IAA Towing and Pickup: How to Get Your Car Out of the Yard and Home

You won the bid. Now the car is sitting in an IAA yard, maybe a few states away, and the clock on storage has started. Here's how to get it out and home without surprises.

Velocity Logistics picks up at IAA branches every day. We're an independent, licensed motor carrier based in Indianapolis, not affiliated with IAA. This is the process we walk buyers through.

Step 1: Pay and get the release

IAA won't release a vehicle until it's paid in full. Once payment clears, your buyer account shows the paperwork the yard needs, usually a release or gate pass tied to the stock number.

Keep these handy for your hauler:

• Stock number and year, make and model
• Branch name and address (IAA has branches all over the country, so the city alone isn't enough)
• Release or gate pass, once it's issued
• Your delivery address and a phone number for whoever will receive the car

Step 2: Book transport the same day

IAA charges daily storage once a free period ends, and that period varies by branch and sale. Check the terms on your buyer account. The safest habit is to book transport the day you pay, so dispatch has the widest choice of pickup days.

If you're comparing quotes, ask each hauler for a pickup window, not just a price. A cheap quote that sits for a week can cost you more in storage.

Step 3: Tell us what the car can and can't do

Insurance auction cars often come from accidents, floods or theft recoveries. That changes what the driver needs at the yard. When you book, tell us:

• Does it start? A non-runner loads differently than a car that drives on.
• Does it roll and steer? Locked wheels or a broken suspension change the plan.
• Are there keys? Many IAA cars have none.
• Anything hanging off? Loose bumpers or panels need to be secured before the trip.

Being upfront here is the difference between a smooth pickup and a driver turned away at the gate.

Step 4: Pickup at the yard

IAA yards release cars during set hours, so pickup is scheduled around them. The driver checks in with the release, the yard brings the car out, and the driver loads it.

Before it's strapped down, the driver photographs every panel on a digital bill of lading. For a car you bought from listing photos, those pickup photos are often your first real look at it.

Step 5: Delivery to your door

We deliver to your driveway, shop, body shop or lot anywhere in the lower 48, or the nearest safe spot a carrier can reach, which the driver confirms by phone. At delivery, compare the car against the pickup photos before you sign. If something's different, note it on the bill of lading right then.

We pick up at IAA every day, often on our own trucks. When our schedule can't cover a branch or a date, a vetted partner carrier through our licensed broker partner hauls it, and we tell you before pickup.

Common IAA pickup questions

Can I send my own tow truck? Yes, IAA lets buyers use the hauler of their choice. Many buyers book a car carrier instead because one truck can bring the car hundreds of miles door to door.

What about the title? The title is between you and IAA. If the yard hands the driver paperwork with the car, it comes to you at delivery.

Bought more than one car? Tell us. Our semis carry 7 to 9 vehicles, so several units from the same sale can often move together.

The bottom line

Pay, get the release, and book transport the same day. Tell your hauler the honest condition of the car. Do that, and your IAA purchase shows up at your door instead of racking up storage. Learn more about our IAA pickups and auction car transport, or request a quote with your stock number. Bought on Copart instead? See our Copart pickup guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can you pick up my car from IAA?

Yes. Velocity Logistics picks up at IAA branches every day. Send us the stock number, the branch address and the release once the car is paid for, and dispatch schedules the pickup with the yard. We are an independent carrier, not affiliated with IAA.

Do I need to be at the IAA yard for pickup?

No. The yard releases the car to the driver once it's paid and the paperwork is in order. Someone needs to be at delivery to inspect the car and sign the bill of lading, or you can name someone to receive it.

Can you haul a non-running or salvage car from IAA?

Yes. Running, non-running and salvage vehicles are all fine. Tell us when you book if the car doesn't start, won't roll, or has no keys, so the driver arrives with the right equipment.

How fast can you pick up after I win?

It depends on the branch and the route, but booking the day you pay gives you the most pickup dates. IAA starts charging storage after a free period that varies by branch, so the sooner the better.

How much does IAA towing cost?

It depends on the distance, the vehicle, whether it runs, and the week. Request a quote with the branch address and your delivery address and you'll get a written, all-in price, usually within minutes during business hours.