Short answer
You can sell heavy equipment in Louisiana without hauling it to a dealer or auction yard. HeavyDutyYard, in Sacramento, California, works remotely with Louisiana 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 Louisiana.
In Louisiana, used trucks and trailers are titled through OMV, and the seller signs the title in front of a notary. Isolated sales by non-businesses fall outside sales tax, and since 2025 the farm equipment exemption covers the first $150,000 of the price.
How Selling From Louisiana Works
Send us the machine
Submit the make, model, serial number, hours and a few photos. Tell us where in Louisiana 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 Louisiana; 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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana.
Louisiana 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 Louisiana handles each.
| Item | LA rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trailers | Louisiana OMV requires used vehicles to be titled, and state law gives owners of trailers, boat trailers and farm trailers a way to get a Louisiana title even when there is no prior title record. Ask OMV how the rule applies to your trailer. | expresslane.la.govlegis.la.gov |
| Trucks | The seller assigns the title to the buyer in front of a notary, with any lien released, and the buyer also needs an original notarized bill of sale showing the price. Sales tax is collected at transfer. Sellers can file a Notice of Vehicle Transfer online, but ownership doesn't legally change until the buyer applies for title. | expresslane.la.govexpresslane.la.gov |
| Lien release | Under Louisiana's electronic lien program, the lienholder sends an electronic satisfaction to its public tag agent, which releases the lien and mails a clear title. On a paper title, the lien must be shown as released before transfer. | expresslane.la.gov |
| Excavators, dozers, loaders | Generally not titled. Liens are recorded as UCC financing statements with the Secretary of State. | Our lien guide |
Titling agency: Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV). Rules change; confirm with the agency before you sell.
Sales Tax on a Private Equipment Sale in Louisiana
Louisiana's definition of business leaves out occasional and isolated sales by a person who doesn't hold themselves out as being in business. Since January 1, 2025, the farm equipment exemption in R.S. 47:305.3 covers the first $150,000 of the purchase price, up from $50,000. Titled vehicles are taxed at OMV when transferred.
Sources: legis.la.gov, revenue.la.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 Louisiana revenue department or a tax professional before you close.
Heavy Equipment Auctions in Louisiana
Auctions are a real option, and you should compare them with any offer. These companies hold equipment sales in Louisiana:
| Auction company | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Henderson Auctions | Livingston, LA | hendersonauctions.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 |
| LA 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 Louisiana?
Yes. HeavyDutyYard is in Sacramento, California and works remotely with sellers in Louisiana and nationwide. We make offers on some machines and list others free on our marketplace. If we buy your machine, we coordinate transport from Louisiana. We reply within one business day.
Do I need a title to sell a trailer in Louisiana?
Louisiana OMV requires used vehicles to be titled, and state law gives owners of trailers, boat trailers and farm trailers a way to get a Louisiana title even when there is no prior title record. Ask OMV how the rule applies to your trailer.
What does the seller do when selling a titled truck in Louisiana?
The seller assigns the title to the buyer in front of a notary, with any lien released, and the buyer also needs an original notarized bill of sale showing the price. Sales tax is collected at transfer. Sellers can file a Notice of Vehicle Transfer online, but ownership doesn't legally change until the buyer applies for title.
Is there sales tax on a private equipment sale in Louisiana?
Louisiana's definition of business leaves out occasional and isolated sales by a person who doesn't hold themselves out as being in business. Since January 1, 2025, the farm equipment exemption in R.S. 47:305.3 covers the first $150,000 of the purchase price, up from $50,000. Titled vehicles are taxed at OMV when transferred. This is a summary, not tax advice; check with the state revenue department or a tax professional.
Where are heavy equipment auctions held in Louisiana?
Auction companies with sites or regular sales in Louisiana include Henderson Auctions (Livingston, LA). Online auctions also sell equipment from the seller's location.
Are excavators and dozers titled in Louisiana?
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
- expresslane.la.gov/omv/vehicles/title-and-registration/used-title-registration/
- legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=630941
- expresslane.la.gov/omv/vehicles/title-and-registration/notice-of-vehicle-transfer/
- expresslane.la.gov/omv/businesses/electronic-title-or-lien/
- legis.la.gov/legis/law.aspx?d=101815
- www.revenue.la.gov/tax-education-and-faqs/faqs/sales-tax-reform/were-any-changes-made-to-the-agricultural-exemptions-and-exclusions-applicable-to-state-sales-tax
- www.hendersonauctions.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.