Car trailer VIN plate unreadable - possible consequences.

[nalesutol]

Hi

I am looking at buying a used Brian James RS5 shuttle trailer. It is in a very good condition, apart form the VIN plate, which is unreadable.

However, there is a sticker on the inside that says RS 288 on it.

Anyone know the possible legal ramifications of buying a trailer without a VIN plate?

Photos don't want to load for some reason, all I am getting is img /img


UPDATE. Spoke to Brian James Trailers and they can't provide a new VIN plate without a number. It is illegal, apparently, to tow a trailer on the highway without a legible VIN plate. If that is the case without getting a new plate and number the trailer would be worthless unless you are prepared to take the chance of getting it impounded, I'm not.

I wonder how many people realise this?

[welshpug]

Do Bjt not stamp the vin on the chassis anywhere?

Any other identification markers of any sort?

[nalesutol]

Unfortunately not.

[welshpug]

in that case make your own plate up.

[vitesseefi]

^^^
This. Or just leave the manufacturer plate in place unless the number has obviously been intentionally damaged - which raises different questions.

Plenty of trailers running around with no plates as the requirement was brought in relatively recently and not retrospectively applied. The only records are kept (maybe) by the manufacturers and the plates supplied are often low quality and soon become unreadable, as with this one. UK has some of the slackest trailer laws in the civilised (?) world.

Nobody will care.

[nalesutol]

Agreed, but this trailer is of an age that requires a plate. I am not prepared to risk impounding of trailer AND my car just to save a few quid. I will wait until a legal trailer turns up.

Making up a plate is just asking for trouble. I don't want to be looking over my shoulder every time I see a police car. Being 100% legal is much less stress.

[redratbike]

so does it have a plate that’s says it was made in a year to comply with the vin number requirement ??

[welshpug]

if the plate is illegible how will they know its age...

[dodgerover]

At a guess it's stolen hence the vin plate being rendered unreadable.
It's there no stamped in number anywhere else?

[nalesutol]

Dec 8, 2023 22:11:43 GMT dodgerover said:

At a guess it's stolen hence the vin plate being rendered unreadable.
It's there no stamped in number anywhere else?

No, the plate hasn’t been damaged, it is just totally rusted. Spoken to Brian James and the VIN plate is all there is to identify the trailer. Decided against it so still looking.