Insights · Comparison
Private sale vs
dealer sale finance.
A private machine usually costs less. A dealer machine usually comes with more protection. The right call depends on what you’re comfortable verifying and what you’re willing to pay for.
Cheaper machine vs cleaner pathway.
Private sales — operator-to-operator — are typically 10–25% cheaper than the same machine on a dealer floor, because there’s no dealer margin in the price. The trade-off is no dealer warranty, no built-in service history verification, and the buyer carries responsibility for PPSR lien checks and title verification. TMF finances both pathways; the broker work for a private sale is heavier (inspection, valuation, lender match) but the all-in cost often still lands lower.
Where the differences land.
| Private sale | Dealer sale | |
|---|---|---|
| Headline price | Lower — no dealer margin | Higher — dealer margin baked in |
| Inclusions | As-is. Buyer beware. | Dealer warranty (length varies), trade-in, after-sales |
| Service history | Depends entirely on seller | Verified records, often dealer-serviced |
| Title & finance | Buyer must verify (PPSR, lien check) | Dealer handles |
| Finance pathway | Specialist non-bank lenders, broker-led | Dealer-arranged or via broker |
| Rate | Marginally higher (private-sale loading) | Captive lender — rate may not be best available |
| Best for | Operators who know the machine, want value | First-time buyers, warranty-conscious, time-poor |