Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2011	Sep. 27, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	COPART INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000900075
Trading Symbol	cprt
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--07-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-Known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		66,030,517
Entity Public Float			$ 2,111,301,225
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Jul. 31, 2011
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY