Short answer
You can sell heavy equipment in Nebraska without hauling it to a dealer or auction yard. HeavyDutyYard, in Sacramento, California, works remotely with Nebraska 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 Nebraska.
In Nebraska, construction machinery is exempt from titling, and so are utility trailers of 9,000 lbs. gross or less. The occasional sale of business or farm equipment used as a depreciable asset for over a year is exempt from sales tax.
How Selling From Nebraska Works
Send us the machine
Submit the make, model, serial number, hours and a few photos. Tell us where in Nebraska 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 Nebraska; 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 Nebraska, 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 Nebraska.
Nebraska 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 Nebraska handles each.
| Item | NE rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trailers | Utility trailers with a gross weight, load included, of 9,000 lbs. or less are exempt from titling in Nebraska, though the owner can request a title. Trailers used only by farmers or ranchers to haul their own product are also exempt. Heavier trailers are titled through the county treasurer. | dmv.nebraska.gov |
| Trucks | Trucks are titled under Nebraska's Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title Act, and a buyer doesn't own the vehicle until they have it and a title assigned to them. Road and general-purpose construction machinery and implements of husbandry are exempt from titling. | nebraskalegislature.govdmv.nebraska.gov |
| Lien release | Within 15 days after payoff, the lienholder must note the cancellation on a paper title and deliver it to the county treasurer or the DMV, or notify the DMV for an electronic title. There is no fee for the cancellation. | nebraskalegislature.gov |
| Excavators, dozers, loaders | Generally not titled. Liens are recorded as UCC financing statements with the Secretary of State. | Our lien guide |
Titling agency: Nebraska DMV, through county treasurers. Rules change; confirm with the agency before you sell.
Sales Tax on a Private Equipment Sale in Nebraska
Nebraska exempts the occasional sale of business or farm machinery and equipment that the seller used as a depreciable capital asset for more than one year; the seller issues Form 13. Buyers of depreciable agricultural machinery used directly in commercial agriculture can also claim an exemption on Form 13.
Sources: revenue.nebraska.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 Nebraska revenue department or a tax professional before you close.
Heavy Equipment Auctions in Nebraska
Auctions are a real option, and you should compare them with any offer. These companies hold equipment sales in Nebraska:
| Auction company | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Taylor & Martin | South Sioux City, NE | taylorandmartin.com |
| BigIron Auctions | Online auctions of equipment sold on-site across Nebraska | bigiron.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 |
| NE 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 Nebraska?
Yes. HeavyDutyYard is in Sacramento, California and works remotely with sellers in Nebraska and nationwide. We make offers on some machines and list others free on our marketplace. If we buy your machine, we coordinate transport from Nebraska. We reply within one business day.
Do I need a title to sell a trailer in Nebraska?
Utility trailers with a gross weight, load included, of 9,000 lbs. or less are exempt from titling in Nebraska, though the owner can request a title. Trailers used only by farmers or ranchers to haul their own product are also exempt. Heavier trailers are titled through the county treasurer.
What does the seller do when selling a titled truck in Nebraska?
Trucks are titled under Nebraska's Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title Act, and a buyer doesn't own the vehicle until they have it and a title assigned to them. Road and general-purpose construction machinery and implements of husbandry are exempt from titling.
Is there sales tax on a private equipment sale in Nebraska?
Nebraska exempts the occasional sale of business or farm machinery and equipment that the seller used as a depreciable capital asset for more than one year; the seller issues Form 13. Buyers of depreciable agricultural machinery used directly in commercial agriculture can also claim an exemption on Form 13. This is a summary, not tax advice; check with the state revenue department or a tax professional.
Where are heavy equipment auctions held in Nebraska?
Auction companies with sites or regular sales in Nebraska include Taylor & Martin (South Sioux City, NE), BigIron Auctions (Online auctions of equipment sold on-site across Nebraska). Online auctions also sell equipment from the seller's location.
Are excavators and dozers titled in Nebraska?
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
Sell Heavy Equipment in Other States
Sell by Equipment Type
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.