In this article
What is Copart?
Copart is one of the largest online vehicle auctions in the world. Insurers, leasing companies and dealers sell cars and motorcycles there, often after damage or theft, but also ordinary trade-ins. In America, thousands of vehicles go under the hammer every day, including many Harley-Davidsons. Copart also has branches in Europe, for example in Germany and the UK, but the choice of Harleys is far bigger in the USA.
Can you buy a Copart Harley from Europe?
You can, but it is less simple than it looks. You need a Copart membership, and in many states a private buyer without a dealer licence cannot bid on every vehicle. You are then limited to lots marked No License Required, or you have to buy through a broker. On top of that, you arrange transport from the yard to the port, the export papers and the shipping yourself.
Harley’s Enzo has access to the big American auctions: Copart, IAAI and Manheim. We bid for you, so you do not need your own account or a broker. Manheim is the largest auction for dealers, with mostly undamaged vehicles such as trade-ins and lease bikes. We check the bike, bid for you, collect it and ship it to Rotterdam.
Check the type of Title
The American ownership document, the Title, decides whether you can get the bike back on the road in Europe. Copart always shows the type with each lot:
- Clean Title: never declared a total loss. No problem.
- Salvage Title: the insurer declared the bike a total loss. This is the most common type at Copart; in the Netherlands it can be registered, but expect a stricter inspection and a lower value.
- Rebuilt Title: previously salvage, then repaired and approved again in America.
- Avoid: Certificate of Destruction, Non-Repairable, Parts Only or just a Bill of Sale. These are meant for parts and cause problems with export and registration.
Read all about the differences in Clean, Salvage and Rebuilt Title on a Harley.
What is light damage on a Copart Harley?
Every Copart lot has a damage description, such as front end, side or minor dents. It tells you a lot, but not everything. From experience, this is the difference:
- Usually light damage: a tip-over with scratches on the tank or saddlebags, a broken mirror, lever, indicator or silencer, a cracked windscreen or torn seat.
- Be careful: damage to the frame, forks, steering head or wheels. It can look minor in the photos, but it is expensive to repair and critical at the inspection.
- Stay away: flood damage, fire damage and bikes where the engine number or the papers do not match.
Check whether the lot has the status Run and Drive: that means Copart found that the bike starts and moves. It is no guarantee, but it is a good sign. Always check the Carfax or the history on the VIN as well, see VIN check and Carfax.
What does a Copart motorcycle cost?
The winning bid is only part of the price. Also count on:
- Copart’s buyer fee, which rises with the size of the bid.
- A broker fee, if you are not allowed to bid yourself.
- Transport from the Copart yard to the port, and storage fees if the bike is not collected in time.
- Shipping to Rotterdam, unloading and the customs declaration.
- Import VAT, plus inspection and registration in your country (in the Netherlands: the RDW inspection and BPM tax).
- The repair itself: parts and labour.
A cheap bike with light damage can be a great buy, but only if you count everything up front. Ask for an all-in calculation before anyone bids.
Import: customs, inspection and tax
Since 1 July 2026, a Harley built in the USA and shipped directly from the USA pays 0% EU import duty. This applies across the EU. Import VAT still applies: 21% in the Netherlands. Read more in import duty from the USA in 2026.
In the Netherlands the bike is then inspected by the RDW. It has to be in order by then, so you repair light damage before the inspection. For the Dutch BPM tax: on a bike older than 17 years and 10 months, the flat-rate table puts it at € 0. On a younger bike with more than normal damage, you may also set the depreciation with a valuation report, provided the valuation was done within a month before the inspection. See BPM on a motorcycle in the Netherlands.
How it works with Harley's Enzo
- You tell us which Harley you are looking for and your budget, including repairs.
- We search Copart, IAAI and Manheim and assess the photos, the damage description, the Title and the history.
- You only decide once you know the all-in cost. Then we bid for you.
- We collect the bike from the yard and ship it to Rotterdam.
- Repairs can be done at our partner workshop Thundercycle in Ochten, the Netherlands, so the bike is ready for inspection.
Prefer a damaged bike we have already bought? See the salvage motorcycles for sale now.