Between 40 and 60 sell at the Cambridge Machinery Sale at Sutton, near Ely, each month, split fairly evenly between agricultural and industrial models, so there is enough on offer to wait for one that suits the job. It is one of the largest regular sources of used telehandlers in the country, part of Europe's largest monthly agricultural machinery sale.
The brands are the ones buyers know and search for, with JCB, Manitou, Merlo and Caterpillar the regulars, alongside older marques such as Matbro and Sanderson. Most are sold straight off farms, hire fleets and groundworks sites by the people who ran them, which is the kind of provenance trade buyers look for. Ex-hire telehandlers are a steady part of the catalogue, and Cheffins has buyers who come back for them sale after sale.
Buying a telehandler
Catalogues go online ahead of each sale with photographs and descriptions, so you can line up what you are after before the day. Registration is free, and you can bid in the room, by phone or online. It pays to view in person where you can, because the telehandlers are out on the 40-acre site at Sutton in the run-up to the sale, where you can check the hours, the boom and the general condition before you bid. The buyer's premium is 6% plus VAT on the first £2,500 of the hammer price, then 3.5% plus VAT above that, with collection from Sutton to arrange once the machine is yours.
Selling a telehandler or fleet
A single telehandler or a whole fleet is entered into the monthly sale, in front of buyers across the UK and overseas. The regular trade-in of ex-hire and ex-fleet machines means there is a ready audience for them, which keeps the bidding competitive on a sound handler. A larger fleet can also be sold on-site, where the machines form part of a wider dispersal at your own depot or yard.
Pre-sale appraisals are free, with formal written valuations arranged separately. Joe Page looks after telehandler entries and can advise on the right route and what a machine is likely to make.
Why Cheffins for telehandlers?
Cheffins has sold machinery at Sutton since 1941, and the monthly sale now draws around 30,000 registered bidders in more than 50 countries. Telehandlers are one of the biggest categories in the sale, so they reach a broad range of farm and trade buyers every month, including export buyers who keep prices firm on a tidy machine.
Telehandler auction FAQs
Where can I buy a used telehandler at auction in the UK? Cheffins sells used telehandlers at the monthly Cambridge Machinery Sale in Sutton, near Ely, with 40 to 60 in a typical catalogue. You can bid in the room, by phone or online, and registration is free.
How do I sell my telehandler through Cheffins? Either a single telehandler or a small group is included in the monthly sale, while a larger fleet can be sold on-site as part of a wider dispersal. Pre-sale appraisals are free, and Joe Page can advise on the right route and likely value.
What telehandler brands does Cheffins sell? Regular makes include JCB, Manitou, Merlo and Caterpillar, alongside older marques such as Matbro and Sanderson, in both agricultural and industrial models.
How are telehandler auctions priced, and what fees apply? Registration is free, and buyers can bid online at no extra cost. At the Cambridge Machinery Sale, 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
Plant & Machinery · Excavators & Diggers · Modern Tractors · Cambridge Machinery Sales · On-site Auctions · Machinery & Vintage Auctions
Ready to buy or sell a telehandler?
Take a look at what's in the next sale, or call the machinery team on 01353 777767 (option 1) or email [email protected] to talk through selling a single machine or a fleet.