In this article, we will answer the following question: How do you check if a horse trailer is stolen? We will help you understand what a Vehicle Identification Number is, and how to find more about the history of the trailer you plan on buying.
How do you check if a horse trailer is stolen?
The most simple way to check if a horse trailer is stolen is by checking its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
The VIN number is an identification number that allows you to know the model as well as a lot of information about the chassis of the trailer. The majority of products sold in the US must have an identification number, if only to know the batch and the date of manufacture.
Where can I find the VIN number on a horse trailer?
The VIN number (Vehicle Identification Number) of a vehicle registration document is specific to each vehicle so that it can be identified as soon as it leaves the factory.
It appears in at least two places on the vehicle:
- On the manufacturer’s plate;
- On the chassis of the horse trailer.
The VIN code, or chassis number, is a unique alphanumeric code allowing each vehicle to be unofficially identified since 1954.
The VIN code should not be confused with the confidential code of the vehicle registration document or the transfer code. These last two numbers are for single use only, and only allow the formalities related to the transfer of the vehicle to the administration to be carried out correctly.
Each manufacturer must write the VIN number on different parts of each vehicle it puts into circulation.
VIN number: Manufacturer codes
| AB | ABI |
| AD | Adria |
| BE | Bessacarr |
| BU | Buccaneer |
| BY | Bailey |
| CL | Carlight |
| CM | Coachman |
| CP | Compass |
| CS | Cosalt |
| CU | Sprite |
| EL | Elddis |
| EX | Explorer Group |
| FL | Fleetwood |
| LU | Lunar |
| SW | Swift Group |
VIN number: Year codes
| N | 1992 |
| P | 1993 |
| R | 1994 |
| S | 1995 |
| T | 1996 |
| V | 1997 |
| W | 1998 |
| X | 1999 |
| Y | 2000 |
| 1 | 2001 |
| 2 | 2002 |
| 3 | 2003 |
| 4 | 2004 |
| 5 | 2005 |
| 6 | 2006 |
| 7 | 2007 |
| 8 | 2008 |
| 9 | 2009 |
| A | 2010 |
| B | 2011 |
| C | 2012 |
| D | 2013 |
| E | 2014 |
How do I read the VIN number of a horse trailer?
The VIN code or Vehicle Identification Number is a 17-character alphanumeric identifier that acts as a serial number for your car. The VIN number contains four pertinent parts and helps to identify:
1) “World Manufacturer” of the vehicle,
2) “Description of the vehicle”,
3) “VIN check digit accuracy”,
4) “Vehicle Identification”.
Here is how you read it:
- The first part of your VIN number is called the Manufacturer World Identification. These are the first three characters of the 17 total characters of your VIN number. The first character in the WMI sequence represents the country in which the vehicle was manufactured and can be a letter or a number.
The second character refers to the manufacturer, and can also be a letter or number. The third character represents the type of vehicle or the manufacturing division.
- The second part of your VIN number is called the Vehicle Description Section. The vehicle description section consists of five characters and represents the 4-8 characters of the total 17-character VIN. These numbers identify everything from body style, engine type, brake system, model, series, restraint system, etc. These numbers are the key to identifying what type of vehicle you have.
The ninth character in the overall 17 VIN character is called the VIN precision check digit. This number verifies the previous VIN numbers and is determined by the National Directorate of Transportation.
- The last eight digits of the 17-character VIN number is known as the Vehicle Identification Section of the VIN number. The vehicle identification section character identifies the model year (10 characters) and the assembly plant for the vehicle (11 characters).
A number or letter can represent the model year. The 12th to 17th characters are the actual serial number of the vehicles – these last 6 digits make the vehicle unique and help identify whether the vehicle was the first, the hundredth, or the last vehicle on the assembly line of the vehicle. maker.
How to check the history of VIN numbers
Buying a used horse trailer from a dealer or private party requires verification of the vehicle’s VIN history. Obviously, you want to make sure that you are not buying a defective trailer or a trailer previously involved in an accident.
The seventeen digit VIN number can reveal problems such as a void warranty or mechanical problems. In some cases, partial VIN history can be checked for free. Other methods require payment in order to receive a complete vehicle history report.
- Try to locate the VIN history on the Internet. Enter the VIN number into the Google or Yahoo search engine, and see if there are any public records. Sometimes VIN stories leak on the Internet from previous sales documents and records. Conduct a little research and you can find the information for free.
- Paying for a service that can provide a vehicle’s VIN history. You can use websites like CarFax.com to access VIN history information. Carfax and companies that provide similar services often require payment before giving you access to the vehicles’ history.
Obtain a copy of the VIN car history report from the car dealer, if possible. Some car dealerships offer free car history reports as an incentive to sell the car.
Conclusions
In most cases, second-hand horse trailers are usually in good condition since the owners tend to take care of them (as you may very well do when you buy yours). The reasons for putting them up for sale, logically, vary depending on each case; people who bought it to try this world, economic reasons, they hardly use it, in exchange for a motorhome, etc.
In either case, try to find out as much as you can about the horse trailer that is being sold:
- Ask the use that has been given to the trailer.
- If it has been used lately.
- If they have travelled long distances.
- Where has it been stored, whether indoors or outdoors?
- If any type of repair or maintenance has been carried out.
- If they have all the documentation in order (that is very important).
And finally, make sure you check the VIN number of the horse trailer and that you do some research. VIN numbers are logged into databases that track recalls and purchases, fire damage, hail or fire, theft, any accident history, odometer readings, recalls and defects, as well as detailed vehicle specifications.
Please let us know if you have any questions, comments or suggestions on buying second-hand horse trailers!
FAQ on How do you check if a horse trailer is stolen?
What is the VIN number?
The VIN number is a 17-character alphanumeric number that distinguishes all vehicles in the world.
Where can I find the VIN code?
When reading a vehicle registration document, we find the VIN code in field E. The VIN code can also be found on the chassis and/or windows of the vehicle.
What are the different VIN codes of the manufacturers?
To find a sample of the different VIN numbers of the most famous manufacturers, find a summary table in our article.
Where is the chassis number on a caravan?
The chassis number on a caravan is either printed on a window or underside of a caravan’s A-Frame. And, of course, this number must coincide with the one that appears on the papers or on the technical sheet.
Other FAQs about Horse Trailers that you may be interested in.
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