Buying heavy machinery, construction equipment, boats and cars from an auction is becoming more and more popular, especially as you can bag a mega bargain compared to dealership costs. But you will need to organise the transport and collection of your new mighty machine. 

Most auction houses in Australia can organise transport on your behalf, but it can be hefty in price. You can also sort out the transport yourself, which is where Best Rated Transport comes in. We offer price negotiation and logistic coordination on your behalf so you can get your auction purchase to its destination swiftly and efficiently. We specialise in interstate auction transport and can assist with collection from all auctions including Pickles Australia, Grey’s Online and Lloyds Auction. 

Below is a brief breakdown of what kind of costs you can expect when transporting equipment from an auction. 

How Much Does it Cost to Transport Equipment From an Auction? 

Determining cost by distance

Local transport is going to be cheaper than interstate long distance auction transport. You could be looking at around $1.50 to $3.50 per km for local auction collection. To get an item delivered, let’s say 150km, you may only need to pay around $250-$300 which is quite reasonable. 

Interstate auction transport requires more fuel, more breaks for the driver and more planning. Usually if the distance is over 800 km, you are looking at $2.50 to $6.50 per km. So, for example, if you need to get equipment from an auction in Sydney to Brisbane, this could cost you around the $3,600 mark. 

Determining costs by size of heavy machinery

Smaller equipment, such as forklifts or cars, are going to cost less to transport than big machinery equipment. The reason is because you won’t need as big of a truck or additional equipment to move the machine. 

To move a small piece of machinery, you are looking at around $500 for a local auction pickup to $1,000 to $4,000 for long distance auction transport. 

To move a heavy pieces of machinery, such as an excavator, a dump truck or a bulldozer, you are looking at around $2,000 local and $3,000 to $10,000 for interstate auction collection. 

Other Costs when moving heavy equipment

Loading/Unloading Costs such as forklift/crane rental, auction site fees, etc: $200 to $2,500

Special Permits & Escorts - If the load exceeds the weight or size limits for regular transport, special permits and pilot car escorts may be required. These costs can range from AUD $700 to $3,000 depending on the dimensions and weight of the load, as well as the required route.

Transit Insurance: It’s advisable to get transit insurance for the equipment being transported, and the cost of insurance is typically between 1-3% of the value of the equipment being transported. For example, if you're transporting equipment valued at AUD $50,000, insurance might cost between AUD $500 and $1,500.

How to Move Heavy Equipment from an Auction

You will need certain trucks in order to get your items from A to B.

Flatbed Trucks: For smaller or mid-sized machinery, flatbed trucks are often used

Lowboy or Step Deck Trailers: Used for taller or heavier loads.

Heavy Haulers (RGN or similar): For oversized and extremely heavy equipment. 

How to Cut Down on Transport Collection Costs

There’s a lot to organise when it comes to heavy machinery auction collection. Here’s a simple breakdown of what you can expect: 

Cost to move a bulldozer from an auction 1,000 km 

You will need to organise:

• Transport cost (lowboy trailer for this one) - anywhere from $4,000 to $5,500
• Loading and unloading (crane rental for this) - $500 to $2,500
• Permits/escort for the road - $800 to $2,500
• Total: anywhere from $5,300 to $10,000. 

The thing about organising auction collection is that you only have a very short time period to get it ready. Trying to organise all the moving pieces can be stressful, especially if you don’t know the industry well or if you simply have more important things to organise for your business. 

Best Rated Transport specialises in logistics and coordination from auctions. We can sort out all of the costs above, negotiate price on your behalf and provide you with free estimates from top transport companies who can help. It’s up to you how you choose to move your auction purchase, but we aim to provide you with options so you can secure the best rate. 

Get started today.