Guidance

Selling small trailers: certificates and record keeping

Updated 19 December 2022

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/selling-small-trailers/selling-small-trailers-certificates-and-record-keeping

There are rules you must follow when selling:

  • small trailers (trailers with a ‘maximum authorised mass’ (MAM) of no more than 3,500kg
  • trailers that are exempt from the MOT (annual test) with a MAM of 3,500kg or more

If the trailer has not been sold before, when you sell the trailer you must:

  • provide the buyer with a certificate of approval
  • record and keep certain information about the trailer

It’s against the law to sell the trailer without doing this.

These rules do not apply if you’re reselling a used or second-hand trailer.

You can be fined or in serious cases be sent to prison for up to 3 months for not following these rules.

Providing the buyer with a certificate of approval

You’re responsible for making sure the trailers you sell have either:

  • a certificate of conformity for type approval

  • a certificate of conformity for small series type approval

  • an individual vehicle approval certificate

Certificate of conformity

Trailers will be issued with a certificate of conformity if it has been approved through either:

  • UK(NI) type approval
  • provisional GB type approval
  • GB type approval
  • small series type approval

You must provide the buyer with this certificate when you sell the trailer. The certificate must include:

  • the vehicle identification number (VIN)

  • the exact technical characteristics of the trailer

Individual vehicle approval certificate

A trailer will be issued with an individual vehicle approval certificate if it has been approved through individual vehicle approval.

You must provide the buyer with this certificate when you sell the trailer. The certificate must include:

  • the vehicle identification number (VIN)

  • the exact technical characteristics of the trailer

Recording and keeping information about the trailer you’re selling

You must keep a record of information about every trailer you sell.

You must keep a record of:

  • the name and address and (if any) the company registration number of the manufacturer

  • the manufacturer’s designation (make and model) of the trailer

  • the month and year when manufacture of the vehicle was completed

  • the vehicle identification (VIN) number

  • the number of the type approval or the individual approval certificate

  • a copy of any certificate of conformity issued in respect of the vehicle

  • the date of supply

  • the name and address of the buyer

You must keep this information for a minimum of 10 years after the trailer has been sold. DVSA can ask for this information if they’re carrying out an investigation. You must give this information to DVSA if they ask for it.

Legislation

The Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2020.

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.

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