# 🚗 Car Auction Lot Finder — Live Copart Salvage & Used Lots (`inexhaustible_glass/car-auction-lot-finder`) Actor

Search live Copart auction lots by make/model, VIN, or lot number — full vehicle specs, odometer, title & damage status, current bid, estimated value, location, auction date, and a free best-effort VIN decode. No login, no proxy needed. Filter by year, odometer, US state, or distance from a ZIP.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/inexhaustible_glass/car-auction-lot-finder.md
- **Developed by:** [Hitman studio](https://apify.com/inexhaustible_glass) (community)
- **Stats:** 1 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $1.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## 🚗 Car Auction Lot Finder — Live Copart Salvage & Used Lots

Live auction-lot data from Copart — full vehicle specs, odometer, title &
damage status, current bid, estimated value, yard location, auction date —
by make/model, VIN, or lot number. No login, no proxy needed (as tested).
Optional filters for year, odometer, US state, or distance from a ZIP, plus
a free, best-effort VIN decode.

> Keywords: copart scraper, salvage car auction data, vehicle auction api,
> car auction lot finder, VIN decode, salvage title lookup, used car
> auction data, copart api.

### 🌟 Why this one

There are several Copart scrapers on Apify already. This one is built from
a direct, confirmed-working read of Copart's own search API, with real
differences:

- **No proxy needed** — confirmed by direct testing: a plain outbound
  request, with just the anonymous session Copart's own homepage hands out,
  reaches the real search API successfully. Some competing Copart actors
  default to a residential proxy; this one doesn't need it, which keeps the
  cost down.
- **robots.txt-respecting by design** — Copart's `robots.txt` disallows the
  `/public/data/...` path tree (which is where the detailed per-lot image
  gallery endpoint lives) but explicitly does **not** disallow the
  `/public/lots/...` search endpoint this Actor uses. It only calls the
  allowed path.
- **Free VIN confirmation** — Copart masks part of every VIN on its public
  search results, but the unmasked prefix is still enough for a free NHTSA
  vPIC decode to confirm make/model/year/body class on most lots — a bonus
  cross-check this Actor runs automatically (optional, free, no key).
- **Real client-side filters, not a guess at Copart's internal filter
  codes**: year range, max odometer, US state, and distance-from-ZIP
  (computed from each lot's own coordinates) — reliable because they're
  applied to real returned data, not a fragile reverse-engineered filter
  parameter.
- **Honest about rate limits**: Copart can rate-limit (`HTTP 429`) or serve
  a bot-check page under heavy burst traffic. The Actor backs off and
  retries automatically, and a sustained failure comes back as one clear
  error row — never a silently empty result.

### ⚙️ How it works

1. Gets an anonymous session from Copart's own homepage (the same session
   any visitor's browser gets — no login).
2. Calls Copart's own public search API (the same one copart.com's search
   page calls) with your search term.
3. If a ZIP code is set, resolves it to coordinates via a free, no-key
   lookup, then computes real distance to every lot using the lot's own
   coordinates — and sorts nearest-first.
4. Applies your year / odometer / state filters to the real data returned.
5. If VIN decode is on, batches every lot's VIN prefix through the free
   NHTSA vPIC database and attaches the confirmed make/model/year/body class.

### 🚀 Quick start

```json
{ "searches": ["honda civic"], "maxResultsPerSearch": 20 }
```

Or via the API, once published:

```bash
curl "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/car-auction-lot-finder/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=<YOUR_TOKEN>" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"searches": ["ford f150"], "yearMin": 2018, "maxOdometer": 100000}'
```

### 📥 Input

| Field | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `searches` | array (required) | — | Make+model, lot number, or VIN/fragment — one per line |
| `maxResultsPerSearch` | integer | `20` | Max lots fetched per search, before filters (1–500) |
| `yearMin` / `yearMax` | integer | — | Keep only lots in this model-year range |
| `maxOdometer` | integer | — | Keep only lots at or below this odometer reading |
| `states` | array | — | Keep only lots in these 2-letter US state codes |
| `zipCode` | string | — | Sort nearest-first and filter to `radiusMiles` of this ZIP |
| `radiusMiles` | integer | `100` | Only used when `zipCode` is set |
| `decodeVin` | boolean | `true` | Free best-effort NHTSA VIN confirmation |

> ⚠️ **Filters apply after fetching**: if you set a tight filter (e.g.
> `yearMin: 2022` + a small state list), raise `maxResultsPerSearch` so
> there's enough raw data to filter from — a filter can't un-skip lots that
> were never fetched because the raw page was too small.

### 📤 Output

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| `lot_number`, `vin_masked`, `lot_url` | Identity + direct link to the lot on copart.com |
| `year`, `make`, `model`, `trim_or_series` | Vehicle identity |
| `odometer`, `odometer_status` | Mileage + whether it's reported as actual/exempt/etc. |
| `engine`, `cylinders`, `transmission`, `drive_type`, `fuel_type` | Mechanical specs |
| `color`, `body_style`, `condition`, `has_keys` | Condition specs |
| `primary_damage`, `title_description`, `title_group` | Damage + title status |
| `current_bid`, `estimated_value`, `sale_status` | Auction status |
| `city`, `state`, `zip`, `latitude`, `longitude`, `distance_miles` | Yard location (+ distance, when `zipCode` is set) |
| `auction_date`, `auction_time`, `timezone` | When it's up for sale |
| `seller`, `has_carfax`, `thumbnail_url` | Extras |
| `decoded_make`, `decoded_model`, `decoded_year`, `decoded_body_class` | Free NHTSA VIN confirmation (when `decodeVin` is on) |
| `additional_raw_fields` | Every other raw field Copart returns that isn't mapped above — nothing is thrown away |

```json
{
  "record_type": "auction_lot",
  "lot_number": 49566366,
  "year": 2017,
  "make": "HONDA",
  "model": "CIVIC",
  "odometer": 123018,
  "primary_damage": "FRONT END",
  "title_description": "CERTIFICATE OF TITLE",
  "current_bid": 150.0,
  "city": "Indianapolis",
  "state": "IN",
  "distance_miles": 41.5,
  "decoded_make": "HONDA",
  "decoded_model": "Civic",
  "decoded_year": "2017",
  "lot_url": "https://www.copart.com/lot/49566366/clean-title-2017-honda-civic-in-indianapolis"
}
```

A search that fails outright produces one `record_type: "error"` row with a
real error message — never a silent empty result.

### 🎯 Use cases

- **Dealer / rebuilder sourcing** — find salvage lots by make/model/year/mileage near you
- **Price research** — track current bids and estimated values across a model
- **Parts sourcing** — locate specific damaged vehicles for parts-out
- **Insurance / appraisal research** — title and damage status at scale
- **Market monitoring** — run on a schedule to catch new listings matching your criteria

### 🔌 Integration examples

**Python (apify-client):**

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_TOKEN>")
run = client.actor("car-auction-lot-finder").call(
    run_input={"searches": ["honda civic"], "zipCode": "90001", "radiusMiles": 200}
)
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item["year"], item["make"], item["model"], item["current_bid"])
```

**JavaScript (apify-client):**

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';
const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '<YOUR_TOKEN>' });
const run = await client.actor('car-auction-lot-finder').call({
    searches: ['ford f150'], yearMin: 2018, maxOdometer: 100000,
});
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
```

### 📊 Performance & reliability

| Metric | Value (measured, not estimated) |
|---|---|
| Cost per run (1 search, 8 lots, VIN decode on) | ~$0.0014 (real cloud run, tracked via Apify REST API) |
| Proxy required | No — confirmed by direct testing, plain outbound request |
| Login / API key required | No |
| Data source | Copart's own public search API (the one copart.com's search page calls) |
| robots.txt compliance | Only calls the explicitly-allowed `/public/lots/...` path, never the disallowed `/public/data/...` tree |
| VIN decode | Free NHTSA vPIC database, best-effort (VINs are partially masked by Copart) |
| Rate-limit handling | Automatic backoff + retry on `HTTP 429`; a sustained block surfaces as one clear error row |

### ❓ FAQ

**Does this need a Copart login or API key?**
No — it calls the same public endpoint Copart's own search page calls,
anonymously.

**Is this affiliated with Copart?**
No. It's an independent tool reading the same public data Copart's own
website serves to any visitor — not an official Copart product.

**Why is the VIN only partially shown?**
Copart itself masks the last several characters of the VIN on public
search results (a Copart policy, not something this Actor can change).
The unmasked prefix is enough for a useful year/make/model/body-class
confirmation via NHTSA, just not a full, authoritative decode.

**Can I place bids with this?**
No. This Actor only reads public listing data — it doesn't bid, log in, or
interact with your Copart account in any way.

**What happens if Copart rate-limits or bot-checks the run?**
The Actor backs off and retries automatically. If you're running many
searches, keep `maxResultsPerSearch` reasonable and avoid very high
concurrency — that's the sweet spot for staying under the radar in normal use.

**Found a bug or a search that fails unexpectedly?**
A failed row always includes a real `error` message — worth reporting
through the Actor's Issues tab if it doesn't match a known limitation above.

### ⚖️ Notes

Reads only Copart's own public, already-listed auction data — no login, no
bidding, no private account data.

# Actor input Schema

## `searches` (type: `array`):

One per line: make + model ("honda civic"), a lot number, or a VIN / VIN fragment.

## `maxResultsPerSearch` (type: `integer`):

How many lots to return per search term (1–500).

## `yearMin` (type: `integer`):

Only keep lots from this model year or newer. Leave empty for no limit.

## `yearMax` (type: `integer`):

Only keep lots from this model year or older. Leave empty for no limit.

## `maxOdometer` (type: `integer`):

Only keep lots with an odometer reading at or below this. Leave empty for no limit.

## `states` (type: `array`):

Only keep lots in these 2-letter US state codes (e.g. CA, TX, FL). Leave empty for all states.

## `zipCode` (type: `string`):

If set, results are sorted nearest-first to this ZIP and limited to the radius below.

## `radiusMiles` (type: `integer`):

Only used when a ZIP code is set above.

## `decodeVin` (type: `boolean`):

Best-effort year/make/model/body-class confirmation via the free NHTSA vPIC database. Lot VINs are partially masked by Copart, so this is a confirmation, not a full authoritative decode.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "searches": [
    "honda civic",
    "ford f150",
    "toyota tacoma"
  ],
  "maxResultsPerSearch": 20,
  "radiusMiles": 100,
  "decodeVin": true
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `lots` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "searches": [
        "civic"
    ],
    "maxResultsPerSearch": 20,
    "radiusMiles": 100,
    "decodeVin": true
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("inexhaustible_glass/car-auction-lot-finder").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "searches": ["civic"],
    "maxResultsPerSearch": 20,
    "radiusMiles": 100,
    "decodeVin": True,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("inexhaustible_glass/car-auction-lot-finder").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "searches": [
    "civic"
  ],
  "maxResultsPerSearch": 20,
  "radiusMiles": 100,
  "decodeVin": true
}' |
apify call inexhaustible_glass/car-auction-lot-finder --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,inexhaustible_glass/car-auction-lot-finder"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/n3XzoEY5sNTwXnzJO/builds/acGAGuWv16zhkGxAY/openapi.json