You won a car at IAA — and the clock is already shorter than you think. IAA gives only about two free business days, and it is strict that your release form matches the carrier exactly. One mismatch and the gate turns your driver away. Knowing how to ship a car from IAA keeps the fees off and the pickup smooth. Here is the playbook we use every week.
The short answer: To ship a car from IAA, clear payment, pull a vehicle release that matches your carrier exactly, and book a yard-approved driver the same day. IAA gives about two free business days before storage fees start. Disclose whether the car runs or rolls so the right truck — winch or flatbed — shows up.
Shipping an IAA win follows four moves: pay and clear, pull a matching release, book a yard-approved carrier, then disclose the condition. The IAA twist is the strict release and the shorter free window.
This guide covers one yard. For the full picture across Copart, IAA, and Manheim, lean on our auction car shipping service page, which ties it all together.
IAA gives about two free business days after the sale, then daily storage fees begin, often around 25 dollars a day. That is shorter than Copart's window, so speed matters even more.
Weekends count against you. A Friday win without a Monday pickup can burn the whole free window. We tell buyers to pay the moment the sale closes and book transport the same day.
The honest downside: on a low-value total-loss, storage fees catch up to the car's price quickly. There is no slack in the IAA clock.
This is the IAA detail that trips up first-timers. The vehicle release authorizes one specific carrier to remove your car, and IAA checks that it matches exactly. A small mismatch gets the pickup denied.
We confirm the release names our assigned driver before dispatch. That single check prevents the most common IAA failure — a driver turned away at the gate over a paperwork error.
IAA only releases to carriers set up in their system who follow the check-in rules. An unapproved carrier is a wasted trip, no matter how good the quote looks.
We use drivers who already run IAA yards, so check-in and paperwork line up. Booking the same day you win means the car moves before fees start. Our guide on what auction shipping costs shows how fast booking avoids stacked storage charges.
Most IAA cars are insurance total-losses, so they often do not run. A car that rolls needs a winch; one that cannot roll needs a forklift and a flatbed carrier. The yard usually handles the lift.
Tell us whether the car starts, rolls, steers, and brakes, so the right truck arrives. Our guide on shipping a non-running or salvage car covers winch versus forklift. Vague disclosure leads to a wrong quote and a failed load.
IAA offers its own delivery service, IAA Transport, which you can add at checkout. It is convenient, but it is often priced above an independent carrier, and you lose a direct person to call.
We tell buyers to compare both quotes. The IAA option can win on a short, simple lane, but an outside carrier usually beats it on price. Verify any carrier with our FMCSA lookup before booking.
If you buy from both houses, the playbook barely changes. Copart gives a slightly longer window and uses a dashboard gate pass; IAA is stricter on the release match and shorter on time.
Read our companion guide on shipping a car from Copart for that side. Knowing how to ship a car from IAA comes down to the same two habits: book fast and get the paperwork exact. Price your route on the calculator to start.
Skip the averages. Our calculator pulls live diesel prices and real Google Maps distance for an actual price range on your exact route and vehicle — no spam, no obligation.
Calculate My Costor talk to a dispatcher: 1-888-706-8784
IAA typically gives about two free business days after the sale, then charges a daily storage fee, often around 25 dollars a day. Weekends count against that window. We tell buyers to book transport the same day they win, because two days disappears fast once a weekend lands in the middle.
It is the document that authorizes a specific carrier to remove your car. IAA is strict that the carrier details on the release match the driver exactly. Even a small mismatch can get a pickup denied at the gate. We confirm the release matches our assigned driver before dispatch.
No. IAA only releases to carriers set up in their system who follow the check-in rules. The release also has to match that carrier. We use drivers who already work IAA yards, so the paperwork lines up and the pickup is not turned away. An unapproved carrier is a wasted trip.
The rules are similar, with two differences. IAA gives a slightly shorter free window — about two business days versus Copart's three — and IAA is stricter that the release matches the carrier. Otherwise, the storage clock and non-running loading work the same. The same speed-and-paperwork discipline applies.
Most IAA cars are insurance total-losses, so non-running is common. A car that rolls needs a winch; one that cannot roll needs a forklift and a flatbed. The yard usually loads it with their forklift. Disclose whether the car rolls, steers, and brakes so we send the right truck.
Yes, IAA Transport is their in-house delivery option, and you can add it at checkout. It is convenient but often priced above an independent carrier. We tell buyers to compare the IAA quote against an outside carrier. The independent route usually wins on price and gives you a direct contact.
It depends on the state and the lot. Some IAA vehicles are public; others require a dealer or broker license. The transport side does not change with your buyer status. We tell buyers to confirm the purchase is cleared and released, then we handle the yard pickup.
Cleared payment, the vehicle release matching the carrier, and the buyer or stock number. The car will not leave without them. A mismatched release is the top reason an IAA pickup fails. We verify every detail lines up before the driver heads to the yard.
Almost always a paperwork mismatch. The release named a different carrier, payment had not fully cleared, or the buyer number was off. IAA is strict, so small errors stop the load. We avoid this by confirming the release matches our driver before dispatch, not at the gate.
Yes, for most IAA wins. A salvage car is already weather-worn, so open transport is the value choice and plenty safe. We reserve enclosed for a high-value or finished car. Paying the enclosed premium on a rough total-loss rarely makes sense.
Tell us where you're shipping — we'll handle the rest. No obligation, no hidden fees.