuildable alternators, etc.) it means a loss on each car taken in so they’ll refuse the vehicle.

The alternative is for you to buy the wreck cheap at a local “Country Auction”, sell it to the recycler, ask the recycler to remove/sell you the parts you want and they may give you a good price for the parts for an immediate sale.

.

.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 1:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/32 "2021-09-20T13:33:46Z")

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> [@jagoallegro](#):
>
> I asked a clearly defined question, does anyone know the company that disassembles cars and ships them.

I am going to say that there is a small chance that any Forum will have that answer . Contact Copart and ask them if they know of a place that will do that.

Whole vehicles shipped is one thing and breaking down one and packing parts for international shipment is another. I do know just how expensive some of packing and crating companies can be,

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**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/33 "2021-09-20T14:59:43Z")

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> [@jagoallegro](#):
>
> If I send the whole car, I will pay a lot of taxes in Europe, so it is more profitable to disassemble the car in the US.  
> That’s why I’m looking for a company that deals with it.

I think it would be far cheaper to pay the tax.

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**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 11:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/34 "2021-09-20T23:43:30Z")

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My guess is that you are looking for European car parts, probably form sought after models. The folks that frequent this place aren’t into that part of the automotive universe. You might do well to check US or Canadian websites that deal in the brands and models you are interested in. They might sell parts too. There is a Porsche parts dealer in Northern California, for instance, that has an incredible number of old Porsche parts for those interesting in repairing or restoring their old Porsches. He probably already has export partners since he has been in business for decades, but there might be others interested in working with you.

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 12:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/35 "2021-09-21T00:11:45Z")

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> [@jagoallegro](#):
>
> does anyone know the company that disassembles cars and ships them.

The folks at the UK magazine _Practical Classics_ do this from time to time. You might try asking someone there. One of their contributors, Sam Glover, is one person who has done something like this. You might can find his email address by Googling his name. Best of luck.

PS, if I lived in Eastern Europe I’d focus my time on classic Skoda’s and the like. But I guess there’s not much money in restoring those.

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 1:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/36 "2021-09-21T01:31:45Z")

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> [@jtsanders](#):
>
> My guess is that you are looking for European car parts,

Pretty sure he’s looking for US car parts.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 1:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/37 "2021-09-21T01:33:47Z")

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He said this

> [@jagoallegro](#):
>
> Customers are looking for auto parts for american cars so i am sure it is good business

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 3:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/38 "2021-09-21T03:30:45Z")

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I have an early retirement planned so a hobby like this might be a consideration but no time soon. I say “hobby” because I don’t believe there would be enough volume for a full time operation.

It takes 3 to 4 hours to remove the doors, hood, bumper covers, fenders, headlights and tail lights. Several hours to box and load the parts into a shipping container.

The body and powertrain parts from ten vehicles might fit into a shipping container so the cost per part would not be excessive. The carcass could be sold to the scrap metal dealer, they pay by the ton and don’t care if the bumpers and glass has been removed.

From the replies it seems that the used auto parts business is a mystery to most people, I don’t understand why certain people reply so many times. You have proven to be capable of buying auction vehicles but for some reason people want to redirect your buying process.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 9:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/39 "2021-09-21T21:19:20Z")

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> [@jagoallegro](#):
>
> But you can see that I’m not looking for advice here if it’s good business. I asked a clearly defined question, does anyone know the company that disassembles cars and ships them.

Sorry if the free advice did not meet your expectations. From me anyway the short answer is no.

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-parts-from-copart-cars/179452/40 "2021-09-21T21:39:54Z")

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What you consider to be “free advice” others call “kibitz”.

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