You can sell a used digger online by listing it on a marketplace, entering it into an online plant auction or selling it to a dealer. Listing it yourself gives you the most control over the price, an auction is quicker but the final price isn’t up to you, and a dealer is the fastest option but will pay a trade price.
Where can I sell my used digger?
You can sell a used digger on an online marketplace, through a plant auction or to a dealer. The right choice depends on whether price, speed or simplicity matters most to you.
A marketplace listing puts your machine in front of buyers searching for that type of plant, and they contact you directly. On The Commercial Trader, you can list your machine in the plant machinery section, and buyers’ enquiries come straight to you.
A dealer will buy your digger outright or take it in part-exchange, which is quick and simple. Expect a trade price, because the dealer has to prepare the machine and sell it on at a profit.
How do I list used plant for sale online?
To list used plant online, gather the machine’s details and paperwork, price it against similar live listings, take clear photos, write a description that answers buyers’ questions and publish it in the right category. The more complete the listing, the fewer questions buyers need to ask before they come to see the machine.
Get the details and paperwork together
Note the make, model, year, hours, serial number and operating weight, and list every attachment that’s included. Find the service history, proof of ownership, any CESAR registration details and, for lifting equipment such as telehandlers, the latest LOLER thorough examination report.
Price it against live listings
Search used plant machinery for sale for machines of the same make, model, age and hours, and price yours where it fairly sits among them. Say clearly whether your price includes VAT, because plant buyers compare prices that way.
Take photos buyers can trust
Take photos in daylight from every side, plus the cab, the hour meter, the tracks or tyres, the buckets and any wear or damage. Honest photos of wear save wasted journeys for you and the buyer.
Write a listing that answers questions
Lead with the facts buyers filter on: make, model, year, hours and location. Then add the condition, recent work, attachments, service history and whether the machine’s CESAR registered, and be upfront about any faults.
Publish it in the right category
On The Commercial Trader, you pick the category that best matches your machine, and the listing form guides you through the details. Our help page explains standard and boosted listings, renewals and payment.
Can I auction heavy machinery online?
Yes. Many plant auctioneers run online-only timed auctions or live auctions with online bidding, so you can sell heavy machinery without attending in person.
Auctions are quick and reach a wide pool of buyers, but you’ll pay the auctioneer’s fees and you don’t control the final price, although you can usually set a reserve. You may also need to get the machine to the auction site, so factor in the cost of transport.
If you’d rather set the price yourself, a marketplace listing is the alternative. You decide which offer to accept, and you deal with the buyer directly.
How do I get paid safely when I sell plant?
Don’t let the machine leave until the full payment has cleared into your account. Check by logging in to your banking app yourself, rather than trusting a screenshot, email or text from the buyer.
Fake payment confirmations are a known tactic in plant fraud, and so are buyers who overpay and ask for the difference back. If a buyer wants a third party to collect before paying, or wants to pay in a way you don’t recognise, walk away.
Give the buyer a receipt or bill of sale showing the date, price, machine details, serial number and both parties’ names and addresses. If you’re VAT registered, issue a VAT invoice.
If the machine’s road registered, tell DVLA you’ve sold it, and if it’s CESAR registered, give the buyer the registration details so they can re-register it in their name.
How do I transport a large piece of plant?
Most large plant moves on a low loader run by a specialist plant haulier, and buyers often arrange collection themselves. Agree who’s arranging transport, and who’s paying for it, before you agree the sale.
If the machine and trailer together weigh more than 44,000kg, are wider than 2.9 metres or go over the legal axle weights, the load counts as an abnormal load. The haulier then has to notify the police and the highway and bridge authorities in advance, usually through National Highways’ ESDAL service.
Check the haulier’s insurance covers the machine’s full value, and that whoever loads it is trained to do so. You can find plant haulage firms in The Commercial Trader’s business directory, and smaller machines such as mini diggers often go on a plant trailer instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to sell my digger privately or to a dealer?
Selling privately usually gets you closer to the machine’s full value, but it takes more time and you deal with buyers yourself. A dealer is quicker and simpler but pays a trade price, so it suits sellers who put speed ahead of price.
Do I have to charge VAT when I sell my digger?
If you’re VAT registered and the digger’s a business asset, you’ll normally need to charge VAT on the sale. The rules have exceptions, so check with your accountant before you set the price.
Can I sell several machines at once?
Yes. If you’ve got several machines to sell, The Commercial Trader can quote for multiple listings and help upload them for you. Get in touch through the multiple listings section of our help page.
Who arranges transport when I sell a machine?
It’s whatever you and the buyer agree, but buyers often arrange collection themselves. Put your preference in the listing, and agree who’s paying before the sale is confirmed.
How long does it take to sell a used digger?
It depends mostly on the price, the demand for that machine and how complete the listing is. Fairly priced, popular machines with good photos and paperwork tend to get enquiries fastest, and you can renew or upgrade a listing on The Commercial Trader if it needs more visibility.
