Copart Basic vs Premier membership: which do you need?
Copart UK offers Basic and Premier membership. The differences in bid limits, deposits and cost, and which suits a beginner.
BUYING · 3 min read
Basic membership
Basic membership is free to register. It lets you bid up to a capped limit, commonly around £1,500 of hammer price, once you have lodged a deposit. For a beginner buying cheap first cars, Basic is usually all you need to get started.
Premier membership
Premier is a paid annual membership, around £260 a year at the time of writing. It removes the bid cap so you can chase higher-value lots, and it comes with a larger deposit requirement. It suits buyers who are regularly bidding above the Basic limit.
The deposit
Both tiers require a refundable deposit before you can bid, typically around 10 percent of your intended maximum spend with a minimum floor. Lodge it a day or two before the sale, because it can take time to clear.
Which should a beginner pick?
Start on Basic. Prove the model works on a few sub-£1,500 cars before paying for Premier. Once you are consistently bidding above the cap and the £260 is easily covered by your margins, upgrade. Do not pay for Premier before you have made money.
No trade licence needed
Unlike some US states, Copart UK does not require a trade licence to buy. Anyone can register, which is part of why UK salvage flipping is so accessible.