You can buy a used forklift in the UK from forklift dealers and hire companies, industrial auctions, online marketplaces such as The Commercial Trader, or directly from a business replacing its fleet. Whichever route you take, ask for the truck’s latest thorough examination report and check the capacity plate, forks, mast, chains, tyres and, on an electric truck, the battery and charger before you buy.
The Commercial Trader lists used forklifts for sale under Plant Machinery, from rough terrain to container-spec trucks, so you can compare the asking prices and details of similar trucks in one place.
Where can you buy a used forklift in the UK?
You can buy a used forklift from a forklift dealer or hire company, at an industrial auction, on an online marketplace such as The Commercial Trader, or directly from another business. Dealers and hire companies often sell ex-hire and refurbished trucks with paperwork and support, while auctions and private sales can be cheaper but leave more of the checking to you.
| Route | What you get | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Forklift dealer or hire company | Ex-hire and refurbished trucks, often with a warranty, a current thorough examination and delivery | Usually higher prices than buying privately |
| Industrial auction | A quick purchase, often at a lower price | Little time to inspect, usually no warranty, and a buyer’s premium on top |
| Online marketplace such as The Commercial Trader | Trucks from a range of makers in one place, and direct contact with each seller | You arrange the checks, viewing and transport yourself |
| Direct from another business | A truck with a known history | No warranty, and a thorough examination to arrange if the last one has run out |
The Commercial Trader lists forklifts from a range of makers in one place, and your enquiry goes straight to the seller, so you can ask for the paperwork and photos you need before you travel.
Which type of used forklift do you need?
Choose the type of forklift for where it’ll work, then check that its capacity and lift height suit your heaviest load and highest shelf. A counterbalance truck suits most yards and warehouses, a reach truck suits narrow racking aisles, and a rough terrain truck suits building sites and uneven yards.
| Type | Suits |
|---|---|
| Electric counterbalance | Indoor work and mixed indoor and outdoor use, with no exhaust fumes |
| Diesel counterbalance | Outdoor yards and heavier outdoor work |
| LPG counterbalance | Mixed indoor and outdoor use where there’s good ventilation |
| Reach truck | Warehouses with high racking and narrow aisles |
| Pallet stacker | Light warehouse work and lower racking |
| Rough terrain | Building sites, farms and uneven yards |
| Container-spec | Loading and unloading shipping containers, with a mast low enough to fit through the door |
You’ll find container-spec and rough terrain forklifts among the used forklifts on The Commercial Trader.
A forklift’s capacity plate shows the most it can lift at a set distance from the fork heels, up to a specified height, according to HSE’s L117 code of practice. Check the plate against the weight and size of your heaviest load and the height of your highest shelf, because a longer load or a higher lift can take the truck past what it can safely handle.
What paperwork should a used forklift come with?
A used forklift should come with its latest thorough examination report, its service history and hours, and a capacity plate that matches the truck and any attachment fitted. A report from an examiner accredited by CFTS, the industry’s thorough examination scheme, carries the CFTS mark, and the truck should carry a matching CFTS sticker.
CFTS is the accreditation scheme for forklift thorough examinations, set up by the British Industrial Truck Association and the Fork Lift Truck Association, which have since merged into the UK Material Handling Association. Only accredited firms can use the CFTS report and sticker.
Ask the seller of a used forklift for:
- The latest thorough examination report, with the date the next one is due
- The service history, with the hours at each service
- A capacity plate that matches the truck and any attachment
- The operator’s manual
- For an electric truck, the battery’s age and its most recent test results
- Proof that the seller owns the truck, and confirmation that there’s no finance owing on it
Any business selling a forklift must supply evidence of its last thorough examination, under regulation 9 of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER).
What’s a thorough examination, and how often does a forklift need one?
A thorough examination is a legal inspection of a forklift by a competent person, with a written report, under the lifting and work equipment regulations, LOLER and PUWER. A forklift must be examined at least every 12 months, or every 6 months if the truck or an attachment is used to lift people, even occasionally, unless an examination scheme sets different intervals.
LOLER is the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, which cover the lifting parts, such as the mast, chains, carriage, forks and tilt. PUWER is the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, which cover the rest of the truck, such as the brakes, steering and tyres.
HSE’s guidance on thorough examination of lift trucks makes clear that routine servicing isn’t a thorough examination. Under LOLER Schedule 1, the report must identify the truck, give its safe working load, list any defects found and say when the next examination is due, and it must be kept for 2 years. Check that date, rather than how old the report is, because an examination scheme or a 6-month interval can make a report less than a year old overdue.
What should you check on a used forklift’s forks, mast and chains?
Check the forks for cracks, especially at the heels and hooks, and for bent tips and worn blades, then check the mast and chains while the truck raises and lowers a load. The mast should lift, lower and tilt smoothly without jerks, and the chains should be lubricated, evenly tensioned and free of rust or stiff links.
HSE’s L117 code of practice says to check forks for cracks, especially at the heels and hooks, and for bent tips. Bolzoni, citing the ISO 5057 standard, and Vetter say a fork should be withdrawn from service once its blade has lost 10% of its thickness, so ask whether the forks have been measured.
Check the rest of the lifting gear too:
- Mast: smooth lifting and lowering, no knocking, and no worn rollers or play between the mast sections.
- Lift and tilt cylinders: leaks, and a load that creeps down or tilts forward when it’s held up.
- Chains: wear, rust, stiff links, lubrication and even tension on both chains.
- Carriage and backrest: cracks, bends and secure fixings.
- Hoses: chafing, cracks and leaks.
How do you check a used forklift’s engine, battery and tyres?
Have the seller start a diesel or LPG forklift from cold while you check for hard starting, smoke and leaks, and on an electric truck, ask for the battery’s age and a recent test. Then check the tyres for wear, missing chunks and the right type for where you’ll use the truck.
A traction battery is a major cost to replace on an electric forklift, so check the cells, connectors and cables for corrosion or damage. Make sure the charger matches the battery and suits your power supply.
Forklifts run on solid or pneumatic tyres, and many solid tyres have a wear line moulded into them. Check for wear past that line and chunks missing, and if you’ll work indoors on clean floors, check whether you need non-marking tyres.
What should you test when you see a used forklift working?
Ask the seller to demonstrate the forklift lifting a load to full height, within its rated capacity at that height, while you stand well clear. Check the brakes, steering, inching, hydraulic controls, lights, horn, alarms, seat belt or operator restraint and overhead guard as you go, and only drive the truck yourself if you’re trained and authorised for that type.
- Brakes: the service brake stops the truck smoothly, and the parking brake holds.
- Steering: smooth, with no excessive play.
- Inching: where a diesel or LPG truck has an inching pedal, it lets the truck creep smoothly while lifting.
- Hydraulics: lift, lower, tilt and side-shift work smoothly, and a raised load doesn’t creep down or tilt forward.
- Safety equipment: the seat belt or operator restraint, overhead guard, load backrest, lights, horn and reversing alarm all work.
- Dashboard: the hour meter works, no warning lights stay on, and an electric truck’s battery indicator reads sensibly.
Do you need training to drive a used forklift at work?
Forklift operators need training in three stages, basic, specific job and familiarisation, and their employer should authorise them in writing, naming the operator, the date and the types of truck they can use. People often call this a forklift licence, although it’s training and written authorisation rather than a licence issued by the government.
HSE’s L117 code of practice sets out the training stages and the written authorisation, and says no one should operate a lift truck without authorisation, apart from trainees working under close supervision.
How do you buy a used forklift on The Commercial Trader?
Browse the used forklifts for sale on The Commercial Trader, then send the seller an enquiry through the listing, which goes straight to them. Ask for the latest thorough examination report, the hours and photos of the forks, mast and capacity plate, then view and test the truck before you pay.
- Shortlist trucks that match the type, capacity, lift height and fuel you need.
- Send an enquiry through each listing, and ask for the paperwork and photos.
- Check the date the report says the next examination is due, and that the capacity plate matches the truck and any attachment.
- View the truck, check the forks, mast, chains, battery and tyres, and watch it work.
- Pay by bank transfer to an account in the seller’s name, and get an invoice showing the serial number, hours and price.
- Arrange transport, and book a thorough examination before the truck goes to work if the last one has run out or the truck came without its report.
The Commercial Trader’s Help page explains how contacting a seller works, and its guide to avoiding scams when buying online is worth reading before you pay.
If you need to lift on rough ground or reach higher, The Commercial Trader also lists used telehandlers, and its guide to where to buy a used telehandler covers the options.
Forklifts often come up for sale when a business closes or moves, and The Commercial Trader’s guide to selling machinery when a factory closes covers that from the seller’s side.
Compare the used forklifts for sale and other used plant machinery on The Commercial Trader.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a used forklift cost?
The price of a used forklift depends on its type, capacity, age and hours and, for an electric truck, the condition of its battery, so there’s no single figure. Compare current asking prices for the same type and capacity among the used forklifts for sale on The Commercial Trader and in dealer stock. Allow for transport, and for a thorough examination if the last one is due.
Does a used forklift need a thorough examination before you use it?
A used forklift needs a valid thorough examination before you put it to work. If it comes with a report from its last examination that’s still in date, you can rely on that report until the next one is due, and if not, book an examination before the truck is used.
What’s the difference between a forklift service and a thorough examination?
A service keeps a forklift running well, while a thorough examination is the legal inspection under the lifting and work equipment regulations, LOLER and PUWER, carried out by a competent person and recorded in a written report. Routine servicing doesn’t count as a thorough examination, so ask the seller for both records.
Do you need a licence to drive a forklift?
There’s no government-issued forklift licence, but operators must be trained and should be authorised in writing by their employer. Training covers three stages, basic, specific job and familiarisation, and the authorisation names the operator, the date and the types of truck they can use.
Is a used electric forklift a good buy?
A used electric forklift can be a good buy if its battery is in good condition, because a replacement traction battery is a major cost. Ask how old the battery is, ask for a recent battery test, and check the charger suits your power supply before you buy.
Can you buy a used forklift on The Commercial Trader?
Yes, The Commercial Trader lists used forklifts under Plant Machinery, and your enquiry goes straight to the seller through the listing. Ask the seller for the latest thorough examination report and photos of the forks, mast and capacity plate before you view.
Can you fit attachments to a used forklift?
You can fit attachments to a used forklift, but an attachment changes how much the truck can safely lift. The truck must be derated and given a new capacity plate before it’s used with the attachment, so ask whether the truck has a capacity plate for each attachment that comes with it.
