IAAI Fees in 2026: Full Breakdown of Buyer, Storage and Post-Sale Costs

Under the IAAI fees 2026 schedule, a buyer pays the winning bid plus a tiered buyer fee, an internet bid fee and fixed charges for service, title handling and EH&S. On a $5,000 lot this adds roughly $1,000 before transport.

Late payment, storage and renege penalties come on top and depend on how fast the buyer pays and picks up. This guide breaks down every line of the invoice, shows a full cost example and compares the numbers with Copart.

Why IAAI Fees Matter Before You Bid

The full invoice, not the hammer price, decides your real maximum bid. A dealer who bids $5,000 on a 2019 Honda Accord and forgets about charges will pay about 20% more than planned. For a car bought for resale or for a client abroad, that gap often equals the whole margin.

The buyer fee is the largest line, but it is not the only one. Bid fees and fixed charges add another 250–300 per lot. Post-sale penalties can double that if payment or pickup slips by a few days, and IAAI storage fees start early at many branches.

That is why experienced buyers calculate the full cost before placing a bid. An online calculator or a simple spreadsheet works, as long as it includes every line described below.

The stakes are higher for companies that buy for clients. A broker quotes a final price to the client before the auction. If the quote misses $300 in fees, the company either pays the difference itself or loses trust. Logistics companies face the same risk when a client’s car sits at the branch and storage keeps growing.

IAAI Buyer Fees: Licensed, Non-Licensed and High-Volume Schedules

IAAI publishes separate buyer fee schedules for licensed buyers, non-licensed buyers, heavy vehicles and recreational vehicles. The fee depends on three factors: the final sale price, the license type and the volume the account buys over 12 months.

The buyer fee is a flat amount for each price bracket up to $14,999.99. From $15,000, it becomes a percentage of the sale price. Heavy vehicles and Rec Rides have their own, steeper tables, so check the lot category before bidding.

Standard Volume vs High-Volume Buyer Fees

High-volume licensed buyers pay noticeably lower IAAI buyer fees than standard accounts. To qualify, a business usually needs a dealer license, 25 or more units and at least $75,000 in purchases over the last 12 months, with fewer than five bidder accounts.
 

The high-volume figures are approximate because IAAI updates that schedule more often and shows it only to qualified accounts. The difference reaches 100–150 per car, so a dealer buying 30 cars a month saves several thousand dollars.

Non-Licensed Buyer Fees and Buying Through a Broker

A non-licensed buyer pays the standard public table on every lot, regardless of volume. On a $5,000 sale that means $775, and on a $20,000 SUV it means $1,500. Some states also restrict which titles a non-licensed buyer can win, so certain lots show a “license required” note.

To reach those lots, many importers bid through a licensed broker. The broker pays IAAI under its own schedule and adds a commission. Before choosing this route, compare broker fees on Copart and IAAI with the savings from a lower buyer fee.

IAAI Internet Bid Fee and Proxy Bid Fee

The IAAI internet bid fee is charged when you win a vehicle online. It has two columns: a lower proxy bid fee for pre-bids and a higher fee for live online bids. A buyer who wins in person at the branch kiosk pays no bidding fee.
 

A proxy bid saves 10–20 per lot compared with live bidding. It also stops emotional overbidding in the last seconds. Each bidding fee is a flat amount per bracket. On a $700 parts car, $65 adds over 9%, while on an $8,000 SUV, $160 adds only 2%.

Fixed IAAI Fees on Every Purchase

These charges apply to every lot, whatever the price. They cover handling, paperwork and site costs, and together they add about 125–135 per vehicle plus the EH&S line.

Service Fee, Title-Handling Fee and Premium Imagery Set Fee

The service fee pays for pulling the vehicle out and loading it at the yard. Since October 1, 2026, it is $105 per unit on the standard schedules. Older calculators and some branch pages still show $79, so update your spreadsheets.
 

Three fixed charges appear on most invoices:
 

• Service fee of $105 for pull-out and loading at the branch.
   
• Title-handling fee of $20 for processing and mailing the title.
   
• Premium Imagery Set fee of $10 on lots with extended photos.
   

The premium imagery charge applies only when the listing includes the extra photo set. The title-handling fee applies to every purchase, including lots sold with a bill of sale.

EH&S and Fuel Surcharge: New from October 1, 2026

The EH&S and Fuel Surcharge is the newest line in the IAAI fees 2026 schedule. EH&S stands for environment, health and safety. The charge covers energy, fuel, utility and waste-handling costs at IAAI branches.

Earlier schedules showed a flat environmental fee of 10–15 instead. The public schedule does not show one fixed amount for the new surcharge. Treat it as a variable line and check it on your first invoices after October 1.

IAAI Post-Sale Costs: Payment Deadline, Storage and Penalties

Post-sale costs appear only when payment or pickup is late. Most branches give domestic buyers two business days to pay, including the award day. Foreign buyers often get four days, and the cut-off is 5:00 PM branch local time.

Late Payment Fee: $50 or 2% of the Sale Price

The IAAI late payment fee equals 2% of the sale price but never less than $50. Up to a $2,500 sale it stays at $50. A $6,000 lot paid late costs an extra $120, and a $12,000 lot costs $240.

A late wire is the usual cause. Send payment on the award day if your bank needs a full business day to process it. International transfers can take longer, so foreign buyers often keep a deposit or prepay through a partner in the US.

Storage Fees by Branch and Pickup Deadlines

Each branch sets its own free storage period and daily rate. Many locations allow three or four free days, including the award day. After that, IAAI storage fees are often $50 per vehicle per day.

The storage clock starts on the award day, not on the payment day. A car paid on time but picked up a week later can still collect 150–250 in storage. Pickup usually runs Monday to Friday, about 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM local time.

Book the carrier on the day you win the lot, not after payment clears. Branch loaders do not lift vehicles over 11,000 lbs, so heavy units need a truck with its own equipment. A dry run caused by a wrong address or missing PIN only adds more days of storage.

Renege Fee and Cancellation Fee

A renege fee applies when the buyer does not pay at all. If a lot stays unpaid for seven calendar days, IAAI charges the greater of $1,000 or 15% of the sale price. Repeated non-payment can lead to a blocked account.

Unlike the IAAI late payment fee, the renege fee hits even if the bid was a mistake. A cancellation at the buyer’s request is also possible in rare cases. The branch decides, and fees already charged are usually not refunded.

Example: Total Cost of a $5,000 IAAI Lot

This example shows a 2018 Toyota RAV4 XLE won for $5,000 with a live online bid by a non-licensed buyer. The numbers follow the standard public schedule, with an on-time scenario and a late one.
 

Here is how to build the total step by step:
 

1. Start with the winning bid of $5,000.
 

2. Add the buyer fee for the 5,000–5,499.99 bracket: $775.
 

3. Add the live internet bid fee for 4,000–5,999.99: $125.
 

4. Add the service fee, title-handling fee and premium imagery: $135.
 

5. Check the EH&S and Fuel Surcharge line on the invoice.
 

The same steps work for any lot. The table below applies them to the RAV4 and adds what happens if payment and pickup slip by a few days:
 

On time, the fees add $1,035, or about 21% of the bid. A short delay pushes that to $1,285. Transport from the branch, ocean freight and customs come next, so an IAAI fee calculator alone does not show the final landed price.

IAAI vs Copart Fees: Quick Comparison

IAAI and Copart use a similar fee logic: a tiered buyer fee, a bidding fee and fixed charges. The main differences are in fixed handling charges and penalties for non-payment.
 

For cheap lots, the two auctions cost almost the same, and the choice depends on the car and the yard location. For expensive lots, IAAI’s percentage-based late fee and higher renege minimum matter more than the buyer fee. For the full Copart side of the table, see our breakdown of Copart fees in 2026 with examples by price bracket.

How AuctionGate Shows the Final IAAI Price and Delivery on the Lot Page

AuctionGate shows the total cost of a car directly on the IAAI lot page, before the bid. The platform is built for dealers, brokers and logistics companies that buy for clients and need a fast, accurate quote.

With the AuctionGate Chrome extension installed, a panel appears next to the listing. It shows the auction fees, delivery and customs according to the client’s personal price list. The manager or the client sees one final figure in about 30 seconds.

The extension and the IAAI fee calculator inside it are free. Companies that connect their auction accounts also get bid limits for each user, automatic invoices and a full log of bids. If you buy one car a year, a spreadsheet is enough. For a team buying weekly, the saved time and avoided penalties pay off quickly.

Conclusion

The real price of an IAAI car is the bid plus four layers: buyer fee, bidding fee, fixed charges and possible penalties. On a $5,000 lot the first three add about $1,000. Late payment or slow pickup adds more.

Check your license type and volume tier, prefer proxy bids, and pay on the award day. Plan pickup within the free storage window and watch the new EH&S and Fuel Surcharge on recent invoices. With these habits, the final price on the invoice will match the one in your calculation.

FAQ:

Q1: How much does IAAI charge in fees for a $5,000 vehicle?

A: Approximately $1,035 in fees on top of the winning bid for an unlicensed buyer who wins a vehicle through live online bidding. This includes a $775 buyer fee, a $125 online bidding fee, and $135 in service, title, and enhanced photo fees. EH&S and Fuel Surcharge fees, late payment penalties, and storage charges are billed separately.

Q2: Can you avoid the online bidding fee at IAAI?

A: Yes, but only by winning the vehicle in person through an on-site kiosk. All online purchases are subject to this fee. However, online buyers can save $10–$20 per lot by placing a proxy bid instead of bidding in real time. The pre-bid fee is listed in a lower-priced column in the fee schedule.

Q3: How many days of free storage does IAAI offer?

A: Usually three to four days, including the day of the auction win. Each branch sets its own storage period, so check the branch details before arranging vehicle pickup. After the free storage period expires, fees at many IAAI locations can reach approximately $50 per vehicle per day. Storage charges continue to accrue even if payment has not yet been completed.

Q4: Is IAAI cheaper than Copart?

A: For most vehicles, the difference is relatively small. Both auctions use similar fee structures for buyer fees and bidding fees. IAAI has a higher service fee of $105, while Copart's gate fee ranges from $79 to $95. IAAI also applies stricter penalties: a 2% late payment fee on higher-value vehicles and a minimum $1,000 fee for failing to complete the purchase.

Q5: Do you need a dealer license to buy vehicles at IAAI?

A: No. Buyers without a dealer license can bid on most IAAI vehicles. However, in some states, salvage and certain other title types are restricted to licensed buyers, and these restrictions are indicated in the vehicle listing. Buyers without a license typically use a licensed broker to purchase such vehicles, who charges an additional fee.