Buying Used Heavy Equipment: A 15-Point Inspection Checklist

How to Buy Used Heavy Equipment

Updated November 5, 2026

What Should I Check When Buying Used Heavy Equipment?

Check the hour meter and service records, look for leaks, cracked welds and worn pins and bushings, test every hydraulic function under load, inspect tracks or tires and the undercarriage, and run the machine cold. Ask for a lien check and the serial number, and have a dealer or independent mechanic inspect it before paying.

Updated November 5, 2026 · Source: equipment.broker buying checklist; have a mechanic inspect before you pay.

Used machines can save a lot, but a worn undercarriage or tired hydraulic pump can cost more than the discount. Use this list on every machine.

Paperwork

Serial number (PIN) matches the paperwork
Hour meter reading, and whether the meter was ever replaced
Service and repair records
Lien search (state UCC filings) and theft check

Walk-Around

Leaks around cylinders, hoses, pumps and final drives
Cracked or re-welded booms, arms and loader frames
Play in pins and bushings (bucket and boom joints)
Tracks, sprockets, rollers and idlers, or tire tread and sidewalls
Cab: glass, gauges, warning lights, seat belt, ROPS/FOPS intact

Running Test

Start it cold; watch for heavy smoke and listen for knocks
Run every function, alone and combined, under load
Check travel in a straight line and turning both ways
Look at fluids: milky oil or metal flakes are warning signs

Protect the Deal

Pay for an inspection by a dealer or independent mechanic, get a written bill of sale, and consider renting the same model first. Find equipment dealers near you.

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