Whichever side you're on, you're dealing with one of the best-known names in machinery, and a reliable buyer base that attends the auctions month in, month out.

Plant and machinery sold at Cheffins

Telehandlers are the biggest single category in most sales, with excavators and diggers close behind. Behind them comes the kit that keeps a site running, from dumpers and rollers to compressors, generators and the lorries that move it all. A typical sale carries 300 to 500 plant lots, all individually consigned, so the mix shifts from one sale to the next.

The regular names reflect what's working on UK sites, with JCB, Caterpillar, Manitou and Merlo among the most common, and Hyundai and Hitachi on the excavator side. Telehandlers and excavators each have a page of their own, so see Telehandler Auctions or Excavator & Digger Auctions for the details.

Buying plant and machinery at auction

There's more than one way to buy plant at Cheffins, and one free registration covers all of them. Once a catalogue is live, you can study the lots and their photographs, then bid when the sale opens.

A high proportion of buyers bid online, where there is no extra charge, though you can also bid in the room or by phone. It is worth viewing in person beforehand if you can, to check the hours and condition and see exactly what each lot includes. On sale day everything goes under the hammer at Sutton, with the tractors driven through the ring and the plant sold statically from the yard.

The buyer's premium on plant is 6% plus VAT on the first £2,500 of the hammer price and 3.5% plus VAT on anything above that. On-site dispersals and some categories such as vehicles can differ, so check the premium and the payment and collection terms before you bid.

Selling plant and machinery through Cheffins

Cheffins sells plant for owners large and small, from one machine up to a full fleet. A single piece, or a small handful, usually goes into the monthly Cambridge Machinery Sale, where it sells in front of bidders from across the UK and overseas.

A full fleet is a bigger job, and often better sold on-site. When there is enough to draw buyers to it, an on-site auction at your own depot or yard cuts the haulage and lets people see how the machines have been worked and maintained. Cheffins runs these sales UK-wide throughout the year.

The team handles the rest, from advice on the right sale through to cataloguing, photography, marketing and the paperwork afterwards. Pre-sale appraisals are free, with formal written valuations charged separately. Joe Page, Director at Cambridge Machinery Sales, looks after plant entries for the monthly sale and can give no-obligation advice on what it is worth and the best route to sell it.

Why Cheffins for plant and machinery?

Cheffins has sold machinery since 1941, and moved to a purpose-built 40-acre saleground in 1996 that now draws around 30,000 registered bidders in more than 50 countries to every monthly sale. That depth of competition is what holds prices up on the day.

Some of the steadiest stock comes through long-standing trade relationships. The Construction Industry Training Board sends a quantity of unused equipment to the sale each year, a reliable source on top of the usual contractor and dealer entries.

Plant and machinery auction FAQs

Where can I buy plant and machinery at auction in the UK?

Cheffins sells used plant three ways: at the monthly Cambridge Machinery Sale at Sutton, near Ely; through timed online auctions; and at on-site fleet clearances. Registration is free, and you can bid online or in the room.

How do I sell construction plant at auction?

Talk to the machinery team about the best route for your equipment. Individual machines, smaller lots and full fleets can all be sold through the Cheffins Machinery Sale, while larger collections can also be sold through an onsite auction at your own depot or yard. Joe Page can advise on valuation and the most suitable sale option.

What types of plant are sold at Cheffins?

Telehandlers, excavators and diggers, dumpers, rollers, compressors, generators, lorries and site vehicles all sell here, along with attachments and ancillary equipment. JCB, Caterpillar, Manitou, Merlo, Hyundai and Hitachi are among the regular names. Stock changes with every sale.

How does bidding work for plant and machinery auctions?

Register for free, then bid online or in person, with phone bidding on request. Most buyers bid online at no extra cost. View beforehand where you can, and check the buyer's premium and the sale terms before bidding.

How are plant and machinery auctions priced, and what fees apply?

Registration is free, and buyers can bid online at no extra cost. At Cambridge Machinery Sales, the buyer's premium is 6% plus VAT on the first £2,500 of the hammer price, then 3.5% plus VAT above that. On-site fleet dispersals can differ, with the premium generally around 3.5% plus VAT depending on the sale. Check the payment and collection terms for the specific sale before you bid.

Related sections

Telehandlers · Excavators & Diggers · Modern Tractors · Trucks & Commercial Vehicles · Cambridge Machinery Sales · On-site Auctions · Machinery & Vintage Auctions

Ready to buy or sell plant?

Take a look at what's coming up in the next sale, or talk to the machinery team about selling. Call 01353 777767 (option 1) or email [email protected].