diff --git a/vehicle-data-platform/apps/api/internal/platform/mysql_queries.go b/vehicle-data-platform/apps/api/internal/platform/mysql_queries.go
index 387da106..e044a98f 100644
--- a/vehicle-data-platform/apps/api/internal/platform/mysql_queries.go
+++ b/vehicle-data-platform/apps/api/internal/platform/mysql_queries.go
@@ -411,15 +411,16 @@ func buildVehicleRealtimeSQL(query url.Values) SQLQuery {
 	if len(having) > 0 {
 		havingSQL = ` HAVING ` + strings.Join(having, " AND ") + ` `
 	}
-	populationSQL := `(` +
-		`SELECT b0.vin, COALESCE(MAX(NULLIF(b0.plate, '')), '') AS plate, ` +
+	populationRowsSQL := `SELECT b0.vin, COALESCE(MAX(NULLIF(b0.plate, '')), '') AS plate, ` +
 		`COALESCE(MAX(NULLIF(b0.phone, '')), '') AS phone, COALESCE(MAX(NULLIF(b0.oem, '')), '') AS oem, 'bound' AS binding_status ` +
-		`FROM vehicle_identity_binding b0 WHERE b0.vin IS NOT NULL AND b0.vin <> '' GROUP BY b0.vin ` +
-		`UNION ALL ` +
-		`SELECT l0.vin, COALESCE(MAX(NULLIF(l0.plate, '')), '') AS plate, '' AS phone, '' AS oem, 'unbound' AS binding_status ` +
-		`FROM vehicle_realtime_location l0 LEFT JOIN vehicle_identity_binding b1 ON b1.vin = l0.vin ` +
-		`WHERE l0.vin IS NOT NULL AND l0.vin <> '' AND b1.vin IS NULL GROUP BY l0.vin` +
-		`) v`
+		`FROM vehicle_identity_binding b0 WHERE b0.vin IS NOT NULL AND b0.vin <> '' GROUP BY b0.vin`
+	if strings.TrimSpace(query.Get("serviceStatus")) == "identity_required" {
+		populationRowsSQL += ` UNION ALL ` +
+			`SELECT l0.vin, COALESCE(MAX(NULLIF(l0.plate, '')), '') AS plate, '' AS phone, '' AS oem, 'unbound' AS binding_status ` +
+			`FROM vehicle_realtime_location l0 LEFT JOIN vehicle_identity_binding b1 ON b1.vin = l0.vin ` +
+			`WHERE l0.vin IS NOT NULL AND l0.vin <> '' AND b1.vin IS NULL GROUP BY l0.vin`
+	}
+	populationSQL := `(` + populationRowsSQL + `) v`
 	baseGroupSQL := `FROM ` + populationSQL + ` ` +
 		`LEFT JOIN vehicle_realtime_location l ON l.vin = v.vin ` +
 		`LEFT JOIN vehicle_realtime_snapshot s ON s.vin = v.vin AND s.protocol = l.protocol `
diff --git a/vehicle-data-platform/apps/api/internal/platform/query_builders_test.go b/vehicle-data-platform/apps/api/internal/platform/query_builders_test.go
index 7dbbd8b3..20cb670b 100644
--- a/vehicle-data-platform/apps/api/internal/platform/query_builders_test.go
+++ b/vehicle-data-platform/apps/api/internal/platform/query_builders_test.go
@@ -304,6 +304,20 @@ func TestBuildVehicleRealtimeSQLFiltersVehiclesWithoutRealtimeLocation(t *testin
 	if !strings.Contains(built.Text, "AS location_available") {
 		t.Fatalf("realtime row must expose explicit location availability: %s", built.Text)
 	}
+	if strings.Contains(built.Text, "SELECT l0.vin") || strings.Contains(built.CountText, "SELECT l0.vin") {
+		t.Fatalf("default monitor population must stay on authoritative bound vehicles: %s / %s", built.Text, built.CountText)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBuildVehicleRealtimeSQLCanStillAuditUnboundRealtimeIdentities(t *testing.T) {
+	built := buildVehicleRealtimeSQL(url.Values{"serviceStatus": {"identity_required"}, "limit": {"20"}})
+	for _, text := range []string{built.Text, built.CountText} {
+		for _, want := range []string{"UNION ALL", "SELECT l0.vin", "b1.vin IS NULL", "v.binding_status = 'bound'"} {
+			if !strings.Contains(text, want) {
+				t.Fatalf("identity-required audit must explicitly add unbound realtime identities, missing %q: %s", want, text)
+			}
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func TestBuildDailyMileageSQL(t *testing.T) {