4 Tips For Selling a Customized or Modified Work Vehicle

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There are several reasons why you might modify or customize your work vehicle. For example, you may want to add or update some of the technology in the truck or van, especially if it’s a fleet vehicle and the manager needs on-board tools to better monitor vehicle usage and safety. Or maybe you bought a basic van and outfitted it with shelves, part compartments, tool racks, and/or a workspace for field work. You might have invested in some exterior modifications to help make the vehicle more aerodynamic and fuel efficient.

Whatever the case, there are some extra steps you should take when selling a customized or modified vehicle. Commercial Truck Trader has put together a list of tips you can use to secure the best price for the vehicle while remaining completely transparent during the transaction, which makes you a more valued seller.

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1. Document Your Modifications

It’s important to document everything related to customizations and modifications you make to your work vehicle for a few reasons: 

• It helps you determine how much extra value you have put into the vehicle, which will help you set the selling price.
• You can use the documentation to provide proof of what was added, when it was added, and how much you paid for it to justify your asking price.
• Having a list of any upgrades you made to the vehicle will make it easier for you to write the description for your listing on Commercial Truck Trader.

Be sure to document when the purchase was made; the name of the manufacturer if adding aftermarket parts and the brand is important; the installation date; and the total cost of the modification, including installation if the work was performed by someone else. You may also want to include the name of the installing business, especially if there is a warranty included with the installation. If you have receipts, that’s even better.

You do not need to provide all of this information in your listing when you put it together, but being able to add up all the numbers will help you determine how much extra to charge for the vehicle. However, if you bought a product that has brand recognition, you should add that to your listing description. For example, if you bought a Samsara dash cam, that might be important for potential buyers.

2. Take Great Photos

It’s been said a picture is worth a thousand words. When it comes to your listing and documenting the customization or modifications you’ve made, quality photos will go a long way in telling your story.

Be sure to shoot from a few different angles to effectively show what you have added and where it is located. Take more dazzling photos of your for-sale work vehicle than you’ll need so you have options to choose from. Also, try to take photos when the lighting is flattering, which could be the early morning or late afternoon. If shooting in the daylight, bright sun can wash out photos or create reflective “splashes” that will distort and possibly misrepresent the subject matter you are shooting.

When you are done, put yourself in a buyer’s shoes when selecting the photos for your listing. If you’re not happy with any of the photos, you can always shoot more later (but before submitting your listing).

3. Be Detailed with Your Listing

After writing out all of the attributes of your work vehicle, including model, make, year, mileage, and what it was used for, be sure to list all of the modifications you have made since purchasing the van or truck. Even if the only addition was window tinting, if that vehicle is being sold to someone in another state or municipality, the ordinances may be very different for the degree of shading that is legally allowed. Minor details are important, and it gives the shopper time to consider the purchase and plan ahead. Also, if there are warranties still active for any of the parts or equipment that you added, be sure to list those.

4. Find the Best Buyer

Remember, the modifications you made on your work vehicle may be very appealing to certain potential buyers. Some shoppers are on a limited budget and want the extra value you have added without having to pay for a new vehicle and the added expense of making their own modifications. 

However, do keep in mind that there may be some modifications that won’t appeal to every buyer out there. That’s okay though, because when you’re transparent with what the vehicle has to offer, it avoids a dilemma and gives you more time to connect with another shopper so you can sell faster.

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With Commercial Truck Trader, there are thousands of buyers ready to make their next purchase. We are the largest online resource for buying and selling commercial vehicles, so visit CommercialTruckTrader.com/Sell and list your unit today.

Barrett Baker

Barrett Baker is a freelance writer with more than 40 years of writing experience. He has worked with the U.S. Department of Energy, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and a variety of advertising and marketing firms throughout his career. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, cooking, and working with animal rescues.

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