A number of amendments have been introduced to the rules governing compulsory civil liability insurance for vehicle owners. These changes are laid out in paragraphs 1.1 and 1.3 of Clause 1 of the Bank of Russia Ordinance No. 6038-U, dated December 24, 2021, which updates Bank of Russia Ordinance No. 431-P of September 19, 2014 concerning the Rules for Mandatory Civil Liability Insurance of Vehicle Owners. The reforms took effect on October 1, 2022.
The insurer learns the new vehicle registration number
Under the updated rules, the policyholder must provide the insurer with the vehicle’s national registration number within three working days after the vehicle is registered or upon receipt of the registration information. A notable relaxation allows insurers to independently obtain the new registration number from the computerized information system used for mandatory insurance. When the insurer acquires this information, it must notify the vehicle owner and update the policy accordingly.
The owner must notify changes in ownership
The obligation for car owners to inform the insurer in writing about a change of ownership of the vehicle named in the OSAGO policy remains in place. An exception exists if the insured has opted to terminate the compulsory insurance early.
The insured must promptly report the results of investigations
The insurer is required to share the results of any vehicle inspection or independent technical expertise with the insured person. This information can be delivered via email, posted to the insured’s personal account, or made available for inspection at the insurer’s office. The insured must receive these results no later than five working days after the inspection or after the insurer receives the independent assessment results.
Eyewitness testimony is no longer mandatory
Under the amendments, the vehicle owner is no longer required to record or include the names and addresses of eyewitnesses in the accident report during an insured event.
The insurer may independently review the accident
The vehicle owner and the insurer may sign a written agreement giving the insurer the right to obtain information about the accident directly. This streamlines the process for the insured, who may not need to submit accident documents in some cases. Documents such as a protocol on an administrative violation, a decision on an administrative case, or a decision declining to initiate an administrative violation case may be requested when the crash involves authorized police officers.
Cancellation of the contract only after vehicle disposal
If the vehicle is decommissioned or deemed to be removed from use, the OSAGO contract can be terminated early, and a portion of the prepaid premium for the remaining term will be refunded to the insured. The changes specify that early termination due to vehicle removal must be supported by official proof, specifically a police document confirming the vehicle’s removal and its deregistration from the national register after removal from OSAGO coverage.
These updates reflect a broader shift toward streamlining reporting and reducing administrative burdens on drivers while preserving the core protections offered by compulsory liability coverage. They also align with international trends toward digital data sharing between insurers and government records, helping to speed up claims processing and verification for both parties. (Source: Bank of Russia Ordinance No. 6038-U; updates effective October 1, 2022.)