diff --git a/src/request-management/entities/schema/partyRole.enum.ts b/src/request-management/entities/schema/partyRole.enum.ts
index 69c2442..82563f0 100644
--- a/src/request-management/entities/schema/partyRole.enum.ts
+++ b/src/request-management/entities/schema/partyRole.enum.ts
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ export const PersonSchema = SchemaFactory.createForClass(Person);
 @Schema({ _id: false })
 export class Vehicle {
     @Prop() plateId?: string;
+    /** VIN / chassis number — populated only when the inquiry was performed via VIN lookup. */
+    @Prop() vin?: string;
     @Prop() name?: string;
     @Prop() model?: string;
     @Prop() type?: string;
diff --git a/src/request-management/inquiry-refresh.service.ts b/src/request-management/inquiry-refresh.service.ts
index e2c1df2..a6e73bb 100644
--- a/src/request-management/inquiry-refresh.service.ts
+++ b/src/request-management/inquiry-refresh.service.ts
@@ -501,6 +501,9 @@ export class InquiryRefreshService {
       if (memParty.vehicle?.plateId !== undefined) {
         party.vehicle.plateId = memParty.vehicle.plateId;
       }
+      if (memParty.vehicle?.vin !== undefined) {
+        party.vehicle.vin = memParty.vehicle.vin;
+      }
       blameDoc.markModified(`parties.${docIdx}.vehicle`);
 
       if (memParty.insurance) {
diff --git a/src/request-management/request-management.service.ts b/src/request-management/request-management.service.ts
index 64bf3c8..5d36ab1 100644
--- a/src/request-management/request-management.service.ts
+++ b/src/request-management/request-management.service.ts
@@ -1842,8 +1842,8 @@ export class RequestManagementService {
 
       if (!party.vehicle) party.vehicle = {} as any;
       party.vehicle.isNew = body.isNewCar;
-      // Store VIN as the vehicle identifier instead of plate
-      party.vehicle.plateId = body.vin;
+      // Store VIN in vehicle.vin; leave plateId empty for VIN-based inquiries
+      party.vehicle.vin = body.vin;
       party.vehicle.name = inquiryMapped?.MapTypNam;
       party.vehicle.type = `${inquiryMapped?.UsageField} / ${inquiryMapped?.MapUsageName || "-"}`;
       party.vehicle.inquiry = {
@@ -9508,7 +9508,8 @@ export class RequestManagementService {
       (party.person as any).licenseType = (partyData as any).licenseType;
 
     if (!party.vehicle) party.vehicle = {} as any;
-    party.vehicle.plateId = partyData.vin; // store VIN as vehicle identifier
+    // Store VIN in vehicle.vin; leave plateId empty for VIN-based inquiries
+    party.vehicle.vin = partyData.vin;
     party.vehicle.name = inquiryMapped?.MapTypNam;
     party.vehicle.type = `${inquiryMapped?.UsageField ?? ""} / ${inquiryMapped?.UsageName ?? inquiryMapped?.MapUsageName ?? "-"}`;
     party.vehicle.inquiry = {