Buying Used Excavators and Telehandlers at Auction in the UK

Cover: Pexels (see credits.csv)

Key points

• Excavators and telehandlers sell through timed online auctions, so you can bid from anywhere.
• The costliest things to get wrong are the undercarriage on a tracked machine and the boom and hydraulics on a telehandler.
• Read hours alongside condition and history, not on their own. Many machines are mid-life around 5,000 to 8,000 hours.
• Bid on the all-in cost: hammer price plus buyer's premium, VAT and transport. Set a maximum and use a proxy bid.
• Listings come from the vendor's details and photographs, and buyers arrange their own collection and transport.

Quick answer

Used excavators and telehandlers sell through timed online auctions across the UK. Before you bid, check hours against wear, undercarriage or tyres, hydraulics, and the boom or dipper for repairs. Budget the hammer price plus buyer's premium, VAT and transport, and set a maximum bid from the all-in cost.

Where do used excavators and telehandlers sell at auction?

Most used excavators and telehandlers in the UK now sell through online auctions, with lots listed in advance and bidding open for several days, so you can research and bid from anywhere.

Our sales are timed online auctions, and knowing how the close works changes how you plan your day around the sale.

• Timed online auctions. Each lot has a published closing time and you bid through the platform up to that point. Bidding normally remains open for several days, with the exact opening and closing times stated for each auction.
• The rolling close. Under our current timed-auction format, a bid in the last 10 minutes resets the countdown, so a contested lot runs on past its listed end time.
• Stock stays put. Machines stay on the vendor's site until they are sold and paid for, and you collect from there by prior appointment.

Our plant sales cover excavators and mini-diggers, telehandlers, wheel loaders, dumpers and forklifts, often alongside ex-fleet vehicles and agricultural equipment in multi-lot sales. Listings are prepared from the information and photographs the vendor supplies, and you can bid online from anywhere. Buyers are responsible for arranging collection and transport. You can see current lots on our plant machinery auctions page, and our full walkthrough of the buying process is in how to buy plant and machinery at auction in the UK.

What should you check on a used excavator before bidding?

On a used excavator, check the hours against the visible wear, the undercarriage, the hydraulics for leaks and ram play, the engine, and the boom, dipper and bucket for cracks or weld repairs. Lots carry no warranty, so the condition you confirm before bidding is the condition you own.

Undercarriage wear is one of the largest single repair costs on a tracked machine, so it deserves the closest look. Use the table below as your inspection order at a viewing, or work through it against the vendor's photographs and description. We do not inspect machines or provide condition reports. Viewing is available strictly by prior appointment and is strongly recommended.

Listings come from the vendor's details and photographs. View by prior appointment where you can, because lots carry no warranty.

• Hours and history. What to check: Hour meter against apparent wear; service records if any. Why it matters: Low hours on a heavily worn machine is a warning sign.
• Undercarriage. What to check: Sprockets, rollers, idlers, track tension and pad wear. Why it matters: Often the biggest repair bill on a tracked machine.
• Hydraulics. What to check: Leaks, ram and pin play, hose condition, auxiliary lines. Why it matters: Slow or weeping rams point to wear and cost.
• Engine. What to check: Exhaust smoke, knocking, oil and coolant levels, as shown or described. Why it matters: Any running or movement must be agreed in advance and is subject to the seller's site and safety requirements.
• Structure. What to check: Boom, dipper, bucket and chassis for cracks and weld repairs. Why it matters: Repairs are not always a problem, but price them in.
• Identity. What to check: Make, model, serial or PIN, year and included attachments. Why it matters: Confirms the lot and matters for any later resale or export.

What should you check on a telehandler?

On a telehandler, focus on the boom wear pads and extension chains, the hydraulics and rams, the tyres, and the attachment carriage. Confirm exactly which attachments are in the lot, check the hours against the wear, and ask for any thorough examination records if the machine has been used for lifting.

Telehandlers earn their keep on farms and construction sites, so they are often worked hard. The wear points differ from an excavator.

• Boom and wear pads. Check for play and scoring on the boom sections and worn wear pads, which affect stability under load.
• Chains and hydraulics. Inspect the extension chains, the rams and the hoses for wear and leaks, and ask whether the boom raises, extends and crowds smoothly.
• Tyres. Large agricultural or industrial tyres are expensive to replace, so check tread, sidewalls and matching across axles.
• Carriage and attachments. Confirm the carriage type and exactly which attachments, such as forks or a bucket, are included in the lot.
• Lifting records. A telehandler is lifting equipment, so ask whether a thorough examination under LOLER has been done and when it is next due.

How many hours is too many on used plant?

There is no single cut-off. As a general guide, many excavators and telehandlers are mid-life somewhere around 5,000 to 8,000 hours and still have plenty of working life left if they were maintained. Hours matter far less than how the machine was used and looked after, so always read hours alongside the condition, not on their own.

The table below gives rough working bands to frame a viewing. Treat them as orientation only, because a well-serviced machine at higher hours can be a better buy than a neglected one at lower hours.

• Mini excavator (under 8t). Lower hours: Under 3,000. Typically mid-life: 3,000 to 6,000. Higher hours, inspect closely: Over 6,000.
• Midi and standard excavator. Lower hours: Under 5,000. Typically mid-life: 5,000 to 8,000. Higher hours, inspect closely: Over 8,000.
• Telehandler. Lower hours: Under 4,000. Typically mid-life: 4,000 to 8,000. Higher hours, inspect closely: Over 8,000.

These bands are general guidance for framing an inspection, not a valuation. Provenance helps too. A machine coming from a liquidation or an ex-hire fleet often has a clearer usage pattern than one with no history, and where the vendor supplies the source, the listing states it.

How does online bidding on plant work, step by step?

To bid on plant online you register with the auctioneer, clear any identity check or refundable deposit, then bid either by entering a maximum (proxy) bid or by bidding live as the lot closes. If you win, you pay in full by bank transfer within 24 hours of receiving the invoice, then collect by prior appointment within the removal window.

The online plant auction process, from registration to collection.

1. Register. Create an account, confirm your details and accept the sale terms. Higher-value sales may ask for an identity check or a refundable deposit.
2. Inspect. Study the vendor's photographs and description, and ask us specific questions before the lot closes. Viewing is available strictly by prior appointment and is strongly recommended.
3. Set your maximum bid. Enter the most you will pay and let the platform bid on your behalf up to that ceiling, so you often win below it.
4. Mind the close. A bid in the last 10 minutes resets the lot's countdown to a fresh 10 minutes, so a contested lot runs on past its listed end time until the bidding stops. Be available near the close, or leave a proxy bid to hold your maximum.
5. Pay and collect. Pay in full before collection, then collect by prior appointment within the stated window. Buyers are responsible for arranging collection and transport.

What does a winning bid on an excavator actually cost?

The hammer price is not the final price. A buyer's premium is added on top, at the rate stated on the lot's Additional Fees tab, VAT applies to the premium and often to the hammer price, and you pay to transport the machine. On a machine bought for export, the VAT is handled differently. Always work out the all-in cost before you set your maximum bid. Buyers pay the buyer's premium stated for the individual lot, together with applicable VAT. UAG does not currently apply a standard internet surcharge. Any auction-specific additional charge, where applicable, will be clearly disclosed in the Additional Fees information before bidding.

Illustrative worked example. Premium and VAT rates vary by sale and lot; always check the terms.

In the example above, a £20,000 hammer price becomes roughly £24,900 delivered once a 15 percent buyer's premium, VAT on that premium, and low-loader transport are included. The figures are illustrative only; the real premium is the rate stated on each lot's Additional Fees tab. The point is to bid on the all-in number, not the headline hammer price, and to set your maximum by working backwards from the total you can justify.

Two VAT distinctions change what you can reclaim. A VAT-qualifying lot is sold plus VAT, and a VAT-registered buyer can usually reclaim it in the normal way. A lot sold under the VAT margin scheme shows no reclaimable VAT, because VAT is accounted for by the seller on their margin. Check which applies per lot, especially if your costing depends on recovering the VAT.

How do you collect a heavy excavator after the sale?

You are responsible for collecting the machine within the removal window stated in the catalogue. Match the transport to the weight: a mini-digger fits a plant trailer, but a standard excavator needs a low-loader and may be an abnormal load. Confirm loading arrangements on site, and book transport as soon as you have paid, because removal windows are firm.

• Match the transport to the machine. A mini-digger can travel on a plant trailer; a 13 to 30 tonne excavator needs a low-loader, and the largest machines may need notified abnormal-load movements.
• Confirm loading. Check whether the site has loading plant, or whether the machine can track onto the trailer under its own power.
• Watch the deadline. Lots left beyond the removal window can attract storage charges, so arrange collection early.

Each listing states the collection location and window, so you can price transport before you bid rather than after. Buyers are responsible for arranging collection and transport.

Can you buy at a UK auction to export an excavator?

Yes. Overseas trade buyers are welcome to participate. On an export lot the VAT is taken as a refundable deposit and returned once valid evidence of export reaches both the seller and UAG within 28 days. VAT on the buyer's premium is not refundable, and the treatment differs between VAT-qualifying and margin-scheme lots, so confirm the status of each lot with us before you bid.

Export demand is one reason well-specified excavators and telehandlers hold their value at auction. Machines from a UK fleet with a clear history travel well, and our online bidding means an overseas buyer can compete for a lot without attending in person. If you are exporting, tell us before the sale so we can explain the deposit-and-refund process for that lot. Shipping and export documentation are the buyer's to arrange.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Bidding the hammer price, not the total. Premium, VAT and transport are real money. Budget all of it before you set a maximum.
• Skipping the undercarriage. On a tracked machine this is the costliest thing to get wrong. Inspect it at a viewing, or study the photographs and ask.
• Ignoring collection. Confirm transport, access and loading for a heavy machine before you bid, not after you have won.
• Reading hours in isolation. A low-hours machine that looks abused is worse than a higher-hours machine that was maintained.
• Letting the close set the price. Fix your maximum in advance and let the proxy bid hold the line through any anti-sniping extension.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy an excavator at auction without viewing it in person?

Yes. Most UK plant now sells through online auctions. Listings are prepared from the vendor's details and photographs, and we do not inspect machines or provide condition reports, so study the photographs closely and ask us specific questions before the lot closes. Viewing is available strictly by prior appointment and is strongly recommended.

What is the most expensive thing to get wrong on a used excavator?

The undercarriage. Sprockets, rollers, idlers and tracks are one of the largest repair costs on a tracked machine, so inspect them closely and factor any wear into your maximum bid. On a telehandler the equivalent high-cost items are the boom, wear pads and tyres.

How many hours should a used excavator have?

There is no fixed limit. As a general guide many excavators and telehandlers are mid-life around 5,000 to 8,000 hours and still have plenty of life left if maintained. Hours matter less than how the machine was used and serviced, so always read hours alongside the condition shown in the listing.

What does a winning bid actually cost?

More than the hammer price. A buyer's premium is added at the rate stated on the lot's Additional Fees tab, VAT applies to the premium and often to the hammer price, and you pay to transport the machine. Work out the all-in cost before you set your maximum bid, and check each lot's VAT status.

How do I collect a heavy machine after I win?

You arrange collection within the removal window in the catalogue. A mini-digger fits a plant trailer, but a standard excavator needs a low-loader and may be an abnormal load. Confirm loading on site and book transport as soon as you have paid. Buyers are responsible for arranging collection and transport.

Can I buy at a UK auction to export the machine overseas?

Yes. Overseas trade buyers are welcome to participate. On an export lot the VAT is taken as a refundable deposit and returned once valid evidence of export reaches both the seller and UAG within 28 days; VAT on the buyer's premium is not refundable. The treatment also differs between VAT-qualifying and margin-scheme lots, so check the status of each lot before you bid.

Sources and references

1. Thorough examination of lifting equipment (LOLER) · HSE, 2026 https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-machinery/loler.htm
2. VAT margin schemes (how VAT is charged on second-hand goods) · GOV.UK / HMRC, 2026 https://www.gov.uk/vat-margin-schemes
3. Get an EORI number · GOV.UK, 2026 https://www.gov.uk/eori
4. VAT on goods exported from the UK (Notice 703) · GOV.UK / HMRC, 2026 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-on-goods-exported-from-the-uk-notice-703

We run online auctions of plant, machinery, ex-fleet vehicles and business assets across the UK, listed from the vendor's details and photographs and open to trade bidders anywhere. EORI registered and export-ready for overseas trade buyers.

View current plant auctions

Universal Auctions Group Ltd acts solely as auctioneer and agent for the vendor and is not a party to the contract of sale between the vendor and successful bidder. Auctions are trade-only. Listings are prepared from information and photographs supplied by the vendor. UAG does not mechanically inspect or test assets and does not provide condition reports. Buyers must carry out their own inspection, enquiries and due diligence before bidding. The individual auction and lot terms govern every purchase.

Universal Auctions Group · EORI registered and export-ready · no seller fees. This article is general information for trade buyers and sellers and is not financial, tax or legal advice.