Short answer
You can sell heavy equipment in Texas without hauling it to a dealer or auction yard. HeavyDutyYard, in Sacramento, California, works remotely with Texas 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 Texas.
In Texas, trailers over 4,000 lbs. and all trucks need a title from TxDMV, while machines like excavators and dozers are not titled. A one-off private sale of a used machine is usually exempt from sales tax as an occasional sale.
How Selling From Texas Works
Send us the machine
Submit the make, model, serial number, hours and a few photos. Tell us where in Texas 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 Texas; 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 Texas, 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 Texas.
Texas 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 Texas handles each.
| Item | TX rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trailers | In Texas, a manufactured trailer with a gross weight over 4,000 lbs. must be titled, and a used trailer over that weight changes hands on a certificate of title. A used trailer at or under 4,000 lbs. can transfer with a bill of sale and registration receipt. Farm trailers at or under 4,000 lbs. used mainly as farm vehicles are exempt from title and registration. | txdmv.gov |
| Trucks | Trucks are titled through TxDMV and the county tax office. The seller gives the buyer a signed title showing the sale date and odometer reading, plus a signed Form 130-U with the sales price. TxDMV advises sellers to file a Vehicle Transfer Notification within 30 days so they aren't liable for later tickets and tolls. | txdmv.gov |
| Lien release | For a paper title, the lienholder has 10 days after receiving payment to release the lien. The owner then submits the title, the release-of-lien letter and Form 130-U. For an electronic lien, the lienholder notifies TxDMV and a paper title is mailed to the owner. | txdmv.gov |
| Excavators, dozers, loaders | Generally not titled. Liens are recorded as UCC financing statements with the Secretary of State. | Our lien guide |
Titling agency: Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). Rules change; confirm with the agency before you sell.
Sales Tax on a Private Equipment Sale in Texas
Texas exempts occasional sales: one or two taxable items in any 12-month period by someone not in the business of selling. A seller who holds a sales tax permit collects tax. Farmers and timber operators claim agricultural exemptions with a Comptroller-issued Ag/Timber Number, and a farm machine or trailer used at least 80% for qualifying agricultural purposes is exempt from motor vehicle sales tax.
Sources: comptroller.texas.gov, comptroller.texas.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 Texas revenue department or a tax professional before you close.
Heavy Equipment Auctions in Texas
Auctions are a real option, and you should compare them with any offer. These companies hold equipment sales in Texas:
| Auction company | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Taylor & Martin | Fort Worth, TX (Texas Motor Speedway) | taylorandmartin.com |
| Taylor & Martin | Houston, TX | taylorandmartin.com |
| bidadoo | Alvarado, TX and Conroe, TX service centers | 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 |
| TX 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 Texas?
Yes. HeavyDutyYard is in Sacramento, California and works remotely with sellers in Texas and nationwide. We make offers on some machines and list others free on our marketplace. If we buy your machine, we coordinate transport from Texas. We reply within one business day.
Do I need a title to sell a trailer in Texas?
In Texas, a manufactured trailer with a gross weight over 4,000 lbs. must be titled, and a used trailer over that weight changes hands on a certificate of title. A used trailer at or under 4,000 lbs. can transfer with a bill of sale and registration receipt. Farm trailers at or under 4,000 lbs. used mainly as farm vehicles are exempt from title and registration.
What does the seller do when selling a titled truck in Texas?
Trucks are titled through TxDMV and the county tax office. The seller gives the buyer a signed title showing the sale date and odometer reading, plus a signed Form 130-U with the sales price. TxDMV advises sellers to file a Vehicle Transfer Notification within 30 days so they aren't liable for later tickets and tolls.
Is there sales tax on a private equipment sale in Texas?
Texas exempts occasional sales: one or two taxable items in any 12-month period by someone not in the business of selling. A seller who holds a sales tax permit collects tax. Farmers and timber operators claim agricultural exemptions with a Comptroller-issued Ag/Timber Number, and a farm machine or trailer used at least 80% for qualifying agricultural purposes is exempt from motor vehicle sales tax. This is a summary, not tax advice; check with the state revenue department or a tax professional.
Where are heavy equipment auctions held in Texas?
Auction companies with sites or regular sales in Texas include Taylor & Martin (Fort Worth, TX (Texas Motor Speedway)), Taylor & Martin (Houston, TX), bidadoo (Alvarado, TX and Conroe, TX service centers). Online auctions also sell equipment from the seller's location.
Are excavators and dozers titled in Texas?
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
- www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/trailers
- www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle
- www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/add-remove-lien
- comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/94-437.php
- comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/96-254/ag-timber.php
- 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.