Used crane buying guide
Buying a used mobile crane: marketplace or auction?
An auction gives you a fixed date and a market price on the day, but you buy as-is, pay a buyer premium on top of the hammer price and inspect only during the preview. A marketplace lets you negotiate with the seller, inspect before you commit, buy the exact configuration you need and, on GST Cranes, pay no buyer premium and no success fee. Auctions suit buyers who can inspect in person and know the model; marketplaces suit buyers who need a specific configuration, documents and a negotiated deal.
Updated · GST Cranes editorial
How each route works
At an auction, cranes are consigned by fleets, banks, lessors and dealers, previewed for a few days and sold to the highest bidder on the day. The sale is final and the crane is sold as it stands, usually with limited or no warranty.
On a marketplace, a seller lists the crane with specifications, photos and a price, and buyers contact the seller directly. Inspection, negotiation, contract and payment are agreed between the two parties.
Price: hammer price is not the final price
The auction price you pay is the hammer price plus a buyer premium, commonly around ten to fifteen percent, plus any administration, documentation and loading fees, plus transport from the auction yard. Auction results are useful as benchmarks for what a model sells for, but compare the all-in price, not the hammer.
On a marketplace the price is negotiated. On GST Cranes there is no buyer premium and no success fee, so the negotiated price is the purchase price; transport and inspection remain yours to arrange, as with any private sale.
Inspection and risk
Auctions give you a preview window, often without the crane running under load, and no recourse after the hammer falls. If you cannot attend the preview or send an inspector, you are buying from photos and a condition report written by the seller side.
Marketplace purchases let you inspect before committing, ask for a load test, review the documents and negotiate on what the inspection finds. The risk shifts from the crane condition to the seller, which is why seller verification matters.
Configuration and documents
Auction lots come as they are: the jib, counterweight or documents that are missing stay missing, and you find out at the yard. On a marketplace you specify the configuration in the contract and confirm the documents before payment, which is why buyers with a defined job or a fleet standard usually buy directly.
Timing
Auctions are fast and fixed: register, bid, pay within days, collect within a week or two. Marketplace deals take as long as inspection, paperwork and payment terms require, from a few days for a straightforward domestic sale to several weeks for a cross-border purchase with a letter of credit.
When an auction is the right choice
- You or your inspector can attend the preview and check the crane in person
- You know the model well and can judge condition from what you see
- Configuration is flexible for you, and missing items can be sourced
- You want the market price on a fixed date and can pay quickly
When a marketplace is the right choice
- You need a specific configuration: boom length, jib, counterweight, winches
- You want the service history, an inspection under load and documents before paying
- You are buying cross-border and need agreed delivery and payment terms
- You want to negotiate on the findings of an inspection
Use both
Experienced buyers use auction results to benchmark prices and marketplaces to buy the right crane. Check what a model has sold for recently, then negotiate with a seller who can show you the crane, the documents and the full configuration.
Frequently asked questions
Is buying a used crane at auction cheaper?
Sometimes on the hammer price, rarely on the all-in price once the buyer premium, fees, transport and any missing items are added. Auctions are a good source of price benchmarks; whether they are cheaper for you depends on what the crane needs after the sale.
Can I negotiate the price on a marketplace?
Yes. Marketplace listings carry an asking price, and buyers negotiate directly with the seller, usually on the basis of an inspection, the documents and the configuration included.
Does GST Cranes charge a buyer premium?
No. GST Cranes charges no buyer premium and no success fee. Buyers and sellers deal directly; transport, inspection and payment are arranged between them.