Tips for buying used plant and equipment

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Buying used equipment? According to The National Plant and Equipment Register (TER), there's no such thing as a great deal when it comes to buying used plant. "Great deals are just traps for fools," warns manager Tim Purbrick. "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

To help buyers avoid purchasing stolen equipment, TER has devised a list of dos and don'ts for them to consider alongside the information they usually check, such as make, model, year, condition and hours run.

TER's top tips:

• DO seek references for the seller from someone you know who has dealt with them before.

• DO physically inspect the equipment before you buy it - make sure that the correct type of serial number plate is fixed correctly to the chassis and that it has not been interfered with.

• DON'T purchase from 'dodgy' places such as pub car parks, lay-bys or service stations.

• DO view and buy it from the company or home address of the seller.

• DO be suspicious of recently re-sprayed equipment.

• DO check the ignition has not been damaged.

• DO look for any previous owner decals - if you find any, call them to make sure they have sold it.

• DO ask for any documentation - receipts, service history, V5 etc.

• DO request a company receipt which includes the seller's full address and VAT number.

• DO 'TER Check' the equipment with TER before you buy it, and do so when you are standing next to it.

• DO insist on seeing the TER Check certificate if you are buying from a dealer or auction.

• DON'T pay cash.

• DO be suspicious if the sale price is less than the current market value.

• DO walk away if you have any doubts.

And finally, if you're selling plant and equipment, DON'T release equipment before a cheque or bankers draft has cleared into your account - both can be forged.