Short answer
You can sell heavy equipment in New York without hauling it to a dealer or auction yard. HeavyDutyYard, in Sacramento, California, works remotely with New York 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 New York.
In New York, trailers over 999 lbs. (1973 and newer) and trucks are titled by DMV. Unlike most states, New York taxes casual sales: a private seller of an untitled machine collects the tax and files Form ST-131 within 20 days.
How Selling From New York Works
Send us the machine
Submit the make, model, serial number, hours and a few photos. Tell us where in New York 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 New York; 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 New York, 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 New York.
New York 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 New York handles each.
| Item | NY rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trailers | New York DMV issues titles for trailers over 999 lbs. and model year 1973 or newer. Lighter or older trailers use a transferable registration as proof of ownership instead. | dmv.ny.gov |
| Trucks | Trucks are titled by NY DMV. The seller completes and signs the transfer section of the title, and a bill of sale (MV-912) can document a private sale. For gifts and below-market sales, the seller also completes Form DTF-802. | dmv.ny.gov |
| Lien release | The lienholder gives the owner a signed Notice of Recorded Lien (MV-901) marked satisfied, or a release letter on its letterhead. The owner mails the proof, the original title and the fee to DMV Title Services in Albany for a lien-free title. | dmv.ny.gov |
| Excavators, dozers, loaders | Generally not titled. Liens are recorded as UCC financing statements with the Secretary of State. | Our lien guide |
Titling agency: New York State DMV. Rules change; confirm with the agency before you sell.
Sales Tax on a Private Equipment Sale in New York
New York taxes casual sales. A seller who isn't registered collects the tax and remits it with Form ST-131 within 20 days; the state's own example is a used lawn tractor. For titled or registered vehicles and trailers, the buyer pays the tax at DMV instead. Machinery used more than 50% of the time in farm production is exempt with Form ST-125.
Sources: tax.ny.gov, tax.ny.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 New York revenue department or a tax professional before you close.
Heavy Equipment Auctions in New York
Auctions are a real option, and you should compare them with any offer. These companies hold equipment sales in New York:
| Auction company | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Lyon & Son | Bridgeport, NY (also sales in Lockport, Greenwich and Long Island) | lyonauction.com |
| Taylor & Martin | Saugerties, NY | taylorandmartin.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 |
| NY 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 New York?
Yes. HeavyDutyYard is in Sacramento, California and works remotely with sellers in New York and nationwide. We make offers on some machines and list others free on our marketplace. If we buy your machine, we coordinate transport from New York. We reply within one business day.
Do I need a title to sell a trailer in New York?
New York DMV issues titles for trailers over 999 lbs. and model year 1973 or newer. Lighter or older trailers use a transferable registration as proof of ownership instead.
What does the seller do when selling a titled truck in New York?
Trucks are titled by NY DMV. The seller completes and signs the transfer section of the title, and a bill of sale (MV-912) can document a private sale. For gifts and below-market sales, the seller also completes Form DTF-802.
Is there sales tax on a private equipment sale in New York?
New York taxes casual sales. A seller who isn't registered collects the tax and remits it with Form ST-131 within 20 days; the state's own example is a used lawn tractor. For titled or registered vehicles and trailers, the buyer pays the tax at DMV instead. Machinery used more than 50% of the time in farm production is exempt with Form ST-125. This is a summary, not tax advice; check with the state revenue department or a tax professional.
Where are heavy equipment auctions held in New York?
Auction companies with sites or regular sales in New York include Alex Lyon & Son (Bridgeport, NY (also sales in Lockport, Greenwich and Long Island)), Taylor & Martin (Saugerties, NY). Online auctions also sell equipment from the seller's location.
Are excavators and dozers titled in New York?
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.