Are homemade trailers really homemade? In a recent interview with CBC News, Owner of Action Trailers in Strathroy Shane Thompson had concerns about a recent surge in the number of trailers registered in Ontario as “homemade.” He says the trend appears suspicious, especially in light of the increasing incidence of trailer thefts. Thompson who founded the business in 2004 as a 16-year-old says the issue stems from the fact that homemade trailers can be registered without a vehicle identification number, making it easier for stolen trailers to be passed off as legitimate.
In Ontario, trailers, like vehicles, must be registered with the province and display license plates. Typically, new trailers require a bill of sale from a dealer containing a certificate of origin with a VIN. Moreover, the person registering the trailer needs to provide identification, and once registered, trailers can be resold using the original registration. In 2023, over 15,000 trailers were registered as homemade, a number that Thompson finds incredulous. He estimates that a substantial portion of these trailers, potentially up to 95%, are likely stolen.
However, homemade trailers, defined by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) as those “built by oneself,” do not have VINs. Instead, the person registering such a trailer simply signs a form attesting to its homemade status. This lack of stringent verification creates an avenue for fraudulent activity, as stolen trailers originally manufactured by a company can be falsely registered as homemade to facilitate their resale as legitimate.
Thompson highlights the ease with which stolen trailers can be disguised as homemade, pointing out the absence of requirements such as proof, photos, or receipts, and the lack of physical inspection. While historically only a small percentage of trailers registered in the province were labeled as homemade, the figure has seen a significant increase in recent years.
Moreover, Thompson emphasizes the unwitting involvement of buyers in this fraudulent scheme. Many purchasers are unaware that they are acquiring stolen trailers, as they may appear manufactured but are registered as homemade with the province. At his dealership, Thompson has encountered individuals attempting to trade in trailers that are clearly of manufactured origin but are registered otherwise. He refuses to sell such trailers, suspecting them to be stolen. Notably, a significant portion of the trailers Thompson sells are purchased by small business owners, ranging from contractors to food service operators.
Written by: C. Soares