VestiCar › How It Works
How VestiCar Works
Free VIN lookup for Copart and IAAI auction records — no signup, no credit card.
What is VestiCar?
VestiCar is a free vehicle history lookup tool built around auction sale data. Every day, VestiCar ingests sold vehicle records from Copart and IAAI (Insurance Auto Auctions) — the two largest salvage vehicle auction networks in the United States — and makes them searchable by VIN.
If a vehicle was sold at a Copart or IAAI auction, VestiCar has the record: final sale price, damage type, photos, odometer reading, auction location, and the insurer's estimated pre-accident value (ACV). It's the same data the auction houses use, presented for free.
Where does the data come from?
VestiCar pulls data directly from official Copart and IAAI auction records. Both networks are operated by insurance companies selling total-loss and salvage vehicles. When an insurer declares a car a total loss, it goes to one of these auctions — VestiCar captures the sale result.
Data is refreshed daily. Each record includes the fields the auction house captures at time of sale: VIN, year/make/model/trim, damage type (primary and secondary), odometer, color, condition grade, sale price, ACV, lot number, auction yard location, and auction photos.
How to use VestiCar — step by step
- Step 1: Find the VIN
Locate the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number on the vehicle's dashboard, door jamb sticker, or title. VINs also appear on Copart and IAAI lot pages. - Step 2: Enter it at VestiCar
Go to vesticar.com and type or paste the VIN into the search bar. VestiCar searches its database of Copart and IAAI records instantly. - Step 3: View the full record
See the final sale price, damage type, auction photos, odometer, ACV, and auction location — all for free. No account required.
Is VestiCar free?
Yes — completely free. No account, no signup, no credit card. Search any VIN and view the full auction record at no cost. VestiCar is supported by contextual affiliate links (Carfax, vehicle shipping, insurance) that appear on car detail pages, but using these is entirely optional.
VestiCar vs Carfax
| Feature | VestiCar | Carfax |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Paid (~$40/report) |
| Copart auction records | ✓ Full record | ✓ Partial (title only) |
| IAAI auction records | ✓ Full record | ✓ Partial (title only) |
| Final sale price | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Auction damage photos | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| ACV (pre-accident value) | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Ownership history | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Service records | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Account required | No | Yes |
VestiCar is the best free option for auction-specific records. For a complete ownership and service history, Carfax provides a broader view (but at a cost).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VestiCar free?
Yes — completely free. No account, no signup, no credit card needed.
Does VestiCar cover all Copart and IAAI vehicles?
VestiCar ingests sold vehicle records daily from both networks. Coverage grows over time. Older records may not be present for vehicles sold before VestiCar began tracking.
How accurate is the data?
Data is sourced directly from official Copart and IAAI auction records — the same data the auction houses use. Sale prices, damage, and odometer readings are as reported at time of sale.
What does ACV mean?
ACV stands for Actual Cash Value — the insurer's estimate of what the vehicle was worth before the damage or loss event. VestiCar shows the ACV alongside the final sale price so you can see how much the damage reduced the vehicle's value.