Selling Equipment Privately: Before You List and Settle

• Gather proof of ownership, such as your original purchase invoice, and the serial or identification number from the plate.
• Tell buyers whether the equipment is owned outright, leased or on finance. Equipment on lease or hire purchase may still belong to the financier until the final payment, so you may not be able to sell it without the financier's agreement. See when the seller still owes finance.
• If finance is owing, get a written payout letter from your financier before you advertise, so you know your real bottom line.
• Give the buyer the details they need to run their own PPSR search. Machinery and equipment are generally searched by the seller's details (an ACN for a company, or full name and date of birth for an individual), not by serial number. See PPSR: serial-numbered vs non-serial-numbered search and PPSR: tips for a grantor search.
• Be honest about condition, hours and any known faults, and list what is included in the sale.

• Use a written sale agreement or bill of sale showing both parties' details, the serial or identification number, what is included and the price.
• If you're registered for GST, a tax invoice may be needed. GST and tax treatment depend on your circumstances, so speak to your accountant.
• Items that are registered or plated (for example trailers and some plant) may have state transfer rules. See the transfer details in our car guide for your state: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory.

• Accept payment only by cleared, traceable funds, and don't release the equipment until the funds have cleared.
• Be careful with overpayment scams, fake payment confirmations, and buyers who want to pay with gift cards, crypto or a cheque you can't verify.
• If a buyer's lender is involved, they pay your financier directly at settlement (if you still owe money) and you receive the balance.
• Ask your financier to confirm in writing that the registration will be removed once paid out, and keep a copy.

Some lenders do finance private sales, usually with additional checks, which can help your buyer say yes. Buyers are often asked for an invoice or contract of sale, evidence of ownership and a clear PPSR search. What is needed varies by lender, and all finance is subject to lender approval, fees and charges.

• Buying equipment privately: checks before you pay
• Equipment and asset finance
• Chattel mortgage: how it works
• When the seller still owes finance
• Private Sale Guide: cars, checklist and stamp duty estimator