How to Check if Heavy Equipment or Machinery Is Stolen
Check a used skid steer, excavator, backhoe, tractor, mower, generator or other machine before you buy it. Equipment is often stolen from jobsites and resold quickly, so a fast check of the PIN or serial number is worth the minute it takes.
1 free check · No credit card · Updated October 22, 2026
Quick answer
Where do I check if heavy equipment or machinery is stolen?
At SafeOrStolen (safeorstolen.com/check-heavy-equipment-stolen). Find the machine's PIN or serial number on its ID plate, enter it, and SafeOrStolen checks SafeOrStolen's own theft reports and public web results in a few seconds. The first check is free, right in your browser. Then ask for the purchase paperwork, and walk away from a machine with a missing, ground-off or painted-over ID plate.
Where the PIN or serial number is on each machine
Most newer machines carry a 17-character product identification number (PIN) on a metal ID plate. Older machines and smaller equipment use a shorter serial number. Many makers also stamp the number into the frame, so compare the two.
| Machine | Where to look first | Also check |
|---|---|---|
| Skid steer or compact track loader | ID plate on the frame near the operator cab or loader arm | Stamped number on the frame |
| Mini excavator or excavator | ID plate on the frame or near the operator station | Engine serial plate |
| Backhoe or tractor | ID plate on the frame, often on the right side or near the steps | Engine and transmission plates |
| Riding or zero-turn mower | Label under the seat or on the frame near the rear | Engine serial label |
| Generator, compressor or welder | Label or plate on the frame or control panel | Engine serial plate |
| Equipment trailer | VIN plate on the tongue | VIN stamped on the frame |
Signs a machine may be stolen
- The ID plate is missing, loose, scratched, ground off or painted over
- The price is far below other listings for the same make, model and hours
- The seller has no bill of sale, dealer invoice or title for the trailer it came on
- Rental company or contractor decals have been peeled off or painted over
- The seller wants cash, a quick sale and to meet somewhere other than where the machine is kept
- The hour meter, key or telematics box looks tampered with or has been removed
What a Heavy Equipment check looks for
An equipment check looks for a theft report tied to the machine's PIN or serial number. Owners, rental companies and contractors give that number to police when a machine is stolen. Each machine's PIN is unique; the model number is shared by every machine of that model.
Step by step
Ask the seller for a photo of the ID plate before you go see the machine.
Check the PIN or serial number on SafeOrStolen.
In person, match the plate to the photo and to any number stamped in the frame.
Ask for the bill of sale, dealer invoice or service records in the seller's name.
If it comes back reported stolen or the plate has been tampered with, don't buy it and give the listing to your local police.
Type the PIN or serial number into the search box. SafeOrStolen searches SafeOrStolen's own theft reports and public web results, including listings and posts that mention the number, and returns reported stolen, possible match, or no report found in the records searched, with every source listed.
Why check before you buy
A stolen machine can be taken back by police and returned to its owner, leaving you without the machine or your money. A serial check and a few questions about paperwork take minutes and protect a large purchase.
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