Connecticut Regulations for Non-Dealer Buyers on Copart Auctions

CarProxy Editors

Published in Buying on CopartJanuary 26th 20265 min read

Connecticut has strict requirements about who can buy, how titles are transferred, and what must happen before a salvaged vehicle can be registered for road use. Non-dealer buyers should know these details before bidding or purchasing vehicles through Copart.

You Must Use a Broker to Bid on Most Vehicles

In Connecticut, individuals who do not have a dealer or business license generally cannot bid directly on clean title or salvage title vehicles in Copart. Private buyers need a broker like CarProxy to place bids and complete purchases on their behalf.

Connecticut Title Branding Rules

Salvage Titles

Salvage title vehicles for sale on Copart.com require a licensed broker to facilitate the purchase of vehicles in Connecticut. This is a state regulation not a choice by Copart or brokers. You can create an account on Copart but once you attempt to bid on a vehicle in a restricted state, like Connecticut, you’ll be required to choose a broker and create an account on their site as well. For CarProxy bidders, you’ll only be charged when you purchase a vehicle. The deposit is required, this is a Copart requirement, and is refundable.A vehicle with a salvage title cannot be driven on Connecticut public roads unless it is first repaired and passes the required inspection. If the damage is extensive enough that many major components are beyond repair, the title may instead be stamped “SALVAGE PARTS ONLY,” which means the vehicle cannot be rebuilt and registered for road use.

Rebuilt Titles

If you plan to repair a salvage vehicle and make it roadworthy, you must follow Connecticut’s title requirements for rebuilt vehicles. After completing repairs, the vehicle must pass a state salvage inspection before a new “rebuilt” title can be issued and the vehicle can be registered. This inspection ensures the vehicle is safe, meets legal requirements, and has a valid VIN.

Salvage and Parts-Only Vehicles

Vehicles with titles stamped “salvage parts only” or similar cannot be registered under any circumstances in Connecticut. These vehicles are typically only suitable for parts or export and remain unregistered even if repaired.

Clean Title Vehicles

Clean title vehicles require a broker to bid on as well. Even though clean title vehicles are legal to drive on the road, you are still required to trailer the vehicle off of the Copart yard. You also required to file all of the necessary paperwork with the state before you can legal drive the vehicle on the road.

How Titles Must Be Transferred

When a salvaged vehicle is sold at auction, the original branded title must accompany the vehicle and be signed properly to the buyer. Connecticut requires that the seller (or their agent) must transfer the branded title and ensure the purchaser’s name is listed on it. In the case of CarProxy users, the title will be transferred to CarProxy first and then on to the buyer. After purchasing through a broker, private buyers must take the correctly assigned title to the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or a tag agency to register the vehicle once all inspections and paperwork are completed.

Safety Inspection Requirements

Connecticut mandates a safety inspection for any rebuilt salvage vehicle before a rebuilt title can be issued. This is required even if the vehicle has been repaired out of state. Vehicles must be transported to a designated inspection facility (often the DMV inspection center) because operating a salvage-branded vehicle on public roads before inspection is illegal.

Understanding Copart’s "As-Is" Auction Terms

Copart vehicles are sold "as-is, where-is," and Copart does not guarantee that any vehicle can be registered in Connecticut. It’s the buyer’s responsibility to understand and comply with state title and registration laws before bidding, including what steps are needed after purchase to legalize a vehicle for use on public roads.