Buying U.S.-imported cars (from (Copart, IAA, Manheim) through Lion Auctions 

In 2024 alone, over 70,000 used vehicles were imported into Georgia, according to Geostat. A growing share of these cars arrive through Lion Auctions, which sources vehicles from trusted U.S. auction platforms like Copart, IAA, and Manheim, then brings them to Georgia for local sale or auction.

Instead of bidding directly on foreign platforms or handling complicated shipping, Georgian buyers can now choose from U.S.-imported cars already delivered or on the way to Georgia, all managed by Lion Auctions. Every listed vehicle includes verified VIN history, condition details, and transparent pricing, whether you buy it on spot in Tserovani, in a live or web auction, or while it’s still en route.

Each car is transported through Lion Trans Logistics, ensuring safe shipping, customs clearance, and verified documentation from the moment it leaves the U.S. until it arrives in Georgia.

Lion Auctions brings U.S. auction cars (from Copart, IAA, and Manheim) directly to Georgia, fully imported, inspected, and ready for purchase with complete transparency.

Why Buy U.S.-Imported Cars from Lion Auctions Instead of Rustavi Market?

For years, the Rustavi Auto Market has been the heart of Georgia’s used car trade, a convenient spot for quick purchases, but one that often lacks price transparency and verified vehicle history.

Through Lion Auctions, buyers now have access to U.S.-imported cars that come directly from major American auctions like Copart, IAA, and Manheim, already inspected, shipped, and cleared through customs. These vehicles arrive in Georgia either for on-spot purchase, for live auction in Tserovani, or as part of the 24-hour web auction.

According to market data, cars sourced from U.S. auctions and sold through Lion Auctions can be up to 30–35% more affordable than comparable models at Rustavi.

For example:

A 2019 Toyota Camry purchased and imported by Lion Auctions for around $10,300 total (including auction price, shipping, and customs) often appears at Rustavi for $14,000–$15,000, marked up by several resellers.

Beyond the savings, the transparency is unmatched, every Lion Auctions car includes a verified VIN report, authentic mileage, and accurate condition details, eliminating the guesswork common in Rustavi listings.

Buying from Lion Auctions means getting a U.S.-imported car with verified history and fair pricing, not relying on multi-step resellers or uncertain listings at Rustavi.

Overview of the Major U.S. Auction Platforms

Before cars reach Georgia, Lion Auctions sources them from the most reputable auction platforms in the United States: Copart, IAA, and Manheim.

These three marketplaces dominate the U.S. used and salvage vehicle sector, offering millions of listings daily. They cover every category, from lightly damaged cars to dealer-grade vehicles, giving Lion Auctions the flexibility to bring a wide range of options for Georgian buyers.

Here’s a quick overview of how they differ:

Copart: The Largest Global Salvage Auction

Copart is the world’s leading salvage car auction, operating in over 250 locations across the United States and exporting to more than 190 countries. It specializes in damaged, insurance-claimed, and flood-affected vehicles, making it the go-to source for affordable, repairable cars.

Many vehicles sold at Lion Auctions originally come from Copart, including popular makes like Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai, often priced 30–40% lower than equivalent listings in the Georgian resale market.

Through its U.S. partnerships, Lion Auctions carefully selects and imports vehicles with verified VIN histories, clear titles, and known repair levels, ensuring each car meets local standards before being listed in Georgia.

Lion Auctions sources a large part of its U.S. inventory from Copart, offering Georgian buyers reliable, affordable, and fully imported repairable vehicles with transparent documentation.

IAA: Ideal for Rebuildable and Lightly Damaged Cars

Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA) specializes in lightly damaged and repairable vehicles, many coming from insurance companies and rental fleets. With over 180 branches across the U.S., IAA offers a steady supply of modern cars that require only moderate repairs, ideal for restoration and resale.

Lion Auctions is an official representative of IAA in Georgia and hence enjoys numerous deals and benefits allowing them to import cars with special prices. Lion Auctions imports many of its mid-range and newer models from IAA. Each one is reviewed for title status (salvage, rebuilt, or clean) and damage history, ensuring buyers in Georgia get clear, trustworthy information before purchase.

IAA is the source for many of Lion Auctions’ modern, lightly damaged cars, offering balanced value, verified reports, and vehicles ready for sale in Georgia once imported.

Manheim: The Go-To Auction for Dealers and Fleet Vehicles

Manheim is the world’s largest dealer-to-dealer auction network, focused on fleet, lease-return, and nearly new vehicles. Unlike Copart and IAA, Manheim primarily serves licensed dealerships and handles cars with clean service histories and low mileage.

Lion Auctions partners with U.S. dealers and Manheim-certified channels to import high-quality, low-risk vehicles, including corporate fleet cars, certified used models, and late-generation sedans and EVs under five years old.

Manheim supplies Lion Auctions with top-tier, dealer-grade vehicles that meet the highest standards, ideal for Georgian buyers seeking newer, ready-to-drive imports.

How Lion Auctions Brings U.S. Cars to Georgia for Buyers

Buying cars from the U.S. is a complex process, from navigating auction listings and verifying VINs to handling transport, customs, and registration. Lion Auctions Georgia simplifies this entire chain by sourcing vehicles from Copart, IAA, and Manheim, importing them through Lion Trans Logistics, and offering them locally through web and live auctions or on-spot sales in Tserovani.

Here’s how the process works: handled entirely by Lion Auctions before any car reaches the Georgian buyer:

Sourcing from the U.S.:

Lion Auctions continuously monitors listings across Copart, IAA, and Manheim to identify vehicles that meet local demand, including popular sedans, SUVs, and EVs. Every car is selected based on condition, price advantage, and resale potential for the Georgian market.

Inspection & Verification:

Before purchase, each vehicle undergoes a VIN-based history check through U.S. databases such as Carfax or AutoCheck. Title status, accident records, and condition details are verified to ensure that only reliable, accurately documented cars are imported.

Auction Purchase & Logistics:

Once verified, vehicles are purchased by Lion Auctions’ U.S. partners and transported to a nearby warehouse for secure pickup and loading. From there, Lion Trans Logistics manages inland transportation, ocean freight, and insurance, guaranteeing traceable movement from the U.S. port to Poti, Georgia.

Customs Clearance & Delivery to Tserovani:

Upon arrival, Lion Trans handles customs clearance, taxation, and certification, ensuring all legal and safety requirements are met. Cars are then transported to the Lion Auctions terminal in Tserovani, where they are listed for sale, either in the weekly live auction, in the 24-hour online web auction, or as ready-to-buy on-spot vehicles.

Pricing Transparency Example:

A car purchased by Lion Auctions for $7,000 at a U.S. auction typically arrives in Georgia for around $10,000 total, including auction fees, inland transport, ocean shipping, and customs. The same model might list for $14,000–$15,000 in the Rustavi market, showing how Lion Auctions’ direct import process delivers up to 35% savings to local buyers.

Why it matters:

• One accountable team handles every stage, from U.S. auction sourcing to your pickup in Tserovani.
• Every car includes verified documentation and history reports.
• Buyers in Georgia gain access to authentic U.S. imports without the risks or complications of managing overseas purchases themselves.

Lion Auctions and Lion Trans form a single, transparent import pipeline: bringing verified U.S. vehicles directly to Georgia and making them available through easy, local purchasing options.

Step-by-Step Process to Buy (or Sell) Through Lion Auctions Georgia

Importing cars from the United States is complex, but Lion Auctions makes the experience simple by handling every stage in advance. All vehicles listed in Tserovani or online are already purchased, verified, and shipped from U.S. auctions such as Copart, IAA, and Manheim through Lion Trans Logistics.

What customers experience instead is a fast, transparent, and fully local process.

Step 1: Explore Available Cars and Choose How You Want to Buy

Every week, Lion Auctions updates its online catalog with cars available:

• On spot in Tserovani: fully imported, inspected, and ready to drive.
• On the way from the U.S.: ships already purchased and currently en route to Poti.
• In the upcoming web or live auction: for those who enjoy bidding.
  

Each listing includes the car’s VIN report, mileage, condition, and photos: all verified before import.

Choose whether to buy instantly, reserve a car in transit, or compete in an auction, all options share full transparency and verified documentation.

Step 2: Review Vehicle Details and Verification Reports

Lion Auctions provides complete vehicle information for every listing:

• VIN-based history with accident and title data.
• Real odometer readings verified from U.S. records.
• Condition photos taken upon arrival in Georgia.
  

You can visit Tserovani to inspect any vehicle in person during working days or request detailed photo/video updates online.

Every car’s origin, condition, and history are confirmed before it’s made available to buyers.

Step 3: Participate in the Web or Live Auction (Optional)

If you choose to bid instead of buying directly, Lion Auctions offers two ways:

• Web Auction (Online):
  • Runs for 24 hours.
  • Includes 10 cars in total, each available throughout the day (auction ending the following day).
  • You can join instantly by entering your name, surname, and phone number.
  • A minimum bid of $100 is always displayed, and you can only raise bids in increments.
  • Before you bid, you have to pay a ₾500 deposit per car to secure participation. If you are unable to win then the deposit returns to you. In case you win, the deposit will be deducted from the car’s price.
• Live Auction (in Tserovani):
  • Held every Saturday.
  • Cars arrive straight from U.S. auctions without modification.
  • One week before the event, the full list is published on the website.
  • Visit Tserovani any weekday to inspect vehicles before bidding.
  • On auction day, arrive two hours early, register, and pay a ₾500 participation fee (covering all cars in that session).
  • You can also register in advance for the live auction, though it is not mandatory
    

Lion Auctions gives you two ways to bid, online or in person, both fast, transparent, and open to anyone without pre-registration.

Step 4: Confirm Purchase and Finalize Payment

After winning an auction or selecting a car for direct purchase:

• The ₾500 deposit (for web) or participation fee (for live) is deducted from the total.
• A sales contract is issued by Lion Auctions.
• You complete payment via invoice

Once payment is confirmed, the car is prepared for pickup in Tserovani.

Every transaction goes through Lion Auctions directly: no middlemen, no unclear commissions.

Step 5: Receive Your Vehicle or Arrange Delivery

Cars purchased on spot or via auction should be collected in person from the Tserovani terminal.

Vehicles that were still “on the way” are handed over once they arrive from Poti, typically within a few weeks. Each one comes with verified customs clearance, ready for registration in Georgia.

From bidding to keys-in-hand, Lion Auctions manages the process transparently, ensuring a safe, documented handover.

Bonus Step: Selling Your Car Through Lion Auctions

Lion Auctions also accepts vehicles from Georgian owners for resale.

• Submit photos and VIN code to the support team.
• A representative inspects the car and reviews its history.
• You receive an offer based on current market value and demand.
• If approved, Lion Auctions lists it for you in the next available auction.
  

Whether you’re buying or selling, Lion Auctions provides a verified, market-driven process that protects both sides.

Common Questions About Buying Through Lion Auctions

1. Can I buy directly from U.S. auctions like Copart or Manheim through Lion Auctions?

No, you don’t need to. Lion Auctions already purchases vehicles from major U.S. platforms like Copart, IAA, and Manheim, handles all shipping and customs, and makes them available for sale or bidding inside Georgia.

That means you can buy or bid locally, with full confidence that the car has already passed verification and import procedures.

2. How does the web auction work?

The web auction is fully online and lasts 24 hours. It is held on every Thursday.

• It features 10 cars total, each open for 24 hours.
• You can participate instantly by entering your name, surname, and phone number, no pre-registration needed.
• Bidding starts at $100 increments, and before your bid is accepted, you must pay a ₾500 deposit per car. The deposit returns to you in case you lose the auction and if you win, the deposit is deducted from the car’s price.
• If another bidder outbids you, you’ll receive an instant SMS notification so you can decide whether to increase your bid.

3. What happens at the live auction in Tserovani?

The live auction happens every Saturday at the Lion Auctions terminal in Tserovani.

• The list of participating cars is published one week before the event.
• These vehicles come straight from the U.S., unmodified, and sold as-is.
• Buyers can visit and inspect any car during the week before the auction.
• On auction day, arrive two hours earlier, register, and pay a ₾500 participation fee (which covers all cars in that session).

4. What if I want to buy without participating in an auction?

You can simply buy on spot in Tserovani or reserve a car that’s on the way from the U.S. Each vehicle includes verified VIN reports, real mileage, and photos. Buying on spot means you can inspect the car physically before making payment, while buying “on the way” lets you secure a U.S.-sourced car before it arrives in Georgia.

5. Can I sell my car through Lion Auctions?

Yes. To list your vehicle for sale:

1. Contact Lion Auctions support and send your car photos and VIN code.
2. A representative inspects the car and reviews its VIN history.
3. You’ll receive a price offer based on current market data.
4. If approved, the car is listed for sale in the next web or live auction.

6. Are financing or leasing options available?

Yes. Lion Auctions cooperates with several Georgian financial institutions, offering car leasing and credit options for eligible buyers. The available plans depend on the partner institution and your personal financing profile.

Final Thoughts: The Modern Way to Buy Cars in Georgia

The era of complicated imports and uncertain listings is over. With Lion Auctions Georgia, you can access the same quality vehicles once found only at U.S. auctions, now delivered, verified, and available for purchase right here in Georgia.

Whether you prefer to buy on spot, reserve cars on the way, join a 24-hour web auction, or experience the excitement of the live Saturday event in Tserovani, every option is transparent, secure, and fully managed.

Behind every sale stands one connected system, Lion Auctions and Lion Trans Logistics, ensuring your car is sourced, shipped, and delivered with verified documentation and no hidden costs.

Lion Auctions gives Georgian buyers the freedom to choose how they buy, online or in person, instantly or through bidding, all with the assurance of U.S. quality, verified history, and full transparency.