Buying plant and machinery at auction means registering with the auctioneer, inspecting lots by appointment or from the vendor's photographs and description, setting a maximum bid, and budgeting for the buyer's premium, VAT and transport on top of the hammer price. Done well, it is one of the most cost-effective ways for trade buyers to source excavators, telehandlers, dumpers, forklifts and workshop machinery, often below dealer retail. This guide walks through the full process, what to check before you bid, what a winning bid actually costs, and how collection and export work.
Where to find plant and machinery auctions
Most UK plant and machinery now sells through timed online auctions. Lots are listed ahead of the sale with photographs and specifications, and bidding normally remains open for several days, with the exact opening and closing times stated for each auction, so you can research and bid from anywhere. Three things to know about the format.
- Timed online auctions. Each lot has a published closing time and you bid through the platform up to that point. All our sales run this way.
- The rolling close. Under our current timed-auction format, a bid in the last 10 minutes resets the countdown to a fresh 10 minutes, 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, JCBs, dumpers, telehandlers, mini-diggers, wheel loaders and forklifts, often bundled with ex-fleet vehicles and agricultural equipment in multi-lot industrial sales. Listings are prepared from information and photographs supplied by the vendor. The same lots also appear on marketplaces such as i-bidder and BidSpotter, but bidding with us directly keeps you closest to the listing detail and the viewing arrangements.
What sells: the main categories of plant at auction
Plant at auction is broad, and each type has its own wear points and buyer base. The table below covers the categories that come up most often in UK industrial sales and the one or two things that most affect value on each.
- Excavators (mini to 30t). Typical buyer: Groundworks, plant hire. What most affects value: Hours, undercarriage and track wear, hydraulic condition.
- Telehandlers. Typical buyer: Construction, agriculture. What most affects value: Hours, boom wear, tyres, attachment fit.
- Dumpers and dump trucks. Typical buyer: Earthworks, civils. What most affects value: Transmission, skip condition, hours.
- Forklifts. Typical buyer: Warehousing, logistics. What most affects value: Mast and chains, hours, fuel type (gas, diesel, electric).
- Wheel loaders. Typical buyer: Quarrying, recycling, agriculture. What most affects value: Tyres, bucket wear, transmission.
- Workshop and CNC machinery. Typical buyer: Manufacturing, fabrication. What most affects value: Power phase, tooling included, condition of ways and spindles.
If you buy across categories regularly, a multi-lot sale lets you combine collection in one trip, which can meaningfully cut the cost per machine on transport.
Where plant at auction comes from
Knowing why a machine is being sold tells you a lot about its likely condition and history. Most plant at UK auction comes from a handful of routes, and each carries a different expectation.
- Liquidation and insolvency. Assets from businesses that have closed or entered administration. Often well used but genuine working kit, sold to realise value for creditors, sometimes with an independent professional valuation behind the sale.
- Ex-fleet and ex-hire. Machines retired from plant-hire fleets on a replacement cycle. Usually maintained to a schedule, with hours that reflect steady commercial use rather than abuse.
- Ex-lease and end-of-contract. Returned at the end of a finance or lease term, typically with service records and a known history.
- Surplus and downsizing. Working businesses selling kit they no longer need after a project or a change of direction.
None of these is automatically better or worse. Ex-hire machines can be high hours but well maintained, while a downsizing sale might offer a low-hours machine from a careful owner. Read the provenance alongside the condition shown in the listing rather than assuming.
Before you bid: the inspection checklist
The single biggest difference between a good auction purchase and an expensive mistake is inspection. Lots carry no warranty, so the condition you confirm before bidding is the condition you own. UAG does not mechanically inspect or test assets or provide condition reports. Study the vendor's photographs and description. Viewing is available strictly by prior appointment and is strongly recommended.
- Hours and service history. Check the hour meter against the machine's apparent wear. Ask whether service records are available, and treat a low-hours machine that looks heavily worn with caution.
- Engine and hydraulics. Look for oil and hydraulic leaks, exhaust smoke and play in rams and pins. Any running or movement must be agreed in advance and is subject to the seller's site and safety requirements.
- Tracks, tyres and undercarriage. Undercarriage wear on tracked machines is one of the largest repair costs in plant, so inspect sprockets, rollers and track tension. Check tyre condition and matching on wheeled plant.
- Structure. Inspect the boom, dipper, bucket and chassis for cracks, weld repairs and straightness. Repairs are not always a problem, but they should be priced in.
- Attachments and keys. Confirm exactly which attachments are included in the lot, and that keys and, where relevant, a logbook, CE plate or documentation are present.
- Identity and compliance. Note the make, model, serial or VIN, and year. For road-going items this matters for registration; for lifting equipment, ask about test certification (LOLER) where relevant.
If you cannot attend, study the photographs and description closely and ask the auctioneer specific questions before the sale closes. A good auctioneer will answer, and the answer becomes part of your record.
How the bidding works
Online plant auctions are straightforward once you have registered, but a few mechanics decide whether you win at a sensible price. Register before the sale, which usually means confirming your details, accepting the terms, and on higher-value sales clearing an identity check or leaving a refundable deposit. Then you have two ways to bid.
- Proxy (maximum) bidding. Enter the most you are willing to pay. The platform bids on your behalf only as far as it needs to stay in front, up to your maximum, so you often win below your ceiling.
- Manual bidding. Bid manually as the lot's clock runs down. Bid increments are set by the platform and step up as the price rises.
- Anti-sniping extensions. Under our current timed-auction format, a bid in the final 10 minutes resets the countdown to a fresh 10 minutes, and again with every new bid, so genuine bidders are not shut out. Plan to be available around the close, or rely on your proxy bid.
What a winning bid actually costs
The hammer price is not the final price. Two charges sit on top of almost every lot, plus the cost of getting the machine home. Buyer's premium is a percentage added to the hammer price, at the rate stated on the lot's Additional Fees tab, and VAT applies to the premium and, on many lots, to the hammer price itself. Always read the lot's VAT status and the buyer's premium rate in the auction terms before bidding. 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.
In the example above, a £10,000 hammer price becomes roughly £12,150 delivered once a 15 percent buyer's premium, VAT on that premium, and 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 cost, not the headline number, and to set your maximum bid by working backwards from the total you can justify.
Two VAT distinctions are worth understanding because they 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 has no reclaimable VAT shown, because VAT is accounted for by the seller on their margin. Check which applies per lot, especially if your costings depend on recovering the VAT.
Setting your maximum bid
Decide your ceiling before the sale, in writing, and bid to it through a proxy bid. A simple method works for most trade buyers. Start from the delivered price you would pay a dealer for the equivalent machine, or the resale value if you are buying to sell on. Subtract the margin you need and the cost of any repairs the inspection flagged. Then strip out the buyer's premium, VAT where it is not reclaimable, and transport, because those come on top of your bid. What is left is the most you can bid at the hammer. Enter that as your maximum and let the platform do the rest. The discipline of fixing the number before the adrenaline of the close is what keeps auction buying profitable.
Finance and payment
Payment must be made by the deadline stated on the invoice. Collection details are issued after cleared payment, and collection must be arranged by appointment with the vendor. Arrange funds before you bid. Asset finance is still possible on plant bought at auction, but it is arranged separately and in advance, not at the point of sale, so speak to your funder before the auction if you intend to use it. Factor the payment deadline into your planning: under the terms, late payment can bring interest at 8% a year, a £295 administration fee and debt recovery costs.
Transport, collection and removal
Payment must be made by the deadline stated on the invoice. Collection is then by prior appointment within a stated window from the lot's location, and this is where buyers who only budgeted the hammer price get caught out. Buyers are responsible for arranging collection and transport, including suitable transport and, where needed, loading for heavy plant.
- Match the transport to the machine. A mini-digger fits a plant trailer, but a 20-tonne excavator needs a low-loader and may be an abnormal load requiring notification.
- Confirm loading. Check whether the site has loading facilities or whether the machine can drive or track onto the trailer under its own power.
- Watch the deadline. Removal windows are firm. Lots left beyond the deadline can incur storage charges, so book transport as soon as you have paid.
Collection details are part of the listing for each sale, so you can plan transport before you bid rather than after.
After the sale: getting the machine working
Budget for a small amount of recommissioning on any used machine. A sensible first step is a service on arrival: oils, filters, greasing, and a check of hydraulic and coolant levels, so you start from a known baseline. Source parts before you need them by noting the exact model and serial while you still have the machine in front of you at viewing. For anything with a lifting function, arrange a thorough examination under LOLER before the machine goes to work. None of this is expensive relative to the saving over retail, but it is part of the true cost of an auction machine and worth planning in.
Buying for export
If you are buying to export, the VAT treatment changes and the numbers can work in your favour. 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. Whether a lot is VAT-qualifying or sold under the margin scheme affects how the VAT works, so check the status of each lot and confirm the export terms with us before you bid. Shipping and export documentation are the buyer's to arrange.
Is buying plant at auction worth it?
For trade buyers, usually yes. Auction prices sit below dealer retail because you are buying with no warranty, and that discount is the trade-off for doing your own inspection and arranging your own collection. It suits buyers who know what they are looking at, or who bring someone who does, and who have budgeted the all-in cost. It suits less well anyone who needs a warranty, finance arranged at the point of sale, or a machine delivered and commissioned. If you fall in the first group, auction is one of the most efficient ways to buy plant in the UK.
Auction terms you should know
A quick reference to the terms that come up most often when buying plant at auction.
- Hammer price. The winning bid amount, before premium, VAT and transport.
- Buyer's premium. A percentage added to the hammer price, paid by the buyer, with VAT usually applied to it.
- Reserve. The minimum price the seller will accept. A highest bid below the reserve can stand as a provisional bid for 24 hours after the close, for the vendor to accept.
- Estimate. The auctioneer's guide to the likely selling range. A guide, not a promise.
- No warranty. The lot is sold in its current condition, with descriptions and images for guidance only. Inspection is the buyer's responsibility.
- Proxy bid. A maximum bid left in advance that the platform manages on your behalf up to your limit.
- VAT-qualifying. Sold plus VAT, normally reclaimable by a VAT-registered buyer.
- Margin scheme. VAT is accounted for on the seller's margin and is not separately reclaimable by the buyer.
- Provenance. The source and history of the lot, such as liquidation, ex-hire or ex-lease.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Bidding the hammer price, not the total. Premium, VAT and transport are real money. Budget for all of it before you set a maximum bid.
- Skipping inspection. No warranty means the risk transfers to you. View by appointment, or study the listing and ask questions in writing.
- Ignoring collection. Arrange transport and confirm access and loading before you bid on a 20-tonne machine, not after.
- Missing the VAT status. Whether a lot is margin scheme or VAT-qualifying changes what you can reclaim. Check it per lot.
- Letting emotion set the price. Decide your maximum before the sale and let the proxy bid hold the line.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy plant at auction without viewing it in person?
Yes. Most UK plant now sells through online auctions. Listings are prepared from information and photographs supplied by the vendor. UAG does not mechanically inspect or test assets or provide condition reports. Study the photographs closely and ask specific questions before the lot closes. Viewing is available strictly by prior appointment and is strongly recommended.
What is a buyer's premium?
A buyer's premium is a percentage added to the hammer price, charged by the auctioneer on top of your winning bid. VAT usually applies to the premium. Always check the rate in the sale terms before bidding.
Is plant at auction sold with a warranty?
No. Plant and machinery carries no warranty. The condition you confirm before bidding is the condition you buy, which is why viewing by appointment or a careful read of the listing matters.
How do I pay and collect after winning a lot?
Payment must be made by the deadline stated on the invoice. Collection is by prior appointment within the stated window from the lot's location, and 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.
Where does plant sold at auction come from?
Most plant comes from liquidation and insolvency sales, retired plant-hire and ex-fleet machines, end-of-lease returns, and working businesses selling surplus kit. The provenance is usually stated, and it helps set your expectation of the machine's condition and history.
Can I get finance for plant bought at auction?
Yes, but asset finance is arranged separately and in advance, not at the point of sale. Payment must be made by the deadline stated on the invoice. Collection details are issued after cleared payment, and collection must be arranged by appointment with the vendor. Speak to your funder before the sale if you intend to use finance.
Sources and references
- VAT margin schemes (how VAT is charged on second-hand goods) · GOV.UK / HMRC, 2026 https://www.gov.uk/vat-margin-schemes
- 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, open to trade bidders anywhere. Overseas trade buyers are welcome to participate.
View current auctionsUniversal 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. This article is general information for trade buyers and sellers and is not financial, tax or legal advice.
