Short answer
You can sell heavy equipment in Georgia without hauling it to a dealer or auction yard. HeavyDutyYard, in Sacramento, California, works remotely with Georgia sellers: send details and photos, and we reply within one business day with an offer on some machines or a free, moderated marketplace listing. If we buy your machine, we coordinate transport from Georgia.
In Georgia, trailers over 2,000 lbs. and trucks are titled through the Department of Revenue, and cranes and off-road machines are not. The casual-sale exemption is narrow for business equipment: $500 in 12 months, or a complete liquidation.
How Selling From Georgia Works
Send us the machine
Submit the make, model, serial number, hours and a few photos. Tell us where in Georgia it sits and whether it runs. It takes a few minutes and you don't need to bring it anywhere.
Get an offer or a free listing
We reply within one business day. On some machines we make an offer. On the rest we list it free on the HeavyDutyYard marketplace, where we review the listing and screen buyer messages before they reach you.
Paperwork and transport
If we buy your machine, we coordinate transport from Georgia; marketplace buyers arrange their own pickup. You sign the bill of sale, and the title for trucks and trailers, and any loan is paid off at closing so the lien is released.
We don't have an office or yard in Georgia, and we won't pretend to. Everything happens by phone, email and photos. If we buy the machine, we arrange transport from wherever it sits in Georgia.
Georgia Title Rules for Trucks and Trailers
Most buyers will ask for a title on trucks and trailers. Off-road machines usually don't have one. Here is how Georgia handles each.
| Item | GA rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trailers | Georgia does not require a title for trailers weighing 2,000 pounds or less, or for boat trailers, homemade trailers, pole trailers and fifth wheels. Cranes, unregistered farm equipment and vehicles not built for highway use are also on the no-title list. | dor.georgia.gov |
| Trucks | Trucks are titled through the Georgia Department of Revenue at county tag offices. The seller completes the assignment on the back of the original title and cancels the registration online or with Form MV-18J. The buyer must title and register within 7 days, and handing over a title assigned in blank is a misdemeanor. | dor.georgia.gov |
| Lien release | For a paper title, the lienholder completes the release of lien section and sends the title to the next lienholder or the owner within five days. If the title isn't available, the lienholder gives the owner a signed Form T-4. Electronically recorded liens must be released electronically by the lender. | dor.georgia.gov |
| Excavators, dozers, loaders | Generally not titled. Liens are recorded as UCC financing statements with the Secretary of State. | Our lien guide |
Titling agency: Georgia Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division (county tag offices). Rules change; confirm with the agency before you sell.
Sales Tax on a Private Equipment Sale in Georgia
Casual sales are exempt from Georgia sales tax, but the definition is narrow. Equipment used in a business only qualifies if that sale and similar sales over the past 12 months total $500 or less, or in a complete business liquidation finished within 30 days. Sales through an agent, broker or regular seller don't qualify. Qualified agricultural producers with a GATE certificate can buy qualifying farm machinery tax-free.
Sources: law.cornell.edu, dor.georgia.gov, law.cornell.edu
Not tax advice. Sales and use tax depends on who is selling, who is buying, and how the equipment is used. Check with the Georgia revenue department or a tax professional before you close.
Heavy Equipment Auctions in Georgia
Auctions are a real option, and you should compare them with any offer. These companies hold equipment sales in Georgia:
| Auction company | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Taylor & Martin | Hampton, GA (Atlanta Motor Speedway) | taylorandmartin.com |
| bidadoo | Hiram, GA service center | bidadoo.com |
Listed for comparison. We have no affiliation with these companies.
An auction gets a machine sold on a fixed date, but you don't control the price, you pay the commission and fees, and you often have to haul the machine to the yard. An offer is faster with no sale day. A marketplace listing lets you set the price and wait for the right buyer. Our comparison of where to sell covers the trade-offs in more detail.
Before You Sell: A Short Checklist
| Have ready | Why |
|---|---|
| Serial number plate photo | Confirms model and year, and lets a buyer check liens |
| Hour meter photo | Hours drive the price as much as the year |
| Photos of all four sides, cab and undercarriage | Lets buyers price it without a site visit |
| GA title (trucks and trailers) | Required to transfer titled units |
| Lender payoff letter, if financed | The lien has to be cleared at closing |
| Loading notes | Whether it runs, and what a truck needs to get in and out |
Not sure what it's worth? Start with the value estimator or read the full guide to selling heavy equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does HeavyDutyYard buy heavy equipment in Georgia?
Yes. HeavyDutyYard is in Sacramento, California and works remotely with sellers in Georgia and nationwide. We make offers on some machines and list others free on our marketplace. If we buy your machine, we coordinate transport from Georgia. We reply within one business day.
Do I need a title to sell a trailer in Georgia?
Georgia does not require a title for trailers weighing 2,000 pounds or less, or for boat trailers, homemade trailers, pole trailers and fifth wheels. Cranes, unregistered farm equipment and vehicles not built for highway use are also on the no-title list.
What does the seller do when selling a titled truck in Georgia?
Trucks are titled through the Georgia Department of Revenue at county tag offices. The seller completes the assignment on the back of the original title and cancels the registration online or with Form MV-18J. The buyer must title and register within 7 days, and handing over a title assigned in blank is a misdemeanor.
Is there sales tax on a private equipment sale in Georgia?
Casual sales are exempt from Georgia sales tax, but the definition is narrow. Equipment used in a business only qualifies if that sale and similar sales over the past 12 months total $500 or less, or in a complete business liquidation finished within 30 days. Sales through an agent, broker or regular seller don't qualify. Qualified agricultural producers with a GATE certificate can buy qualifying farm machinery tax-free. This is a summary, not tax advice; check with the state revenue department or a tax professional.
Where are heavy equipment auctions held in Georgia?
Auction companies with sites or regular sales in Georgia include Taylor & Martin (Hampton, GA (Atlanta Motor Speedway)), bidadoo (Hiram, GA service center). Online auctions also sell equipment from the seller's location.
Are excavators and dozers titled in Georgia?
Off-road construction machines are generally not titled the way trucks and trailers are. Ownership is shown with a bill of sale and purchase records, and any lender's lien is usually recorded as a UCC financing statement with the Secretary of State.
Sources
- dor.georgia.gov/title-not-required-or-optional-titles
- dor.georgia.gov/responsibilities-sellers-and-buyers
- dor.georgia.gov/how-release-lien-and-security-interest-title
- www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/georgia/Ga-Comp-R-Regs-R-560-12-1-.07
- dor.georgia.gov/taxes/business-taxes/sales-use-tax/nontaxable-sales
- www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/georgia/Ga-Comp-R-Regs-R-560-12-2-.03
- www.taylorandmartin.com/auctions/locations/
- www.bidadoo.com/contact
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About the author
Mark Shvaya · Founder, HeavyDutyYard
Mark Shvaya founded HeavyDutyYard in Sacramento, California. He is a licensed California real estate broker and runs the HeavyDutyYard equipment marketplace, which reviews every listing and screens buyer messages before they reach sellers.