TOW TRUCK BUYING
Sell Your Tow Truck
Selling a wheel-lift wrecker, rollback carrier, or heavy-duty recovery truck involves more than identifying its chassis. The installed towing equipment, working condition, and ownership details all help explain what you have.
EasyTruckBuyer considers tow trucks from private owners, independent operators, towing businesses, and fleets throughout all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Whether your truck is still working, needs repairs, or no longer runs, you can submit its details for evaluation.
We have been buying trucks since 2007. We review each vehicle before deciding whether an offer is possible, and free towing is included with accepted purchases.
Use the inquiry form beside this introduction to tell us about your truck. You can also request an evaluation through our offer page.
An inquiry does not guarantee an offer, purchase, or collection date.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR TOW TRUCK
Share the truck details you know. The existing form starts the evaluation process; more equipment information may be requested when needed.
Can You Sell a Used Tow Truck to EasyTruckBuyer?
Yes. You can submit a used tow truck for individual evaluation, including a light-duty wheel-lift, rollback carrier, conventional wrecker, heavy-duty recovery truck, or rotator.
A tow truck’s recovery equipment matters because two vehicles built on similar chassis may perform very different jobs. One may have a sliding carrier deck and winch. Another may have a wheel-lift and recovery boom. A heavy-duty unit may include an underlift, multiple recovery winches, and stabilizing equipment.
To start, identify the chassis and the kind of towing equipment installed. Explain whether the truck runs and drives, whether the recovery equipment is working, and what problems you know about.
A detailed inspection report is not necessary merely to begin an inquiry. If more information is needed, we may request specifications, photographs, or an inspection before deciding whether an offer is appropriate.
Tow Truck Types and Equipment We Consider
Different towing and recovery configurations have different mechanical systems and inspection considerations. The equipment fitted to the truck is as important to describe as the vehicle’s make and model.
Wheel-Lift and Self-Loading Tow Trucks
A wheel-lift wrecker uses a rear-mounted assembly to lift and support one end of another vehicle. Depending on the design, that assembly may include a crossbar, wheel grids, L-arms, and hydraulically operated extensions.
Some light-duty trucks use self-loading wheel-lifts designed to engage a vehicle’s wheels with less manual positioning. These are commonly associated with vehicle towing and certain repossession operations.
When describing a wheel-lift truck, identify the equipment manufacturer and model if known. Mention whether the lift raises and lowers normally, whether the crossbar and wheel-contact components are present, and whether any hydraulic or control problems have been reported.
If the truck has a recovery winch or boom in addition to its wheel-lift, describe those components separately.
A self-loading unit should not be assumed to have the same equipment or capacities as every other light-duty wrecker.
Rollback and Flatbed Car Carrier Tow Trucks
Rollback carriers are built around a vehicle-loading deck. The deck typically tilts and moves rearward to support loading, although the exact mechanism and range of movement depend on the model.
Some carriers have steel or aluminum decks, while specialized industrial versions may use other construction materials. Depending on the configuration, the truck may also have a winch, auxiliary lighting, a rear wheel-lift, or stabilizing equipment.
Useful details include:
- Approximate deck length and material, if known.
- Whether the deck slides and tilts as intended.
- Condition of the deck, subframe, and visible mounting structures.
- Winch operation and any known problems.
- Condition of an optional rear wheel-lift.
- Hydraulic leaks, unusual movement, or equipment that has been taken out of service.
If the deck has been bent or repaired, or no longer completes its normal movement, describe the problem.
A rollback intended to load and carry vehicles is different from an ordinary flatbed truck designed primarily for general cargo. This page covers vehicle carriers used for towing or recovery.
Conventional Boom and Medium-Duty Wreckers
Conventional boom wreckers may have one or more recovery winches, a recovery boom, a wheel-lift or underlift, and other equipment depending on their design.
Older wreckers and newer medium-duty configurations can differ considerably. Equipment may have been modified, replaced, or removed during the truck’s working life.
For these trucks, try to identify the recovery-body manufacturer, boom arrangement, winch equipment, and current operating condition.
Mention if the boom has known structural damage, the winch has been removed, or the underlift has missing components. If the truck has undergone significant modifications, include that information.
The equipment’s actual configuration is more useful than relying solely on a broad label such as “medium-duty tow truck.”
Heavy-Duty Integrated and Independent Wreckers
Heavy-duty wreckers are equipped for larger towing and recovery assignments and may be installed on multi-axle commercial chassis.
Manufacturers distinguish integrated and independent wrecker configurations according to the design and arrangement of the recovery boom, underlift, and associated structure. These are equipment categories, not guarantees of a particular capacity or feature set.
For example, Jerr-Dan publishes separate specifications for integrated and independent heavy-duty wreckers. Its equipment ratings vary by model and operating configuration.
When submitting a heavy-duty wrecker, provide the equipment make and model, chassis identification, axle arrangement, and details about the boom, underlift, recovery winches, and hydraulic systems.
If available, include a photograph of the recovery-body identification plate and any manufacturer’s rating information.
A heavy-duty truck with an operating chassis but a damaged underlift presents different circumstances from one whose recovery equipment is operational but whose engine or transmission is defective.
Rotator Recovery Trucks
A rotator is a specialized recovery vehicle equipped with a rotating boom system. Depending on the model, it may have multiple winches, outriggers or other stabilizers, and additional heavy-duty towing equipment.
The boom’s rotation system and the equipment used to support the vehicle during recovery work are important distinctions.
When describing a rotator, include the manufacturer’s model, boom arrangement, available equipment ratings, and the condition of its rotation and stabilization systems.
If hydraulic faults, structural damage, or other issues have taken equipment out of service, disclose them. Do not attempt to operate damaged recovery machinery to demonstrate its condition.
Because rotators differ significantly in size, configuration, and condition, each inquiry requires individual consideration.
A Tow Truck Has Two Sets of Important Specifications
A tow truck combines a road-going chassis with equipment installed for towing or recovery. Keeping those systems separate makes the vehicle easier to identify and describe.
Chassis Information: VIN, Mileage, Engine, and Axles
Start with the truck’s year, make, model, VIN if available, and approximate odometer reading.
For larger wreckers, engine and transmission information, axle arrangement, and manufacturer-rated gross vehicle weight may help identify the chassis.
Useful mechanical information includes whether the engine starts, how the transmission operates, whether the brakes and steering are functional, and any known frame or suspension problems.
Engine hours can provide additional operating-history context when available, particularly if the truck has spent substantial time idling or operating stationary recovery equipment.
Do not guess at chassis ratings or specifications that cannot be verified.
Recovery Equipment: Manufacturer, Model, and Serial Number
The installed towing equipment may have its own manufacturer, model designation, and serial number.
For example, a commercial chassis may be equipped with a Century, Vulcan, Chevron, Jerr-Dan, or another manufacturer’s towing or recovery body.
The chassis VIN and the recovery-equipment identification serve different purposes. The equipment model can help identify the installed body, while the VIN helps identify the vehicle itself.
If the recovery-body identification plate is legible and safely accessible, photograph it. Equipment manuals, build documents, and maintenance records may also help establish the configuration.
If a wrecker was rebuilt or fitted with replacement equipment, explain which major components were changed. Do not assume that the current truck still matches every specification from its original build.
Boom, Underlift, Winch, and Deck Ratings Are Not Interchangeable
Tow-truck specifications may include several different load ratings.
A recovery boom’s rated capacity describes a particular lifting configuration. An underlift has separate ratings for lifting or supporting a vehicle. A winch has its own pulling rating, and a rollback carrier deck has a structural load rating.
Those figures are not interchangeable, and none of them overrides the applicable chassis, axle, or equipment limitations.
For some equipment, rated capacity changes substantially when a boom or underlift is extended. Operating angle and manufacturer-specified configuration can also matter.
If you do not know a rating, providing the equipment model is better than estimating it. The manufacturer’s documentation is the appropriate reference for model-specific limits.
These distinctions help explain what equipment is fitted to a truck. They do not establish an automatic purchase price.
PTO, Hydraulics, Controls, and Winches
Many tow trucks use a power take-off (PTO) and hydraulic systems to operate their recovery equipment. Other equipment arrangements are possible, so do not assume that every tow truck uses an identical drive or control system.
Relevant components may include hydraulic pumps, reservoirs, hoses, cylinders, valves, winch drives, wired controls, and remote-control systems.
Problems that are useful to disclose include:
- A PTO that does not engage, where the truck uses one.
- Hydraulic leaks or damaged hoses.
- Lift or boom movements that are slow, uneven, or inoperative.
- Winches that do not operate as expected.
- Damaged wire rope or other visibly deteriorated recovery components.
- A rollback bed that will not complete its normal slide or tilt movement.
- Electrical or remote controls with known faults.
Describe the observed problem rather than diagnosing a component without evidence.
For example, “the underlift will not raise” is more accurate than claiming that the hydraulic pump has failed when the cause is unknown.
If equipment is damaged or has been taken out of service, do not operate it merely to obtain pictures or demonstrate functionality.
Selling an Older, Damaged, or Non-Running Tow Truck
Tow trucks can leave service because they are being replaced, their operating requirements have changed, or repairs are no longer practical for the owner.
EasyTruckBuyer considers trucks in different conditions, but purchase eligibility depends on the individual evaluation.
Older or High-Mileage Wreckers
An older wrecker may have substantial mileage, long engine operating hours, worn recovery equipment, or visible corrosion.
Age and mileage are useful facts, but they do not fully describe the truck.
If major hydraulic components, winches, the transmission, or other equipment have been repaired or replaced, describe the work and provide records when available.
If the truck was retired simply because the fleet purchased newer equipment, explain that. If it was taken out of service because of a specific defect, identify the defect.
Mechanical Problems Versus Recovery-Equipment Problems
A tow truck can have a healthy chassis and defective recovery equipment, or the opposite.
These examples illustrate why the distinction matters:
| Selling situation | Important information |
|---|---|
| Rollback drives but the deck will not tilt | Chassis operation is separate from the deck or hydraulic fault |
| Wheel-lift and winch work but the transmission slips | Recovery equipment condition is separate from drivetrain condition |
| Heavy-duty wrecker has a hydraulic leak and a disabled boom | Identify affected recovery functions and whether structural damage is suspected |
| Truck starts but has a missing wheel or seized axle | Describe mobility and loading concerns, not merely that the engine runs |
If the cause of a problem has not been confirmed, it is sufficient to describe the symptoms and the circumstances in which the equipment stopped working.
Accident-Damaged or Incomplete Tow Trucks
Collision damage may involve the cab, frame, rear body, boom, underlift, or stabilizers.
A vehicle with damaged sheet metal differs from one with visible frame deformation or a compromised recovery structure.
If the truck is missing its winch, crossbar, underlift forks, major hydraulic components, or other important equipment, disclose what is absent.
If the title is branded salvage, rebuilt, flood, or another applicable designation, identify the recorded status accurately.
Damaged or incomplete trucks may be submitted for evaluation. The ability to make an offer is not guaranteed.
Tow Trucks That Do Not Run
A non-running truck can still be submitted.
Explain whether it starts, rolls, steers, and can be moved safely. Mention seized wheels, damaged axles, missing tires, nonfunctional brakes, and recovery equipment that cannot be secured in its usual transport position.
These details are particularly important for large wreckers and rotators, where vehicle weight and installed machinery can complicate transportation.
Do not attempt to move an unsafe vehicle or operate damaged equipment to make it appear transport-ready.
What Affects a Used Tow Truck’s Potential Value?
The truck’s potential value depends on its actual configuration, condition, documentation, and circumstances. No single mileage figure, boom rating, or manufacturer name determines an offer.
Chassis Condition and Working History
Engine and transmission condition, odometer reading, engine hours if available, frame condition, axle configuration, and service history help explain the truck’s mechanical state.
A truck that is still operating may be in a different condition from one that has been parked for several years, even if both have similar mileage.
Describe known problems and repairs rather than relying only on statements such as “good condition.”
Recovery Body and Major Equipment
Installed equipment may be a significant consideration.
For rollback carriers, deck construction, structural condition, slide and tilt operation, and winch equipment are relevant.
For wheel-lift wreckers, the lift assembly, arms, controls, and hydraulic condition matter.
For heavy-duty wreckers and rotators, the boom, underlift, stabilization systems, winches, and available maintenance information may provide important context.
A published equipment rating is not proof of present operating condition. Equipment completeness, modifications, missing components, and verified faults should be documented separately.
Maintenance History, Accessories, and Title Status
Repair invoices and service records can help describe the condition of both the chassis and recovery equipment.
A replacement hydraulic cylinder, repaired winch, or rebuilt transmission should be identified accurately. An invoice documents work performed but does not guarantee the component’s current condition.
Also clarify which loose accessories are included with the vehicle. These may include dollies, frame forks, chains, straps, rigging equipment, or other tools.
Equipment attached to the truck, equipment stored with it, and equipment owned by another party should not automatically be treated as a single package.
Title status, liens, and the seller’s legal authority to transfer the truck can affect whether a transaction can be completed.
Vehicle Location and Transportation Conditions
Location can matter when considering a potential purchase and arranging transportation.
For example, a roadworthy light-duty wrecker in an accessible commercial yard may present different handling requirements from a non-running rotator with immobilized equipment in a restricted facility.
Provide the actual location and access conditions so the situation can be understood.
These are potential evaluation considerations, not a published pricing formula or guarantee of any particular offer.
How to Prepare Your Tow Truck for Evaluation
You do not need to restore, clean, or repair the tow truck simply to submit an inquiry. Accurate information about its present condition is more useful than an incomplete description that hides major problems.
Tow Truck Seller Checklist
- Chassis identity: Record the year, make, model, VIN if available, approximate mileage, and current location.
- Recovery configuration: Identify whether the truck is a wheel-lift, self-loader, rollback carrier, conventional wrecker, heavy-duty wrecker, or rotator.
- Equipment identity: Find the recovery-body manufacturer, model, and serial number when available.
- Operating condition: Explain whether the truck starts, drives, steers, brakes, and rolls.
- Recovery equipment: List major equipment that works, is inoperative, has been removed, or has an unknown condition.
- Known problems: Describe hydraulic leaks, drivetrain faults, structural damage, collision history, corrosion, and incomplete repairs.
- Documents: Locate available title, lien, maintenance, and equipment information.
- Collection information: Describe parking access and any obstacles that may affect moving the vehicle.
You can begin with the information you already have. Additional details can be discussed if they are needed during evaluation.
Helpful Tow Truck Photographs
When safely accessible, photographs can show details that are difficult to explain in writing.
Consider photographing:
- The front, rear, and both sides of the complete truck.
- The cab, dashboard, and odometer.
- The chassis VIN label and recovery-body identification plate, if accessible.
- The wheel-lift or underlift assembly, including visible arms, forks, or crossbar components.
- The rollback deck, winches, or recovery boom, depending on the configuration.
- Visible damage, leaks, missing equipment, or prior repairs.
- The vehicle’s parked position when access or mobility is a concern.
You do not need to reposition a boom, deploy stabilizers, climb onto unstable equipment, or operate an unsafe mechanism just to take photographs.
Title, Liens, and Business Ownership
Check whose name appears on the title and whether a lien or outstanding financing is recorded.
Depending on the jurisdiction and transaction, a certificate of title or another legally accepted form of ownership documentation may be needed. Missing titles, liens, and title discrepancies may require additional steps or prevent completion of a sale.
A bill of sale should not be assumed to replace a missing title in every state.
If the truck belongs to a towing business, identify the person authorized to approve its sale and provide applicable business ownership documents.
Selling a company-owned wrecker does not automatically transfer the towing business, dispatch contracts, operating permits, or other separately held rights.
Some trucks have recorded title brands. The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System provides background about title and brand history. Specific transfer requirements should be confirmed with the relevant state motor vehicle agency.
How the EasyTruckBuyer Selling Process Works
The process begins with the truck’s information and continues only if an offer is possible and you choose to proceed.
1. Submit Your Tow Truck Details
Tell us about the chassis, recovery equipment, mileage, known mechanical problems, and where the truck is located.
For an unusual configuration, additional equipment identification can help.
2. Individual Vehicle Evaluation
EasyTruckBuyer reviews the information to determine whether the truck may be suitable for purchase.
The same evaluation outcome is not guaranteed for every model, condition, or recovery-equipment configuration.
3. Additional Information or Inspection
More photographs, maintenance details, equipment specifications, or an inspection may be requested when necessary.
This is especially relevant when major recovery-equipment components are damaged, missing, or difficult to assess from the initial description.
4. Offer if Appropriate
After evaluation, EasyTruckBuyer determines whether an offer can be made.
If one is available, you can review it and decide whether to proceed. Submitting the truck does not obligate you to accept a proposed purchase.
5. Confirm Terms, Paperwork, and Payment
For an agreed purchase, the parties address ownership, liens, any outstanding verification needs, purchase terms, and payment arrangements.
The method and timing of payment must be confirmed for the individual transaction. No universal payment deadline is promised.
6. Coordinate Collection
For an accepted purchase, transportation is coordinated according to the truck’s size, condition, location, and accessibility.
Free towing is included with accepted truck purchases. The collection method and scheduling arrangements depend on the specific transaction.
For more about the company-wide process, read How Selling Your Truck Works.
Transportation and Collection of a Tow Truck
Although tow trucks are designed to move other vehicles, moving the tow truck itself may require a different transportation arrangement.
The truck’s running condition alone does not establish that it can safely or legally travel on public roads.
Running and Roadworthy Trucks
For an operating tow truck, explain whether it starts, drives, steers, and brakes normally, and whether there are known mechanical or equipment defects.
Major modifications and unusual dimensions may also be relevant.
Any decision about driving or transporting the truck must account for the vehicle’s actual condition and applicable requirements.
Non-Running and Immobilized Wreckers
If the truck cannot move under its own power, disclose why, if known.
A truck that rolls and steers presents different handling circumstances from one with a seized axle, missing wheel, damaged underlift, or equipment stuck in an unsafe position.
Do not assume that simply attaching another tow truck will be an appropriate solution for every disabled wrecker.
The handling method must be determined for the individual vehicle.
Heavy-Duty Wreckers and Rotators
Larger recovery trucks may have substantial vehicle weight, multiple axles, high-mounted machinery, extending structures, and specialized stabilizers.
For collection planning, relevant information may include the truck’s actual height, width, length, weight, parked configuration, and ability to move.
A qualified transportation provider must determine the appropriate handling and securement arrangements.
Federal commercial cargo-securement rules may apply when a tow truck is carried as cargo. The specific requirements depend on the vehicle and transportation method.
See the FMCSA cargo-securement guidance for the applicable federal framework.
Yard Access and Collection Restrictions
Describe where the truck is parked and whether there is room for collection equipment.
Restricted gates, limited overhead clearance, soft ground, blocked access, or a vehicle stored inside a congested facility may require special consideration.
Do not arrange unsafe movement or equipment operation without qualified assistance.
Free towing applies to accepted EasyTruckBuyer truck purchases. It is not a standalone roadside-assistance, impound-release, or recovery service, and submitting an inquiry does not guarantee that a purchase or collection can be arranged.
Selling More Than One Tow Truck
A towing company may retire a group of vehicles with very different configurations.
A useful inventory identifies each unit separately, including chassis information, recovery-body type, general condition, ownership status, and location.
For example, a business might be selling two working rollback carriers, a wheel-lift wrecker with a transmission problem, and a heavy-duty unit with an inoperative underlift.
Listing their different equipment and conditions helps avoid treating the entire group as though all trucks are identical.
EasyTruckBuyer considers multiple-truck and fleet inquiries, including trucks stored at more than one location. Each vehicle remains subject to evaluation, and purchasing the entire group is not guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Selling Tow Trucks
Can I sell a self-loading or repossession-style tow truck?
You can submit one for evaluation. Describe the self-loading wheel-lift, controls, hydraulic operation, chassis condition, and any known equipment faults. Not every submitted unit will qualify for purchase.
What if my rollback bed slides but no longer tilts?
Explain which movement works and which does not. The cause could be unknown, so do not assume a particular hydraulic component has failed. The truck and carrier equipment can still be submitted for individual evaluation.
Does the recovery-body serial number replace the truck’s VIN?
No. The vehicle VIN and recovery-equipment identification serve different purposes. When available, provide the VIN and the recovery body’s manufacturer, model, and serial number.
Are boom, winch, and underlift capacities the same thing?
No. Each rating relates to a different function and specified operating conditions. Ratings may also change with extension or configuration. Use manufacturer documentation rather than treating one capacity figure as the truck’s overall towing limit.
Can I submit a heavy-duty wrecker with a damaged underlift?
Yes. Describe the damage, any missing components, and whether the underlift has been taken out of service. The equipment’s condition and the overall truck configuration will be considered before any offer decision.
Will EasyTruckBuyer consider a rotator that needs hydraulic repairs?
You can submit it for consideration. Identify known faults involving the boom, rotation system, stabilizers, winches, or other hydraulic equipment. Do not operate damaged machinery for demonstration purposes. An offer is not guaranteed.
What if I do not know the towing equipment manufacturer?
Start with the chassis and a description of the installed equipment. Photographs of the recovery body and any accessible identification plates may help establish the configuration. You do not need to invent or guess a model number.
Do loose towing accessories come with the truck?
Only if they are included in the agreed sale. Identify any dollies, forks, chains, straps, or rigging equipment being sold with the vehicle. Items owned by another party or being retained by the seller should be excluded from the proposed sale.
Can I sell a tow truck with a missing title or outstanding loan?
You can disclose the situation during the inquiry. However, ownership and lien issues may need to be resolved before a purchase can proceed. Applicable state requirements determine which documentation is legally sufficient, and a sale is not guaranteed.
Can I sell a tow truck without selling my towing company?
Yes. An authorized business owner or representative can submit an individual company-owned vehicle for consideration. The vehicle sale should distinguish the truck and agreed equipment from business assets such as contracts, permits, and operating rights.
Can you collect a non-running tow truck with damaged recovery equipment?
A non-running or damaged truck can be submitted for evaluation. Explain whether it rolls, steers, brakes, and can be accessed safely. Any transportation arrangement depends on the vehicle’s condition and an accepted purchase.
Will EasyTruckBuyer purchase every tow truck in my fleet?
Not necessarily. Multiple trucks may be submitted together, but their configurations, conditions, ownership documents, and locations must be considered. An inquiry does not guarantee that every unit will receive an offer.
Request an Evaluation for Your Tow Truck
If you are ready to sell a wheel-lift truck, rollback carrier, conventional wrecker, or heavy-duty recovery vehicle, start with a description of the truck you own today.
Tell us about the chassis, recovery equipment, known mechanical problems, title status, and current location. Provide photographs or maintenance information when available.
EasyTruckBuyer has been buying trucks since 2007 and considers vehicles from individuals, owner-operators, towing businesses, and fleets across the United States.
Each truck is evaluated before an offer decision. Free towing is included with accepted purchases.
You can also learn more about EasyTruckBuyer, explore our nationwide truck buying locations, or contact us with a question.
Submitting your information does not guarantee an offer or purchase.