Auction tools · Copart & BCA · UK fee tables
The number you're actually paying.
Buyer's fee, VAT on the hammer, transport and the lot itself. Put the bid in, see the all-in cost before you tap the button.
Copart and BCA are trademarks of their respective owners. CarMate is not affiliated with them; fees shown are independent estimates.
Fee tiers are approximate and include VAT. Verify current rates on the auction platform before bidding.
You'll pay about £4,370 to land it. The real question: is it worth that much?
Fees are the easy part. A Copart lot can still hide structural damage, a repair bill that eats your margin, or outstanding finance you'd inherit. Run this exact lot and you get the four numbers the fee can't:
Worked out on the real car from its reg, not a guess. Your first check is free.
Buying to sell? Get early access to CarMate Trade.
We're opening CarMate Trade to a first group of Copart buyers. Paste a whole catalogue, screen every lot at once, and see the true cost and your max bid before you bid a penny.
- Screen a whole catalogue of regs in one go
- True landed cost and your max bid on every lot
- Clocked, ex-taxi and write-off junk flagged before you bid
Current Buyer Fee Tiers
Both Copart and BCA charge a tiered buyer's premium on top of the hammer price. All fees shown include VAT. Most lots also attract 20% VAT on the hammer price itself if sold by a VAT-registered vendor.
Copart Buyer's Premium
| Hammer Price | Buyer's Fee (inc. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Under £100 | £78 – £102 flat (inc. VAT) |
| £100 – £999 | £102 – £252 flat (inc. VAT) |
| £1,000 – £2,999 | £270 – £468 flat (inc. VAT) |
| £3,000 – £4,999 | £510 – £612 flat (inc. VAT) |
| £5,000 – £9,999 | £666 – £708 flat (inc. VAT) |
| £10,000+ | 7.8% of hammer (inc. VAT) |
BCA Buyer's Premium
| Hammer Price | Buyer's Fee (inc. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Under £1,000 | £324 flat (inc. VAT) |
| £1,000 – £1,999 | £564 flat (inc. VAT) |
| £2,000 – £2,999 | £630 flat (inc. VAT) |
| £3,000 – £3,999 | £751 flat (inc. VAT) |
| £4,000 – £4,999 | £833 flat (inc. VAT) |
| £5,000 – £11,999 | £894 – £1,290 flat (inc. VAT) |
| £20,000+ | ~6% of hammer (inc. VAT) |
Understanding Auction Fees
What is VAT on hammer at Copart?
When an insurance company, fleet operator, or other VAT-registered business sells a vehicle through Copart, the lot is "VAT qualifying." This means you pay 20% VAT on the hammer price in addition to the buyer's fee. On a £5,000 bid, that's an extra £1,000 before fees. It is the single biggest cost most new buyers underestimate.
Lots sold by private individuals are not VAT qualifying. Copart marks each lot clearly. Always check before bidding.
Copart vs BCA: which is cheaper for buyers?
BCA's buyer's fee tiers are slightly lower than Copart's at most price points (13% vs 18% in the £1,000-£3,000 range). However, Copart typically has more salvage stock and direct insurance disposals, while BCA skews more toward trade and fleet.
Both charge VAT on buyer's fees. Both have VAT-qualifying lots. Factor in transport, storage, and repair before comparing headline fee rates.
Hidden costs most buyers miss
Storage: Copart starts charging storage fees quickly after the auction closes. If you can't collect within a few days, it adds up.
CAT S re-registration: Structurally damaged write-offs require a DVLA inspection and re-registration before they can return to the road. Budget £300-500 for this.
Low-loader transport: Non-runner lots need a flatbed, typically £250-400 rather than £150-200 for a drive-away collection.
How to set your maximum bid
Start with the post-repair retail value of the car. Subtract your repair estimate, buyer's fee, VAT on hammer if applicable, and transport. Take a further 10% off as a safety buffer for unexpected costs.
The number you're left with is your ceiling. Bid above it and you risk buying a problem, not an opportunity. CarMate's auction report calculates this automatically for any Copart or BCA lot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Copart charge VAT on top of the hammer price?
Yes. Most Copart UK lots are sold by insurance companies and fleet operators who are VAT-registered. This means 20% VAT is added to the hammer price. Copart marks these as "VAT qualifying" lots. The calculator above accounts for this. Private seller lots are usually not VAT qualifying.
How does Copart's buyer's fee work?
Copart uses a flat bracket system called Fee B for public and small trade buyers (fewer than 12 purchases per year). Each price bracket has a fixed fee. For example, a £3,000 bid attracts a £510 fee (inc. VAT) and a £5,000 bid attracts a £666 fee (inc. VAT). For bids of £10,000 and above, the fee switches to 7.8% of the hammer price (inc. VAT). There is also a mandatory Lot Retrieval Fee of £60 (inc. VAT) charged on every purchase.
What other costs should I factor in for a Copart lot?
Beyond the hammer price, VAT on hammer, buyer's fee, and the £60 Lot Retrieval Fee: transport (typically £150-£350 for a runner, £250-£400 for a non-runner on a low-loader), storage if you don't collect promptly (free for 3 days then £5-£40 per day), a new MOT test (£54.85), and for CAT S cars, DVLA re-registration (around £300-500). Factor all of these in before setting your maximum bid.
Does BCA charge VAT on the hammer price?
BCA lots vary more than Copart. Fleet and manufacturer disposal lots are usually VAT qualifying. Trade-in lots from private sellers may not be. Check the lot description for "VAT qualifying" before bidding.
How does BCA's buyer's fee work?
BCA uses a tiered flat fee system for Standard (MyBCA) account holders. The fees are significantly higher than many buyers expect: under £1,000 the fee is £324 (inc. VAT), rising to £564 for a £1,000-£1,999 bid and £894 for a £5,000-£5,999 bid. BCA also charges a BCA Assured fee (~£54) on most lots under 8 years old, plus a V5C admin fee (~£26). Trade buyers on Silver or Gold cards pay lower fees. Always check which rate card applies to your account.
What is a CAT S car and can I buy one at Copart?
CAT S means the car's structural integrity was damaged in an accident but it can be repaired and returned to the road. After repair, it must be inspected and re-registered with DVLA before it can be driven legally. CAT S cars can be good value if the repair cost is well understood. CAT N means non-structural damage only, so no re-registration is needed. CAT A and CAT B must be crushed and cannot be driven again.
How accurate are these fee calculations?
The Copart Fee B and BCA Standard rate tables are based on verified 2026 published rates. However, auction houses update their fee structures periodically, and BCA fees vary by account tier (Standard, Blue, Silver, Gold). Always confirm the exact rates that apply to your account before bidding. This calculator is a planning guide, not a guarantee of exact charges.
Buying to sell? Screen the whole catalogue first.
Paste a run of regs or a Copart and BCA lot list. Get the damage, the all-in cost with fees and VAT, market value and a max bid on every lot, before you bid. One bad buy shouldn't eat the profit on three good ones.
Before you bid, know what you're bidding on
Screenshot the Copart or BCA lot and run it through CarMate: the damage read, a repair estimate, the all-in cost at your target bid, and a clear go or no-go. You get 1 free credit when you sign up.