Short answer
You can sell heavy equipment in Kentucky without hauling it to a dealer or auction yard. HeavyDutyYard, in Sacramento, California, works remotely with Kentucky 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 Kentucky.
In Kentucky, trailers and trucks must be titled through the county clerk within 15 days, even if not used on the road. Occasional sales are exempt from sales tax, and farm machinery has its own exemption that requires an agriculture exemption license number.
How Selling From Kentucky Works
Send us the machine
Submit the make, model, serial number, hours and a few photos. Tell us where in Kentucky 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 Kentucky; 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 Kentucky, 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 Kentucky.
Kentucky 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 Kentucky handles each.
| Item | KY rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trailers | Under KRS 186A.070, a Kentucky resident who owns a vehicle or trailer must apply for a certificate of title within 15 days, even if it won't be driven on public roads. Registration isn't required until the trailer goes on the highway. Titles are issued through the county clerk. | apps.legislature.ky.gov |
| Trucks | When a titled vehicle is sold, the seller signs the assignment and warranty of title, including the federal odometer disclosure, at delivery. The buyer submits it to the county clerk. If the buyer hasn't transferred it within 15 days, the seller can file an affidavit with the clerk in their home county. | apps.legislature.ky.gov |
| Lien release | Kentucky liens are noted and discharged electronically in the state's vehicle title system through the county clerk. A new title won't be issued free of the lien until the system shows the security interest has been discharged. | apps.legislature.ky.gov |
| Excavators, dozers, loaders | Generally not titled. Liens are recorded as UCC financing statements with the Secretary of State. | Our lien guide |
Titling agency: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, through county clerks. Rules change; confirm with the agency before you sell.
Sales Tax on a Private Equipment Sale in Kentucky
Kentucky exempts occasional sales: sales of property not held or used in an activity that requires a seller's permit, as long as they aren't part of a series of sales large enough to need one. Farm machinery used exclusively and directly in farming is exempt, but trucks and trailers are excluded except combine header trailers. Since January 1, 2023, buyers must give the seller an agriculture exemption license number to claim the farm exemption.
Sources: apps.legislature.ky.gov, apps.legislature.ky.gov, apps.legislature.ky.gov
Not tax advice. Sales and use tax depends on who is selling, who is buying, and how the equipment is used. Check with the Kentucky revenue department or a tax professional before you close.
Heavy Equipment Auctions in Kentucky
Auctions are a real option, and you should compare them with any offer. These companies hold equipment sales in Kentucky:
| Auction company | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bunch Brothers Auctioneers & Realty | Louisville, KY (spring and fall heavy equipment auctions) | bunchbrothers.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.
Equipment Listed for Sale in Kentucky
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 |
| KY 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 Kentucky?
Yes. HeavyDutyYard is in Sacramento, California and works remotely with sellers in Kentucky and nationwide. We make offers on some machines and list others free on our marketplace. If we buy your machine, we coordinate transport from Kentucky. We reply within one business day.
Do I need a title to sell a trailer in Kentucky?
Under KRS 186A.070, a Kentucky resident who owns a vehicle or trailer must apply for a certificate of title within 15 days, even if it won't be driven on public roads. Registration isn't required until the trailer goes on the highway. Titles are issued through the county clerk.
What does the seller do when selling a titled truck in Kentucky?
When a titled vehicle is sold, the seller signs the assignment and warranty of title, including the federal odometer disclosure, at delivery. The buyer submits it to the county clerk. If the buyer hasn't transferred it within 15 days, the seller can file an affidavit with the clerk in their home county.
Is there sales tax on a private equipment sale in Kentucky?
Kentucky exempts occasional sales: sales of property not held or used in an activity that requires a seller's permit, as long as they aren't part of a series of sales large enough to need one. Farm machinery used exclusively and directly in farming is exempt, but trucks and trailers are excluded except combine header trailers. Since January 1, 2023, buyers must give the seller an agriculture exemption license number to claim the farm exemption. This is a summary, not tax advice; check with the state revenue department or a tax professional.
Where are heavy equipment auctions held in Kentucky?
Auction companies with sites or regular sales in Kentucky include Bunch Brothers Auctioneers & Realty (Louisville, KY (spring and fall heavy equipment auctions)). Online auctions also sell equipment from the seller's location.
Are excavators and dozers titled in Kentucky?
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
- apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=6144
- apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=6179
- apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=57593
- apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=58185
- apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=57938
- apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=57940
- www.bunchbrothers.com
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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.