On the subject of body shops, what are the cars that are in most demand for parts?
Most dismantlers [those who buy the cars that Copart sells] are pretty specialized. You might have one that specializes in Toyota. Or you might have another that specializes in Peugot. So it really depends on where you are. In Mill Valley, Calif. [in Marin County], people want BMW and Mercedes parts. In Bakersfield, Calif., they want parts from Pontiacs and cars like that. In Oklahoma, they want pickups. In Florida, they want convertibles. Q: And what kind of cars should you drive if you don’t want your wheels to end up at a body shop in the first place? A: That’s tough because most cars today are made to fold in an accident to protect the occupant. The cars are supposed to absorb the impact, so they usually are totaled. You always see these reports on a car that was wrecked after hitting something going five miles an hour. But they never say they’re designed to do that to protect the person inside. That being said, SUVs are the best vehicles to be in. But even they are designed to fol
