**1. Introduction**

Data quality is an important attribute of every information system, for which we expect a certain functionality, efficiency, and reliability [1–3]. Data quality is crucial, especially for so-called key object identifiers (unique primary keys in computer terminology), which uniquely identify a given object [4]. In the area of motor vehicles and information systems, which store vehicle information for various purposes, the object identifier is the VIN (*Vehicle Identification Number*) [5–8] (**Figure 1**).

The quality and error-free entry of the VIN in information systems determines whether a vehicle, searched or examined for various reasons, will be found in the computer database at all [9, 10]. Today, the effectiveness of the police and other state security forces (including the fight against organized crime or terrorism) [11], the effectiveness of rescue services in the event of a vehicle accident (pan-European eCALL project [12], the control activities of state administration bodies, post-sales (service) and other services of the automotive industry, the services of insurance

**Figure 1.** *Example of the location and appearance of a 17-digit VIN in a vehicle. Source: Roman Rak.*

companies, leasing companies, and other various third parties in the commercial and noncommercial sector depend on the VIN quality.

The paper deals with the analysis of data quality in government information systems. However, this quality does not match the modern data collection, acquisition, and control technologies that these technologies offer today. There are numerous errors in the primary VIN identifier in the information systems because this identifier is still manually transferred from vehicle documents (where there may be errors, forged or altered) to both the state and private information systems without acknowledging that there may be a big number of errors [13, 14]. In specific cases, these errors can lead to fatal consequences—failure to find a stolen or safety defective vehicle, failure to provide the necessary information for the activities of the emergency services, i.e. in extreme cases, endangering the health and life of persons involved in a serious traffic accident [15, 16], frauds in car purchases, damage settlement, civil disputes, etc. [17].
