IAAI Car Total Cost in Texas (2026)

IAAI in Texas: four hammer prices

Texas tax is applied to the hammer price only. No storage days are assumed.

What the IAAI side of a Texas bill is made of

IAAI's side of the Texas bill is a tiered buyer fee, an internet bid fee, a $105 service fee (Copart's equivalent is a gate fee), a $15 environmental fee and a $20 title fee: $884 at a $7,500 hammer.

These Texas totals use IAAI's Standard (non-Public) registration schedule. IAAI has no Premier tier like Copart's; Public Auto Auction registration is the broad-access option, and some licensed dealers get discounted dealer fees. Full tier tables are in the IAAI fee calculator.

Texas tax and title on a IAAI buy

Texas charges a flat 6.25% Motor Vehicle Sales Tax (also called SPV tax) with no local additions on vehicles. Trade-in value reduces basis.

• Rate applied to a IAAI hammer: 6.25% state rate.
• No local add-on stacks on the Texas rate in our data, so the IAAI table needs no extra column.
• Texas lets a trade-in reduce the taxable amount, per our tax file.
• Texas title transfer: $33. Registration and plate fees are separate and set by your DMV.

Try other numbers in the Texas vehicle sales tax calculator.

Highest IAAI bid in Texas for a set budget

Working backwards from an all-in ceiling, using the IAAI fees and Texas tax and title above:

• $6,000 all-in: bid no more than $4,999 ($1,001 goes to IAAI fees, Texas tax and title).
• $12,000 all-in: bid no more than $10,275 ($1,725 goes to IAAI fees, Texas tax and title).
• $25,000 all-in: bid no more than $21,703 ($3,297 goes to IAAI fees, Texas tax and title).

For a bid based on what the car resells for, use the max bid calculator.

Buying IAAI cars in Texas with a dealer license

Texas dealer licenses come from Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), Motor Vehicle Division (Independent Motor Vehicle GDN, Wholesale Dealers GDN). Bond: $50,000 (Independent motor vehicle / motorcycle / mobility / wholesale GDN).

Texas issues a separate Wholesale Dealers GDN; wholesale dealers may sell only to other licensed dealers, not retail purchasers, and are not required to have a five-vehicle display area.

Dealer must maintain a private office (min. 100 sq ft, 7-ft ceiling, desk, two chairs, internet) in a permanent building not in a residence, with a permanent business sign, secure metal-plate storage, and posted business hours; retail dealers must be open at least 4 days/week for 4 consecutive hours/day.

State licensing fees in Texas: License fee per GDN category $700.

Every licensing fact with its source is on the Texas dealer license guide.

IAAI or Copart in Texas

Texas tax and title are the same at both venues, so only the fees differ. At a $4,000 hammer the Texas all-in is $4,917 on IAAI and $5,242 on Copart, a gap of $325. See the Copart total cost in Texas, or the three-hammer comparison on the Texas total cost guide.

IAAI yards near Texas metros we cover: IAAI Dallas, IAAI Houston, IAAI San Antonio.

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