Do excavators have titles?

Mechelle

Mechelle

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Do excavators typically have titles like passenger vehicles? I'm wondering if they require titles for ownership and registration, or if the process differs for construction equipment. Any information on how titles are handled for excavators would be appreciated.
 
I've only owned one and bought it used. I did not received a title, hopefully that won't come back to bite me in the a$$. Not something I even considered.
 
Technically yes, but in practice, not really.

If you buy it new you should get a title. But unlike cars/trucks, there's no requirement to register it with the state (at least no states I've done business in). In my experience buying and selling them over the years, if you have a signed bill of sale or final invoice, that'll check your boxes needed to officially transfer ownership.

If you were buying/selling a machine that had a lien on it you'd probably want to pay more attention to a title. But ultimately that's between the owner of the machine and their lender. So as a buyer you have little to worry about from my understanding.
 
Yeah, it's a bit different from cars. Usually, you don’t get a title for excavators, just a bill of sale or invoice to transfer ownership.
Unless, you’re taking it on public roads, and even then, it depends on your state.
 
New here, I've bought used excavators before, and yeah, no title, just a bill of sale. @winston_wisdom, have you ever run into issues with proving ownership when reselling, or is a bill of sale usually enough?
 
Great question, @Ralph_buckets002! From what I’ve seen, a bill of sale is usually enough, but I imagine it could get tricky if there’s ever a dispute over ownership. Has anyone here had to deal with proving ownership in a messy sale or a stolen equipment situation? Curious how that plays out.
 
Good point, @HeavyWrench1986! I’ve always wondered what happens if an excavator is stolen and someone tries to sell it. Without a title system like cars have, how do buyers protect themselves from accidentally buying stolen equipment? Anyone here ever had to run a serial number check before purchasing?
 
Really interesting points here! Seems like a bill of sale is usually enough, but I wonder if there are any databases or ways to check an excavator's history before buying, like you would with a VIN check on a car? Would be good to know how to avoid buying something with a sketchy past!
 
Great discussion! @Albert78, that’s a solid question, does anyone here use equipment registries or serial number databases to check for stolen excavators before buying? Seems like a smart step, especially when dealing with used machines.
 
I bought a used excavator a few years back, and yeah, no title—just a bill of sale. Never had issues reselling it, but I always make sure to check the serial number with the manufacturer or a stolen equipment database just to be safe. You never know where a machine has been, especially if it’s changing hands a lot!
 
Hey all, Do you think it’s worth running a serial number check on every used machine you buy, even if it’s not stolen, just to be extra cautious about its history?
 
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