When a partial VIN is available, how should the inquiry be prefaced in the NICB databases?

When conducting an inquiry in the NICB databases with a partial VIN, it is essential to preface the inquiry with the term "PARTIAL" to clearly indicate that the information being submitted is not the complete Vehicle Identification Number. This approach helps to distinguish the entry as partial, allowing the database to process the inquiry correctly within its system.

Using "PARTIAL" as a prefix ensures that the system recognizes the limitations of the provided information and adjusts its search parameters accordingly. This distinction can lead to more accurate results, as the system will search for vehicles that match the incomplete data, enhancing the likelihood of retrieving relevant records linked to the partial VIN.

Terms like "INCOMPLETE," "VIN," or "NUMBER" do not provide the same clarity or specificity about the nature of the inquiry, which could result in confusion or inaccuracies in the search results. Therefore, prefacing the inquiry with "PARTIAL" is the best practice when dealing with incomplete data in these contexts.