Types of Damage to Avoid When Purchasing a Salvage Vehicle on Copart.com

CoProxy Editors

Published in Buying on CopartFebruary 1st 20255 min read

Buying a salvage vehicle online brings with it a handful of pitfalls and costs to consider. This is especially true in 2025. The cost of parts and labor are high and repairing vehicles can quickly outpace the end value of the vehicle. That’s why salvage vehicles come at such a discount.Not all damage is created equal either. There are types of damage that look benign but are severe and some damage that looks severe but can really be fixed affordably.Don’t judge a car by its online listing photos. If you are newer to salvage vehicle shopping, look at auctions near you and allow visiting. Do this multiple times before you start bidding big on vehicles. This will help you become more familiar with the types of damage that salvage vehicles tend to have or this auction tends to see.

Buyers with Car Repair Experience

Many salvage car buyers have experience in a certain type of repair, make or model. This edge provides them opportunities to buy vehicles others have written off as too far gone but could actually be an easy fix. If you have specialized knowledge, stick to the vehicles that fit within your niche and expand your niche cautiously to avoid overpaying. For everyone else, be prepared to do a lot of research.

Copart Damage Codes

AO	All Over	BC	Biohazards/Chemical
BE	Burn - Engine	BI	Burn - Interior
BN	Burn	CC	Cash for Clunkers
DH	Damage History	FD	Frame Damage Reported
FR	Front End	HL	Hail
MC	Mechanical	MN	Minor Dents/Scratches
NW	Normal Wear	PR	Partial/Incomplete Repair
RJ	Rejected Repair	RO	Rollover
RR	Rear End	SD	Side
ST	Stripped	TOP	Top/Roof
UK	Unknown	UN	Undercarriage
VI	Missing/Altered VIN	VN	Vandalism
VP	Replaced VIN	WA	Water/Flood

Types of Salvage Vehicle Damage

Flood Damage

Flood-damaged vehicles are among the riskiest purchases in the salvage auto auction. Water can fry the electrical system, engine, and interior. All of which is extremely costly to replace or repair. Most people consider a flood car complete junk. Unless you are extremely familiar with the make and model, tread carefully.

Why Avoid It:

Electrical and Electronics Failures: Floodwater can corrode wiring, damage sensors, and compromise the vehicle’s computer systems.Hidden Issues: Even if the car starts and runs, problems such as rust and mold can appear later.Cost of Repairs: Repairing water-damaged electronics is expensive and often requires complete replacement of major components.

Signs to Watch For:

"Flood Damage" designation in the vehicle description.
Water stains, musty odors, or rust in the interior.
Mud or silt in hard-to-clean areas, like under seats or in the engine bay.

Structural Frame Damage

Structural frame damage isn’t always the easiest to see if it’s not specifically highlighted in the listing photos. Typically this happens after a bad wreck, but it doesn't require a massive amount of damage to the car body to damage the vehicle’s frame. Frame damage represents a structural and safety concern and is often never going to be as good as new. This type of damage will stick with the vehicle forever.

Why Avoid It:

Safety Concerns: A compromised frame reduces the vehicle’s ability to withstand future impacts, putting passengers at risk.Expensive Repairs: Frame straightening and welding require specialized equipment and expertise, making it costly.Resale Challenges: Even if repaired, a history of frame damage significantly reduces the vehicle’s market value.

Signs to Watch For:

"Frame Damage" or "Structural Damage" mentioned in the listing.
Misaligned body panels or doors that don’t close properly.
Uneven tire wear, indicating alignment issues.

Engine Damage

Engine damage is a difficult issue to diagnose. It may sound like something simple or small but often this could just be the first of many issues that you haven’t identified yet or a sign that the vehicle overall hasn’t been taken care of. These can be popular vehicles to pick up at a salvage auction if the buyer is very knowledgeable about the model and engine. Just remember the price of parts can add up fast and should be considered in the bidding process.

Why Avoid It:

High Costs: Engine repairs or replacements can easily exceed the value of the car.Complex Repairs: Diagnosing and fixing engine issues often requires advanced expertise and tools.Limited Warranty: Salvage vehicles rarely come with any warranty on parts, leaving you fully liable for repair costs.

Signs to Watch For:

"Engine Damage" explicitly stated in the description.
Visible oil leaks, broken components, or missing engine parts in the listing photos.
"Non-Running" or "Mechanical Damage" designations.

Extensive Fire Damage

A little, localized fire damage can be bad enough but extensive fire damage can have lasting impacts that you can’t repair. Damage to electrical components can be hard to diagnose and damage to structural parts can be hard to identify are even part of the issue. Not to mention everything else that can be damaged in a fire, interior, body, seals, etc. It all adds up fast and a lot of these parts will have to be replaced.

Why Avoid It:

Compromised Integrity: Fire weakens metal components, including the frame, making the vehicle unsafe.Total System Failure: Heat damages wiring, plastics, and rubber components throughout the car.Health Risks: Residual smoke and soot can be toxic and difficult to remove.

Signs to Watch For:

"Burn" or "Fire Damage" listed in the vehicle description.
Charred or melted components in photos.
Missing or heavily damaged interiors.

Transmission Issues

Transmissions are costly and time consuming to install if you don’t have a lot of experience performing the work. This type of damage can derail a project vehicle for months while you wait for the right parts to come in.

Why Avoid It:

High Costs: Rebuilding or replacing a transmission is one of the most expensive repairs.Unpredictability: Even minor transmission damage can lead to cascading failures if not addressed correctly.Repair Challenges: Salvage vehicles with transmission issues may require hard-to-find or expensive replacement parts.

Signs to Watch For:

"Transmission Damage" explicitly noted.
Non-drivable or "Runs but Does Not Move" vehicles.
Visible transmission fluid leaks or broken components in photos.

Airbag Deployment

While not necessarily a dealbreaker, airbag deployment can indicate extensive collision damage that may be expensive to repair. Depending on the situation the airbags can be purposely deployed to avoid safety concerns with a damaged vehicle. Airbags can be an easy fix and it’s a common issue with wrecked salvage vehicles but you won’t know it until you’re able to review the vehicle conditions.

Why Avoid It:

Costly Repairs: Replacing airbags involves resetting the vehicle’s electronic systems and can cost thousands of dollars.Hidden Damage: Deployed airbags often indicate a severe crash, which may have caused additional hidden damage to the structure or components.Safety Concerns: If airbags are improperly repaired, they may not deploy in future accidents.

Signs to Watch For:

"Airbag Deployed" or "Secondary Damage - Interior" in the listing.
Missing or exposed airbags in photos.
Crumpled or damaged areas near the vehicle’s front or sides.

Severe Cosmetic Damage

Some cosmetic damage is to be expected with salvage vehicles. Most vehicles will have been in a wreck so body panels will be dented, glass shattered, lights broken, or completely missing. Typically cosmetic damage is the easiest to deal with, however, some parts can be difficult or impossible to find while other parts will simply be expensive once it all adds up. Cosmetic damage can often be repaired, parts are easy to price out, and a lot can be learned simply by photos so do your research and price out the repair.

Why Avoid It:

Potential Costs: Cosmetic can be expensive if it covers a large portion of the vehicle. Vehicle panels and parts add up.Difficult Parts: Some parts for older vehicles can be difficult to find which increases cost but can also simply be impossible to find.

Signs to Watch For:

Photos with good lighting and good angles to view damage
Deep dents or rust

Non-Repairable Title

Vehicles with a "Non-Repairable" or "Certificate of Destruction" title are designated as unfit for repair and cannot be legally registered for road use in most states. If the vehicle has this designation, there won’t be much you can do with it besides chop it up and part it out.

Why Avoid It:

Parting It Out: These vehicles are only suitable for parts, limiting their value unless you’re specifically buying for this purpose. (parting out vehicles can be lucrative)Not Road Legal: You cannot rebuild or drive these vehicles, even if you attempt to repair them.

Signs to Watch For:

"Non-Repairable" or "Certificate of Destruction" in the title description.
Clearly stated in the vehicle listing.