A used vending machine in Spain (máquina de vending de segunda mano) can cost much less than a new one and last for years, or it can turn out to be one breakdown after another, with a coin mechanism that rejects today’s coins. The difference is not in the listing: it is in what you check before you pay.
In this guide we explain what to decide before you start looking, what to inspect on the machine part by part, what documents to ask for, what taxes the purchase involves, and how to know whether it is worth it compared with a new one. At the end there is a checklist to take with you on the day you go to see it.
Before you start looking: the location
The machine is chosen for a place, not the other way around. Before looking at ads, it is worth being clear about where it will go, because that decides almost everything else:
- What will be sold. Snacks and cold drinks, drinks only, coffee, or a combination. In an office, coffee sells; in a gym, water and isotonic drinks.
- Whether it needs cooling. Drinks and sandwiches do; snacks do not. A refrigerated machine uses more electricity and there is more to check.
- The space. The width, depth and height of the opening, and how it will get in: some machines will not fit through a normal door without being dismantled.
- The power outlet and coverage. A nearby socket and, if you want to take card payments, mobile signal or Wi‑Fi.
- How people pay there. In many places, almost nobody carries coins anymore. A machine without a card reader may sell much less.
Once that is clear, you know what type of machine to look for and how many sales it would need to pay for itself. We work through the calculation in our article on vending machine profitability.
What to check on the machine
The ideal is to see it plugged in and working for a few hours beforehand, and to test a real sale with each payment system. These are the parts that fail most often and cost the most:
| Part | What to look at | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Coin mechanism | That it accepts all current coins, gives change, and that the change tubes work | It is one of the things people complain about most and one of the most expensive parts to replace |
| Bill validator and card reader | If it has them, that they work, and who owns the reader contract | The reader is usually tied to the seller’s contract: you will have to set up your own |
| Cooling | That it reaches working temperature and keeps it, and how the compressor sounds | A cooling failure with product inside means wasted product |
| Spirals and motors | Test each selection, one by one | A faulty motor is a slot that does not sell |
| Delivery sensor | If it has one, that it refunds the money when the product does not drop | The law requires the amount to be refunded if the product is not delivered |
| Control board, screen and keypad | Enter the menu, change a price, and check the sales counters | Without the menu codes you will not even be able to change a price |
| Cabinet, door and locks | Dents, rust, glass, door seal, and all keys, including the cash box key | Replacing locks or glass is not cheap, and a bad seal makes the cooling system work harder |
| Brewing unit (if it is a coffee machine) | Scale in the boiler, grinder, leaks, and cleaning of the circuit | It is the most delicate part of a coffee machine |
If the counters can show what the machine has sold, even better: it gives you an idea of how much it has been used and, if it comes with its location, what it sells there.
What it must have to be installed
A used machine may not meet today’s requirements, especially if it is old or came from another country. Check that you will be able to add what the law requires:
- Visible information (Article 50 of Spain’s Retail Trade Act, Ley 7/1996, de ordenación del comercio minorista): what product it sells and at what price, who sells it, an address and phone number for complaints, what coins it accepts, how to use it, and that it complies with technical regulations, such as CE marking.
- Refund of the money if the product is not delivered (Article 51 of the same law).
- The operator’s details on the outside, if it sells food: name, address and phone number of the person who supplies and maintains it (Article 12 of Spanish Royal Decree 1021/2022 on food hygiene in retail, Real Decreto 1021/2022).
- A power-cut alarm, if it sells food that needs cooling. The same article requires it to alert the operator when the power fails, so that product that has lost the cold chain is not sold. Many old machines do not have it.
What documents to ask for
- Invoice or sales contract, with the model and serial number of the machine.
- The technical manual and programming manual, and the codes to enter the menu.
- All the keys: door, cash box and, if applicable, bill validator and reader.
- The repair history, if available, and which parts have been replaced.
- That it has no liens. A machine on lease or pending payment does not belong to the seller. Ask them to state this in writing in the contract.
- A warranty, if sold by a company. Ask how long it lasts and what it covers, and have it put in writing.
Taxes on the purchase
- If a company sells it, the invoice includes 21% VAT. If you have a company on the standard VAT scheme, you deduct it. If you are self-employed (autónomo) under the equivalence surcharge scheme (recargo de equivalencia), you do not: it is part of what the machine costs.
- If a private individual sells it, there is no VAT, but you may have to pay Spain’s transfer tax (impuesto de transmisiones patrimoniales, ITP), which is set by your region (comunidad autónoma) and declared by the buyer. Ask about the rate and the deadline in your region before agreeing on the price.
What happens afterwards with the VAT on what you sell is covered in our guide to VAT on vending machines in Spain.
Is it worth it compared with a new one?
There is no single market price that works for everyone: it depends on the model, the year, and its condition. What works is comparing ads for the same model and adding what the used machine will need:
- the price, transport and installation;
- the tune-up: cleaning, door seal, locks, maybe a spiral;
- anything that needs to be replaced: a coin mechanism that accepts current coins, a card reader, or the power-cut alarm;
- a margin for repairs in the first year, which come sooner with a used machine.
With that total, calculate the payback period: what the machine costs divided by what it leaves each month. If, with a prudent sales forecast, it comes out much longer than with a new one, second-hand is not saving you anything.
The checklist for the day of the visit
- Ask to see it plugged in for a few hours beforehand.
- Buy something with coins, with a bill and with a card, and ask for change.
- Test all selections.
- Check the cooling temperature and listen to the compressor.
- Enter the menu, change a price, and check the counters.
- Open the door: rust, seal, locks, wiring.
- Write down the model, serial number and rating plate.
- Check that all keys and manuals are there.
- Ask why it is being sold and where it was located.
- Ask for written confirmation that it has no liens.
Know from the first month whether the machine pays for itself, with Repónlo
Repónlo (our own product) is an app for vending operators without telemetry, which is usually the case with a second-hand machine. You enter what is left and what you load into each slot, and it automatically shows sales by slot and by product. With your fixed costs and what you agreed with the location, it shows you the profitability for the period and alerts you to prices that are below your margin. It also tracks expiry dates by batch and tells you how much should be in the cash box. It works from your mobile browser, with nothing to install. It is free forever for one machine. For more, plans start at €19 per month, plus VAT, for up to five machines. The app is available in English.
Create your free account with one machine · See how it works
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth buying a used vending machine?
Yes, if it is in good condition and meets the required regulations. Add the tune-up and anything that needs changing to the price, and compare the payback period with that of a new one.
What is the first thing to check?
The coin mechanism and the cooling system. They are what fail most, what costs the most to replace, and what causes the most lost sales.
How much does a used vending machine cost?
It depends on the type, model, year and condition. Compare several listings for the same model and year before deciding.
Does a used vending machine have VAT?
If a company sells it, yes, 21%. If a private individual sells it, there is no VAT, but you may have to pay the transfer tax (ITP) in your region.
Does the machine need any paperwork to be installed?
Not a machine licence, but it must display the information required by law: product, price, who operates it, and where to complain. If it sells chilled food, it also needs the power-cut alarm.
Can I add a card reader to an old machine?
Often yes, if the control board supports it. Ask the seller what payment system the machine accepts before buying it.
How do I know what a machine sells without telemetry?
By the difference at each restock: what was in each slot minus what remains, multiplied by the price of that slot. The machine counters are used to verify it.
Conclusion
A used vending machine is a good way to get started if you buy it for a specific location and after checking it carefully: coin mechanism, cooling, all selections, the menu and the keys. With the tune-up added and the paperwork in order, the numbers will tell you whether it really saves money or just delays the expense.
This article is for information only. Taxes on the purchase depend on who sells it and on your region: check with your tax advisor.
Useful links
- Vending machine profitability: the calculation, with an example.
- Vending management software: what it should do and how to choose it.
- Empty slots and expired products: the two places where margin disappears.
- Spain’s Retail Trade Act (Ley 7/1996), in the BOE, Spain’s official gazette (in Spanish).
