Independent sale or commission: how to sell commercial vehicles more profitably

Independent sale seems profitable because the owner doesn't pay an intermediary. But the cost of selling commercial vehicles includes advertising, labour, downtime and losses from poor pricing. On TIRkomis parking and promotion are free until the sale is made, and commission is paid only after the sale.

Direct advertising costs

One listing is not enough, especially if selling an older tractor unit, semi-trailer or narrow-purpose equipment. For adequate coverage, the owner needs to:

• take quality photos and videos;
• write a technical description;
• post the offer on multiple platforms;
• update and bump listings;
• advertise the vehicle on social media and sector-specific groups;
• respond to enquiries from various channels.

Even without paid promotion this takes employee time, and advertising packages don't guarantee a deal. On TIRkomis the owner doesn't pay for photography, listing preparation, placement or advertising until the sale. The vehicle is displayed on the website and through numerous information channels of the platform.

Cost of downtime

Vehicle downtime reduces the profit from a sale: the tractor unit doesn't run routes while the owner continues to monitor its condition, documents and storage location.

If the vehicle remains in operation, selling it is also harder: the buyer is ready to visit, but the tractor unit is in another region or abroad. The inspection is postponed and the customer may choose a more available option.

A commission platform doesn't eliminate downtime but removes organisational delays. The vehicle is in a designated location and the manager can show it without the owner's constant presence. Parking on TIRkomis is free until the sale, so the exhibition period doesn't create additional parking charges.

Time for calls and inspections

Independent tractor unit sales involve answering inquiries, providing additional photos, explaining specifications, organizing test drives, and negotiating prices. Some inquiries come from people without a specific budget or buyers who haven't yet decided on a model.

At TIRkomis, sales managers handle this work. They clarify the customer's needs, present the equipment, arrange inspections, and conduct negotiations within permissible bargaining limits. The seller gets involved when it's necessary to agree on real deal terms, not for every phone inquiry.

Risk of incorrect pricing

An inflated price leaves the equipment without genuine interest. An underpriced one speeds up the deal, but the owner may lose more than the commission would have cost.

Simply finding the same model and year isn't enough to set a price. You need to account for Euro-class, mileage, transmission, axle configuration, equipment, tyres, technical condition, service history, VAT status, and demand for the modification. Objective valuation of commercial vehicles before sale helps justify the starting price and negotiation margins.

TIRkomis managers recommend a starting price and negotiation range based on current offers and buyer reactions. The final decision remains with the owner. The market price for an ad shouldn't be confused with the valuation for re-registration of a vehicle.

Formula for total cost of sale

Preparation + advertising + storage + time on communication + idle time + negotiation + paperwork = total cost of sale.

With independent sales, the owner pays for or organizes all these components themselves. At TIRkomis, the platform handles preparing the ad, advertising, parking, phone calls, and inspections. Therefore, the commission should be compared not to zero, but to the resources it replaces.

Taxes and registration fees don't depend on the method of finding a buyer. For private individuals, taxes on commercial vehicle sales depend on the number of transactions per year. For sole proprietors and legal entities, the procedure depends on the tax and accounting system.

What TIRkomis offers the seller

An owner who brings equipment to TIRkomis receives:

• free parking until sale;
• photography and ad preparation;
• free promotional support;
• call and message handling;
• organization of viewings without your constant presence;
• price recommendation without loss of control;
• commission payment only after successful sale.

Under the conditions of placing equipment on commission, the fee is $500 or 3% depending on the agreed format. The rate, price, and bidding limits are fixed in the contract.

For older tractor units Euro 2 and Euro 3, for which demand in Ukraine is limited, TIRkomis can offer quick buyout for export to Africa. This format works when the owner needs to receive funds faster than waiting for a buyer through commission. Each vehicle is assessed individually.

The owner does not need to pay for advertising, conduct viewings, or negotiate. At the same time, the buyout price is usually lower than the possible result of commission sale, as the buyer takes on logistics, export, and the risk of further resale. Therefore, buyout is reasonable for speed, and commission for obtaining market price. Commission, quick buyout, and trade-in differ in speed and price.

Assess your own capabilities and time: are you ready to independently prepare ads, respond to calls, organize viewings, and conduct negotiations. If you decide to use the services of the TIRkomis commission platform, call the manager.