Buyers of used horseboxes and trailers are being urged to remain vigilant afterresearch from The Equipment Register (TER) found that 11% of checks carried out in 2026 uncovered a theft, fraud or other financial irregularity. The figure represents an increase from 10% in 2025 and has prompted TER to urge buyers to carry out checks before completing a purchase.TER maintains a database of more than 1.8 million items of plant, agricultural and stolen equipment, including around 950,000 trailers. It is a database used by buyers, sellers, dealers, auctioneers, police forces and insurers.There is strong demand for second-hand horse boxes and trailers both domestically and internationally, making them an attractive target for criminals.Not isolated incidentsMany people are surprised when they hear that more than one in every nine checks conducted with TER identifies an outstanding finance agreement, theft record or other security interest, said Treve Jenkyn, manager at TER.The reality is that these are not isolated incidents. Our data shows that the problem has remained remarkably consistent for almost a decade.The increase we have seen during 2026 is particularly noteworthy because it follows several years in which match rates have remained persistently high. Buyers cannot afford to assume that the horsebox or trailer being offered for sale is free from finance or has a legitimate history simply because it appears genuine or is being sold through a familiar platform. A simple check before purchase can help a buyer avoid significant financial loss and play an important role in helping police and insurers trace stolen property. Taking a few minutes to check its history is essential due diligence before committing to a transaction.Image Your Horse Library.Further readingOne in 10 second hand trailers on the market are stolen: Top tips to protect yours from thievesBuyer beware: how to make sure youre not buying a stolen saddleLooking for a new trailer? Top tips for finding the perfect matchIs your trailer safe? Insight from claims statistics could help prevent theftThe post One in nineused horsebox andtrailer checks uncoverstheft, fraud orfinancial irregularities appeared first on Your Horse.