What Paperwork You Need Before Consigning a Truck or Trailer

The single biggest cause of a delayed consignment isn’t the equipment itself, it’s missing paperwork. Having everything ready before you bring in a truck or trailer means we can list it faster and get it in front of buyers sooner, instead of chasing down documents after the fact.

Title, In Your Name

We need the original title, and it needs to be in the name of the person or company consigning the unit. If the title is still in a previous owner’s name, that transfer needs to happen before the sale can close, so take care of that first if at all possible. A lost title can usually be replaced through your state’s DMV, but that process can take weeks, so start it early if you don’t have the original in hand.

Lien Release, If Applicable

If the truck or trailer was financed and the loan has since been paid off, we’ll need the lien release from the lender showing the title is now clear. If there’s still an active loan on the unit, let us know up front. We can often work with the lender to coordinate a payoff at the time of sale, but that needs to be set up before the unit goes to auction, not after it sells.

Registration and Current Inspection Records

Bring current registration paperwork, and if the unit has a recent DOT inspection, annual safety inspection, or state inspection on file, include that too. Buyers, especially commercial buyers planning to put the unit straight to work, place real value on documented inspection history. It’s one less thing they have to do themselves before the truck earns them money.

Maintenance and Service Records

These aren’t required to consign, but they consistently help a unit sell for more. Oil change receipts, tire replacement dates, recent repairs, anything that shows the truck or trailer was maintained on schedule gives serious buyers more confidence to bid aggressively instead of discounting their offer for the unknown.

Getting Started

If you’re planning to consign a truck or trailer with Main-West Equipment, gather what you can of the above before reaching out, and don’t worry if something is missing. Our team has helped sellers track down lost titles and lien releases plenty of times before, and we’ll walk you through exactly what’s needed for your specific situation.