How to Find the Value of Commercial Trucks
by Aaron Gifford
Finding the right price for a used commercial truck can involve a little bit of research. Well-known services like Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds report the values of new and used cars and trucks, but not commercial trucks. Looking at existing advertisements for commercial trucks is only one step in the process. It's also important to get a few different qualified opinions on the vehicle's worth and determining how much of a demand exists for the vehicle locally, regionally or even in other states.
Step 1
Check out online listings like Commercial Truck Trader and Truck Paper. This is just a starting point and a number to fall back on if there is no great demand for the vehicle. These sites also list dealers for commercial used trucks.
Step 2
Contact the nearest used commercial truck trader and make an appointment for an appraisal. If there is no listing in the telephone directory or online, contact someone at the local county highway department, which may purchase or sell trucks from that type of business on occasion. The dealer will assume that you are interested in selling/trading in the vehicle to them when you bring it in for the appraisal.
Step 3
Contact a mechanic who works on commercial trucks. Again, someone at the county highway department may know of someone in the area. The mechanic may bill for an hour's labor or more to check the vehicle inside and out and give his opinion, but it may pay off in the end as potential buyers might also have a mechanic check the vehicle out and come back with a lower offered price.
Step 4
Scour ads in local classifieds, national online ad services like Craig's List, and in websites devoted to commercial truck sales. Someone may be willing to pay top price for a specific make and model. If not, an advertised price can be set based on information from the mechanic, dealer and used commercial truck ads. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the allowed lengths and widths of commercial trucks vary by state. Keep those figures in mind when looking for potential buyers in other states.
References
Tips
- If there is no demand for the truck, scrap yards and used auto part dealers can be a last resort.
Things You'll Need
- Internet access
Writer Bio
Aaron Gifford is based in New York. He has been on staff at the "Syracuse Post-Standard," the "Watertown Daily Times" and the "Oneida Daily Dispatch." He's also written for "Long Island Newsday," "Empire State Report" magazine and "In Good Health." He has been writing professionally since 1995. Gifford holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University at Buffalo.
