How Do I Sell My Trailer?

How Do I Sell My Trailer?

A Complete Guide for Individuals and Small Businesses

Selling a cargo trailer—whether it's enclosed, utility, landscape, or a specialty hauler—can feel overwhelming if you’ve never done it before. Whether you’re upgrading, downsizing, or simply no longer need your trailer, this guide walks you through everything you need to know to sell your trailer successfully and safely. If you’ve already decided how to sell/on which platform, skip to Section 3, Prep Your Trailer For Sale.

When you bought your trailer, you would have gotten a title or an MCO (Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin). You will need this to complete any sale. If you start selling to someone and then realize you can’t find the documentation you’ve obviously got a problem. Locate any documentation that came with the trailer.

2.  Decide Where and How You Want to Sell

Option 1: Sell to a Dealer

If you want speed and convenience, consider selling to a local trailer dealer. Some dealers purchase used trailers outright or offer consignment services. Selling to established dealers is the safest option in that you won’t be sifting through potential scammers, and it can be the fastest—the process is streamlined because dealers are always buying trailers, they’re ready to do the paperwork quickly and they will have space.

Selling to a dealer is also a great option if you’re looking for trade-in value for a new trailer.

Pros:

• Fast transaction
• No need to deal with private buyers
• Safe, professional environment

Cons:

• Some dealers may offer lower amounts for trailers, as dealers need to make some kind of profit to keep the lights on.

Tip 1: Call ahead or check their website to see if they buy used trailers. Not all do. Once you’ve got your photos and description, you can text JTI photos for a rough estimate on value as well to get the ball rolling! Text us at 440-232-4311.

Tip 2: Even if you don’t end up selling to a dealer, finding out what they would pay for your trailer can provide you with a useful benchmark for your private sale.

Selling privately often gets you the most money, especially if your trailer is in good condition. And, of course, you don’t need to choose just one platform—once you’ve done the work of deciding the correct price, writing the text and taking your photos it’s easy to copy that to multiple platforms.

Pros:

• Maximum profit potential
• Direct control over pricing and negotiation

Cons:

• More time-consuming
• Risk of scams or flaky buyers

The biggest downside of private sales is that it’s time consuming. The work of writing your listing and taking the photos isn’t that great, but wading through lowballs and scams, negotiations that fizzle, buyers that flake out or potentially sales that fall through can eat up your time and energy. (Section 6 below talks about how to spot the red flags for scammers and scumbags.) When time is money, it can be a risk to go down this road. That said, if you have the time and energy you can earn good returns from private sales.

Aside from online platforms which we’ll dive into, you can also try posting at local community spots like hardware stores and co-ops. Far fewer people who are looking to buy a trailer will see these old-fashioned physical postings, but if you have a local resource that you know lots of tradespeople look at, this can be a good option.

If you repost or share this infographic, please link back to https://www.jtiinc.com!

Best Return on Sale

1. Facebook Marketplace

Return: ★★★★☆

Why to use them: High demand, especially locally. Great for direct private sales with no platform fees. You control the price and negotiation. This is also a great forum for private and low-end buyers so if your trailer is very old or in poor condition, this is probably your best bet. This has the most users of any of these listings

Tips: Use detailed listings and respond quickly to inquiries.

Caveat: High volume of messages doesn't always mean serious buyers.

2. eBay Motors

 Return: ★★★★★

Why to use them: Large national/international reach, especially for unique or high-value trailers/vehicles. Competitive auction format can drive price up.

Tips: Use a reserve price and detailed descriptions. Consider offering local pickup only to avoid shipping scams.

Caveat: Listing fees and final value fees apply. They can keep surprising you with fees, which can be very annoying.  Listing fee is typically (according to their site) $19 per week for trailers and other vehicles under $10,000, $49 per week for $10,000 to $20,000, $79 per week over $20k. They take 2.8% of any deposit you charge the buyer. According to this page they don't charge the normal "final value fee" for these items but their fees are subject to change, be sure to do your research before you list.
 

3. TrailerTrader

 Return: ★★★★☆

Why: Niche site focused on trailers (not full vehicles). Attracts serious buyers looking specifically for cargo, utility, landscape, and equipment trailers.

Tips: Best if your trailer is in good condition and priced competitively.

Caveat: May not be worth it for older or low-value trailers due to more professional/retail audience.
 

Most Time-Wasting Offers / Scam Risk

1. Craigslist

 Scam Risk: ★★★★★

Time-Wasters: High

Why: Craigslist is notorious for lowballers, spam replies, and scammers offering fake cashier’s checks or third-party pickup scams.

Tips: Post in your specific region, ignore out-of-state buyers, and meet in person only. Don't list your phone number unless necessary.
 

2. Facebook Marketplace

 Scam Risk: ★★★★☆

Time-Wasters: High

Why: Although extremely popular, it's common to get "Is this still available?" messages that lead nowhere.

Tips: Pre-screen buyers by asking qualifying questions before setting up meetings.
 

3. OfferUp

 Scam Risk: ★★★☆☆

Time-Wasters: Moderate

Why: It depends on your region. Some areas have very active, reliable users. Others are plagued with bots, flaky buyers, and resellers offering half your asking price.

Tips: Stick to in-person, cash-only deals and mark your item as “sold” quickly to avoid continued messages.
 

Most Popular Platforms (Based on Volume & Usage)

1. Facebook Marketplace

• Popularity: ★★★★★
  
  
• Why: Dominates the local resale scene for both vehicles and trailers. Integrated with Facebook profiles, which can help verify buyers.
  
  
• Downside: Not built specifically for vehicles, so filters and categories are sometimes clunky.

2. Craigslist

• Popularity: ★★★★☆
  
  
• Why: Still a go-to for many older or trade-oriented users. Well-known for vehicle sales, especially in rural and suburban areas.

3. eBay Motors

 

• Popularity: ★★★★☆
  
  
• Why: Ideal for vehicles and trailers with national interest, collector value, or specialty features. Popular among dealerships and enthusiasts.

4. TrailerTrader

• Popularity: ★★★☆☆
  
  
• Why: Strong following among professional buyers and businesses, but not as known among casual consumers.

Our Online Selling Strategy Recommendations

• For Best Price on Unique/High-End Trailers: Use eBay Motors or TrailerTrader
• For Fast Local Sale: Start with Facebook Marketplace
• For Quick Sale with Minimal Effort (Low Return): Consider a dealer or consignment
• For Maximum Exposure: Combine Facebook Marketplace + Craigslist + TrailerTrader

Once you've decided on where you want to sell (and you can change your mind later), next you should prep your trailer for sale.

3. Prep Your Trailer for Sale

Clean It Up

• Wash the exterior and interior
• Remove personal decals and stickers
• Clear out debris, tools, or materials

Make Minor Repairs

• Fix broken lights, latches, or wiring
• Replace missing or damaged fenders or reflectors
• Inflate or replace tires if needed

Have Your Paperwork Ready

• Title and registration (required in most states)
• Bill of sale form (can be downloaded online)
• Maintenance or repair records (if available)

4. Price It Right

Do Your Homework:

• Check comparable listings on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and TrailerTrader.com
• Consider condition, age, brand, axle rating, and upgrades like tool racks or rear ramps.

Be realistic: Pricing too high will scare buyers off. Pricing too low will attract resellers and lowballers. You may end up changing the price several times on online listings for that reason, or you may end up lowering the price later. Lowering the price brings the listing to buyers' attention again, so you may do it if your listing has stagnated a few days and you want to get more people to look again. On Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and other listing sites, the most recent listings go first, so sellers frequently repost in order to avoid getting buried. When you repost, lowering the price can get more buyers' attention.

5. Create a Great Listing

Include the following in your ad:

• Year, make, and model
• Size and weight capacity
• Type of axle (braked/unbraked, single/tandem)
• Any upgrades or recent repairs
• Condition (be honest!)
• Clear photos from multiple angles, including VIN sticker
• Asking price and whether you're open to negotiation
• Your preferred method of contact

6. Screening Buyers and Red Flags