HOW MUCH IS MY TRUCK WORTH?

How Truck Values Are Calculated in the UK

UK truck values come down to four pillars: age, mileage, condition, and spec. The market splits between UK fleet buyers (who want late-spec, low-mileage tractors and rigids) and export buyers (who pay premiums for V8 engines, manual gearboxes, and certain badge prestige). Knowing which buyer pool your truck fits into is half the valuation.

Trade buying prices typically run 25-40% below CAP retail and 15-25% below auction hammer prices once auction fees and prep costs come off. We are direct cash buyers — we publish indicative ranges below to set realistic expectations.

Truck Value by Age (Tractor Units, Indicative UK Trade)

• 1-2 years old, low mileage (under 200k km): £35,000 to £55,000 depending on brand, cab spec, gearbox.
• 3-4 years old, average mileage (300-450k km): £18,000 to £30,000 for premium brands (Volvo, Scania, DAF).
• 5-6 years old, average mileage (450-600k km): £9,000 to £18,000 for premium, £6,000 to £13,000 for Mercedes/MAN/Iveco.
• 7-9 years old, high mileage (600-800k km): £4,000 to £9,000. Export demand carries this segment.
• 10+ years old: £1,500 to £5,000 for working units. Specialist Foden/older British units £2,500-£6,000.

Tippers, mixers and 8x4 construction trucks tend to hold value 20-30% better than tractor units at equivalent age and mileage. Refrigerated 18T box trucks sit between the two.

What Affects HGV Resale Value

• Mileage per year of age. Under 100k km/year is solid. Above 130k/year discounts the price meaningfully.
• Cab size. Globetrotter / Topline / GigaSpace / XXL / Highline cabs add £1,500-£4,000 over standard sleeper.
• Gearbox. Modern automated boxes (I-Shift, Opticruise, PowerShift, TipMatic) standard. Manual boxes hold premium for export.
• Service history. Named-dealer FSH adds 10-15% over no-history equivalent.
• MOT and tax. Recent MOT pass adds £300-£800. Live tax adds £200-£500.
• Engine spec. V8 engines (Scania 730, Volvo FH16) command premium for export.
• Body or specialist equipment. Tail lifts, Carrier/Thermo King fridges, hookloaders, Hiab cranes — all add real value.
• Number of owners. Single-owner trucks beat multi-owner equivalents.
• Accident history. Repaired panel work discounts 15-30% depending on severity.

Brand-by-Brand Valuation Notes

Volvo and DAF hold value best in the UK due to dense dealer networks, driver demand, and strong export channels. Expect 5-10% premium over equivalent Scania.

Scania is premium-positioned but resale slightly behind Volvo/DAF in the UK fleet market. V8 R-series and S-series command export premium that closes the gap.

Mercedes Actros and Arocs hold strong value, particularly Arocs in construction sector. Older Actros below 2017 discount more heavily.

MAN sits 5-10% behind Volvo/DAF on equivalent spec. Strong export to Eastern Europe.

Iveco is 10-15% below European premium on tractor units but Trakker construction trucks hold strong UK value.

Renault shares Volvo Group engineering but trade values 10-15% below Volvo equivalent.

Hino and Isuzu 7.5T-18T distribution units hold strong value due to legendary reliability and export demand.

Foden is specialist-only since production ended in 2006 — values driven by collector and export markets.

How To Get The Best Price For Your Truck

Don't accept the first dealer part-exchange offer. PX values are systematically 25-35% below direct cash buyer values because dealers need margin to resell.

Don't auto-default to auction. Auctions take 4-6 weeks, hammer 5-15% below trade, and deduct selling fees of 8-12% on top. Net cash to seller often 20-25% below direct cash buyer.

Don't undersell non-runners. Engine fault, EGR fault, accident damage trucks still have real trade value — we factor in repair cost but pay properly.

Send photos before pricing. A 2-minute video walkaround gets a more accurate offer than a phone description.

V5C and MOT history are leverage. Documented history adds 5-15% to the offer price.

Truck Valuation FAQs

How accurate is an online truck valuation?
Online tools using CAP or Glass's give a rough retail ceiling. Trade values are systematically 20-35% below retail. The accurate number comes from an actual buyer making an offer based on photos and condition.

Is dealer part-exchange the best price I can get?
Almost never. Dealers price PX low because they need resale margin. Direct cash buyers like us reselling to UK and export markets typically pay 15-30% more.

Should I sell at auction?
Only if you have time (4-6 week wait), can absorb 8-12% selling fees, and accept hammer-price uncertainty. For most operators, direct cash sale nets more after fees.

What documents do I need for a valuation?
V5C is essential. MOT certificate, service history and operator licence paperwork all help us value better.

Will you value a non-running truck?
Yes. Send photos and a description of the fault. We factor in repair cost but pay realistic trade prices for non-runners.