Trucks for Sale at Auction in Australia – Inc. How and Where to Buy

Thousands of trucks including large prime movers, flatbeds, tippers, and light trucks go up for auction every year across Australia, so, let’s uncover all the places where you can hunt down a deal across this great nation.

Where to find trucks and machinery for sale at auction

There are several major national auction houses and large state-based auctioneers that you should be tracking.

Pickles – holds regular auctions in Adelaide, Albany, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Dubbo, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney, Tamworth and Townsville. Their stock comes from such places as Energex, DASFLEET, Ergon Energy, Telstra, NT Fleet, Australian Defence Force, mining companies, Orix, Leaseplan, SA Power Net, Federal & State Governments, local council, National Finance & Insurance Companies, major corporations & hire companies.

Manheim – holds regular truck, trailer, and machinery auctions at Brisbane, Perth, Newcastle (Sydney), Moorebank (Sydney), Adelaide, Melbourne, Townsville, and Darwin. Their stock comes from such places as the Department of Defence, city councils, SG Fleet, insurance companies, major corporations, and mining companies.

Grays – the online auction powerhouse holds regular monthly machinery and truck auctions including ex-gov equip, ex-civil works, mining, and more.

Slattery Auctions – regular truck and machinery sales in Sydney and Melbourne.

Smith Boughton Auctioneers – in WA, they hold regular sales on an almost weekly basis of ex-mining, transport, and agriculture equip.

Ross’s Auctions – in WA, regular mining equip sales, ex-gov, and business closure

Every week there are auctions for business closures and trucks featuring as part of larger sales, so, also be sure to check the sales in your local area via our directory of auctioneers and if you know what you are after, try looking via our auction search engine.

When we come across relevant upcoming sales we add them to our Trucks, Earthmoving, Machinery, & Mining category

Latest Truck and Machinery Sale Notices

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Tips for first-time truck buyers

Being such a large capital outlay, many owner-operators keep a close eye on auctions in the hope of securing either truck or trailer, at well below replacement cost compared to buying new or from a yard. Bidding competition for sought-after heavy equipment can often be quite healthy. With that in mind, new bidders will need to be sure not to get caught up in that frenzy and remember the possible downsides like repair costs along with unknown damage/faults. Stick to your bidding limit to secure a great price.

Do inquire as to the truck’s history, for example, who was the previous owner and why is it at auction in the least. Most reputable auction centres will help out with background details but don’t leave it until auction day to do this. Remember, the auctioneers are earning a commission when they sell an item, so, they should be happy to help you with any pre-auction questions.

Trucks end up for sale at auction for many reasons, including insolvent company liquidation, ex-government, ex-lease, insurance claim, or as part of a clearing sale or larger sale. Ex-government sales are popular as any units should have been regularly maintained without any shortcuts but it’s not a guarantee of a sure thing.

The best time to do research is always well before bidding as once the hammer falls, good or bad, it’s yours.

Tips for buying a used truck

Application – What are you going to use it for – interstate, regional, or local? The first challenge is to find a used truck with the specifications that most closely suit your needs. Also, consider the future needs of your new workhorse.

Mileage – How much life’s left in the truck? Many consider lower-mileage trucks to be up to one million km and a really low-mileage truck is in the region of 400,000-600,000 KM.

Budget for an overhaul– Factor in a margin for future overhauls to the engine and drive train particularly if the KLMS are in the higher range.

Exercise due diligence – Look for tell-tale signs of low maintenance like dry grease points, poor oil quality or damaged belts which may indicate a lack of maintenance. Some truck and coach auction centres may also allow a mechanical pre-inspection by a technician or provide a detailed report from their own mechanics which is well worth inquiring about.