Inspect before you bid
Machines at auction almost always sell as-is, with no warranty and no returns. Use the inspection window. Go in person or send a qualified inspector, check the undercarriage, operate the functions, and look for leaks and repairs. Use our inspection checklist. If you cannot inspect it, bid as if it has hidden problems, because you cannot see them.
Know your real cost
Your winning bid is not your final price. Add the buyer premium (a percentage the auction charges on top of the hammer price), taxes, and transport. Work out your all-in number before you bid, and set a hard ceiling.
Verify what you can beforehand
Get the serial or VIN from the listing and check it ahead of time: confirm the identity and year, look at what similar machines have sold for, and note any open recalls. Then check for liens and theft. A machine with an unpaid lien can become your problem after the sale.
Set a budget and stick to it
Decide your maximum all-in price before the auction and do not chase a machine past it. There will be another one. Auction fever is how buyers talk themselves into overpaying.
Read the terms
Every auction has its own terms: payment deadlines, removal deadlines, what happens if a machine is misdescribed, and whether a title or only a bill of sale transfers. Read them before you bid, not after you win.
Before you bid, run the serial or VIN through MachVerity for its identity, a value from real sales, recalls, and a checklist to verify title, liens and theft.
Check a machine before you buy
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Frequently asked
What is a buyer premium at an equipment auction?
It is a fee the auction house adds to your winning bid, usually a percentage of the hammer price. Always add it, plus taxes and transport, to know your real cost before you bid.
Can you inspect equipment before an auction?
Most auctions offer an inspection window before the sale. Use it. Machines sell as-is with no warranty, so an inspection is your only protection.
What happens if an auction machine is not as described?
It depends on the auction terms. Some offer limited recourse for misdescription, many do not. Read the terms before you bid.