Salvage Search is a browser plugin that makes it easy to search inventory websites for vehicles and download high-def images.
INSTALL ON FIREFOXThis plugin adds an extension to your toolbar, and should be fairly self-explanatory. If you don't see the icon in your toolbar after installing: In Chrome: click the puzzle piece, then select Salvage Search. You can also click the pushpin to pin the icon to your toolbar. In Firefox: right-click on the toolbar, select "Customize Toolbar...", then drag the Salvage Search icon into the toolbar.
Type a VIN in the text box to enable the Search button. Notifications will appear as salvage yard inventories are searched. If a match is found, it will open in a new tab. If a vehicle cannot be found on those sites, the extension will also search archive sites.
IAAI has recently disabled searching by VIN for users without am account. This extension will attempt to do a VIN search, but if IAAI returns a general terms search instead, no results will be displayed, and no error will be generated. Create an IAAI account and make sure you're logged in if you want to ensure that you can find vehicles in inventory.
The second button, the Download Images button, is enabled for vehicles at Copart and IAAI. When you click Download, the extension will fetch and download images for the vehicle. If the salvage yard has high resolution images (normally displayed when you click the HD button on their site), those will be downloaded instead of the standard resolution. If the salvage yard has exterior 360 or interior 360 images, new tabs will open to let you pick the views that you want to download.
There are two ways to get the Download Images button to enable. You can type in a lot number and set the slider to Copart or IAAI. You can also click the Salvage Search button while you have a vehicle listing page open, and the fields will pre-fill for you. Image downloads are available for (as far as I can tell) every single vehicle at Copart and IAAI, even if they've been sold and are no longer listed on their websites. Available, that is, if you have a lot number.
Click the GEAR BUTTON to edit your settings, and enable or disable websites to search.
This extension has become something I'm proud of! I've worked out a lot of bugs, but everyone uses their computer differently, and something might break. Salvage yard websites aren't designed to make this kind of thing easy, and they might change something without warning. If something doesn't work, or doesn't work the way you'd like, get in touch. Be sure to send me as much info as you can, and I'll see what I can do.
When you install the extension, it will ask for permissions. Here's what it's doing with them: