Have you any idea what it takes to sell your food truck? Well, with the tedious process you would be going through, there is also a lot of paperwork to accomplish and tons of documents to gather before you can make any sale. As you know, various states in the United States differ in their requirements so you need to check first with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to know exactly what you need to prepare.

Before all the final paperwork, there are some steps you need to work on, such as doing market research (still part of the paperwork) to get a good comparison of prices, preparing your ads (good quality photos and a catchy description is a must), and the like. And when you thought your mobile kitchen was on a ready-to-sell mode, you start responding to customer queries.

Now, presuming that you have been there and done that, it is time to face the real paperwork. Everything has to be finalized at least ahead of time so that closing the deal becomes a breeze if and when the right buyer has arrived. Meanwhile, you are going to be slapped with additional requirements if you fall under these circumstances:

• You still have a lien on the food truck
• Your potential buyer is using a financing scheme to buy

As we mentioned earlier, all the baggage has to be cleared before anyone gets to make a purchase of whatever you are selling, and in this case – your kitchen on wheels.

 

Be ready with these major papers in order to sell your food truck minus the headache:

Proof of Ownership

Otherwise referred to as the ‘Title’, this paper shows your rightful ownership to the vehicle and as such, the lien holder has to be notified of the impending sale, that is, if you still have not fully cleared the amount you owed. Once you have totally paid it off, it would be convenient to release such a document to the new owner.

Proof of Purchase

Also called the ‘Bill of Sale’, this is a detailed record of all the transactions transpiring between you and your buyer. You may not consider it of utmost importance at the moment but you might be needing it for future reference, so keep it handy.

Notice of Transfer

This piece of paper serves as your protection in case the new owner gets involved in some kind of road mishap. So, if the food truck has already been registered under the name of the new owner, you are now free from any liability. You just need to inform the DMV about the sale and present a ‘Notice of Transfer’.

Maintenance records and history reports

Any buyer will always be interested in how the previous owner/s maintained the vehicle or if the truck has figured in an accident in the past – be it minor or major, which is just normal if the food truck you are selling is already used.

Likewise, the prospective incoming owner will be happy to see a complete service record as proof that you as the outgoing owner have been taking good care of the food truck by following a regular maintenance schedule.

Warranty Documents

It is an advantage on your part if your food truck is still under the manufacturer’s warranty or extended warranty around the time you planned to sell it. Never lose your copy as it can add up to your chances of getting a better and higher sale.

Vehicle Inspection Report

This document is at present, required in about 17 counties in Texas so if you are a Texas resident and selling your truck, this is an additional requirement to all those mentioned earlier.

Smog Certificate

Although this document is needed only in specific states for instance, California, it would do you good if you also do a double-checking on your local regulations. Passing a smog or emission test merits a certificate which means that you have been running the road clean, free from pollutants.

Owner’s Manual

This paper is of importance to the new owners as a reference to anything that they cannot comprehend when the truck is running like in the case of a warning light that suddenly flashes. Or perhaps, when troubleshooting some problems, they can use the manual as their guide.

By asking the DMV further, you will realize if you are still required to prepare each of those papers mentioned in the latter part to avoid wasting time.

So, you see, even when you sell on online platforms, social media channels, or deal with legitimate dealers, you are still bound to prepare those documents. However, if you deal with UsedVending, you are assured of easier transactions.

At UsedVending, listing your truck is totally free. Here, you do not only experience safe transactions but you also get the best exposure. Our customer representatives’ ability to handle all the tire kickers is pretty sure a big relief to sellers like you.

Visit this link to know how to sell your food truck sans the hassle.

You might also want to read our article here to learn some pro tips when selling your used truck.