Old farm machinery rarely goes to scrap straight away, because even a tractor that no longer runs has parts, a restorer or a dealer who might want it. The people looking for how to sell one have an old tractor, header, baler or truck on the property and want to know whether to auction it, trade it in or call a wrecker. Almost nothing searches this on the seller side, with "sell scrap truck" at about 10 a month in Australia, according to Ubersuggest, so this guide works from what auctioneers, dealers and wreckers say. The sources on scrap value were overseas forum posts, and we found nothing on old trucks, so we give no prices and say where we looked and found nothing. It sits beside our guides to selling used machinery and industrial equipment and selling a car for parts or scrap. ScrapTrade runs a scrap marketplace and has a commercial interest in the scrap trade.
Three ways it can sell
- At auction. An auctioneer in Western Australia says its selling process usually takes three to four weeks, that all farm equipment and machinery must meet safety status and transport requirements before it can be sold, and that it asks for proof of ownership. That is one auctioneer's terms and others will differ, so ask yours for its conditions in writing.
- Through a dealer. One advice article says dealers are well placed to tell you about market conditions and the resale value of particular brands, so a dealer is a useful first call even if you sell elsewhere.
- To a wrecker. A tractor wrecking business in South Australia advertises parts delivery Australia-wide. Its listing does not say whether it buys whole machines, so ask.
Parts before scrap
Forum posts, mostly American, suggest scrap is usually the floor, that some owners advise against scrapping anything that might still be repaired, and that stripping the saleable parts first can pay: one user said a tractor is mostly worth its hitch parts, lights, fenders and mounts before the rest is scrapped. Another forum thread put a salvage value at a few hundred US dollars, and none of that transfers to Australian prices. The pattern is what matters. Find out what the machine is worth running, then in parts, then by weight, and take the highest.
What to settle before you list
- Proof of ownership. An auctioneer asks for it, and a dealer or wrecker will too.
- Safety and transport. Some auctioneers require machinery to meet safety and transport requirements, so find out what yours means by that, and who moves a machine that does not run.
- Condition, honestly. Say whether it runs, what is worn and what is missing.
- What is attached. Tyres, hydraulics and implements may be priced separately. Our guide to used tyres and rims covers the tyre side.
Scrap value
We found no Australian scrap rate for steel by the tonne that we would trust, and sources we saw for car and trailer steel conflicted, so we give none. What a yard pays for a machine is its weight times the going rate, less any deduction for rubber, fluids and non-metal parts, and large machines need cutting and moving, so a yard may charge for collection. Ask for a written quote and compare it with the parts route. Engines and motors from a machine have their own markets, as our guides to selling or scrapping a used engine and scrap electric motors explain.
Old trucks
We found almost nothing on selling or scrapping old trucks in Australia, including how to deregister a heavy vehicle, so we cover it only to say that you should ask your state transport authority about registration and your buyer about what documents it needs. Our guide to selling a damaged or broken car covers the car side, which is not the same.
Where ScrapTrade fits
One tractor is a job for an auction, a dealer or a wrecker, and ScrapTrade is not a machinery auction house. A farm contractor, a wrecker or a business clearing several machines, or sorted steel, aluminium, motors and parts from them, may find the marketplace worth trying: it charges nothing to list and takes no commission, price and terms are agreed live and the buyer's 5 percent deposit is held in escrow once a bid is accepted. Businesses and individuals can sell after verification, and the traders who bid are in more than 50 countries. Whether whole machines can be listed is something we could not confirm, so ask cs@scraptrade.com.au first.
What we could not verify
- What any machine is worth, running, in parts or as scrap. We give no prices.
- Other auctioneers' conditions. We saw one.
- Selling or deregistering old trucks. We found nothing.
- Australian steel scrap rates by the tonne.
- Whether ScrapTrade accepts whole machines.
Frequently asked questions
How do I sell an old tractor that does not run?
Through an auction, a dealer or a wrecker, and it can sell for parts or restoration. Ask each for terms in writing.
Do I need proof of ownership?
One auctioneer asks for it, and others are likely to. Check with yours.
Is it better to strip parts or scrap the whole thing?
Forum advice, mostly American, suggests stripping saleable parts first, but compare quotes for both.
How long does an auction take?
One Western Australian auctioneer says three to four weeks, and others differ.
Can I list farm machinery on ScrapTrade?
Verified sellers can list scrap. Ask support about whole machines.
Sources
- Ubersuggest keyword data, Australia, queried November 2026.
- Australian auctioneer, dealer and wrecker pages and farm-machinery advice, and overseas forum posts on scrap and parts value, as summarised in search results.
- ScrapTrade website, accessed November 2026.
General information only, not legal or financial advice. Auction terms and rules vary.