Trailer Check
Is the trailer stolen, written off or under finance?
Finance, write-off and stolen checks for trailers.
A trailer check runs the official PPSR search on the trailer, so you can see if there's finance owing, a written-off record or a stolen record before you pay. Search by the VIN or chassis number on the compliance plate for the most reliable result, or by the rego and state.
What a MotorRegistry report shows
- Official PPSR certificate Official PPSR certificate from the Australian Government's register
- Finance owing Any finance owing (security interest) registered against the trailer
- Written-off check Written-off status from the national Written-Off Vehicle Register (WOVR)
- Stolen check Stolen records for the VIN and number plates
- Registration status Current registration status and expiry
What a trailer check covers
Trailers are on the same national registers as cars. Every MotorRegistry report on a trailer runs the official PPSR search and includes the certificate, with these checks:
Finance owing
Any security interest registered against the trailer on the PPSR. If the seller still owes money on it, the lender can repossess the trailer even after you've paid. Our vehicle finance check page explains how it works.
Written-off status
Whether the trailer is on the national Written-Off Vehicle Register (WOVR). The register covers trailers and caravans as well as cars. More on the written-off vehicle check page.
Stolen records
Police-reported stolen records for the VIN and the number plates. See the stolen vehicle check page.
Registration
Current registration status and expiry.
For most trailers, the Basic report is a sensible fit. It covers everything above, and those are the checks that protect you when you buy a trailer.
Search by VIN or chassis number, not the plate
Trailer plates vary by state, and some, including all-numeric plates, have limited coverage in a plate search. Entering the VIN or chassis number gives a much more reliable result, so start there.
Read the VIN off the trailer. The compliance plate is usually on the drawbar, near the coupling. Trailers built since 1989 carry a 17-character VIN on it. Older trailers may only have a chassis number, which you can search instead. Check the number on the plate matches the registration papers before you search.
Which trailers this covers
Box trailers, car trailers, horse floats and boat trailers are all trailers for a check like this. For a boat trailer, the report covers the trailer itself, not the boat it carries. For a caravan or camper, see the caravan check page.
How to run a trailer check
- Enter the trailer's 17-character VIN or its chassis number in the search box on this page. You can also try the rego and state.
- Choose your report. Every MotorRegistry report includes the official PPSR certificate and the finance, written-off, stolen and registration checks.
- Your report arrives by email and on screen, usually within minutes.
Run the check on the day you plan to pay. Finance can be registered against a trailer at any time, so an older check may not show it.
Things to check on the trailer itself
Trailers are easy to hitch up and tow away, which makes them easy to steal and easy to sell on quickly. A clear report is the starting point. When you see the trailer, check:
The compliance plate
It should be present, readable and firmly fixed. A missing plate, or one that looks re-riveted, glued or newer than the trailer, is a warning sign.
Matching numbers
The VIN or chassis number on the plate matches the registration papers.
The seller's details
The seller's name and address match the registration papers, and they can explain how they came to own the trailer.
Drawbar, coupling and frame
No cracks, fresh welds or heavy rust that could hide earlier damage.
The number plates
The plates match the trailer. Stolen plates can be fitted to another trailer to hide its identity.
The price
A price well below similar trailers, with pressure to pay quickly in cash, is a reason to slow down.
Buying a bike to go on the trailer? See the motorcycle check page. The PPSR check page explains what the official register does and doesn't show, and the REVS check page covers the finance search under its old name.
Trailer Check FAQ
Do trailers have a VIN?
Most do. Trailers built since 1989 carry a 17-character VIN on the compliance plate, usually on the drawbar. Older trailers may only have a chassis number, which you can search instead.
Can I do a PPSR or REVS check on a trailer?
Yes. Trailers are covered by the PPSR the same way cars are, and a REVS check on a trailer is now a PPSR search, since the state REVS registers moved to the PPSR in 2012. Every MotorRegistry report runs the official PPSR search and includes the certificate, which shows any finance owing on the trailer.
Why can't the rego search find my trailer?
Trailer plates vary by state, and some, including all-numeric plates, have limited coverage in a plate search. Enter the VIN or chassis number from the compliance plate instead, which gives a much more reliable result.
How do I check if a trailer is stolen?
Search the trailer's VIN or chassis number, or its rego. Every MotorRegistry report checks the national stolen records for the trailer and its number plates.
Does a trailer check cover a boat on a boat trailer?
No. A boat trailer is checked as a trailer, so the report covers the trailer itself, not the boat it carries.
Start with a PPSR check or a full car history check.
Check the trailer before you pay
Enter the rego or VIN to see what's on record for the vehicle.
Check a vehicle now
