The National Automobile Union has criticized a planned 26% expansion of the tariff corridor, set to take effect on September 13. The move has sparked strong statements from the association, which argues that insurance costs are already climbing. It notes that this year alone has seen three increases in insurance prices, and the expansion is being framed as a further driver of higher premiums.
Simultaneously, a shift is under way in how compensation is calculated after traffic accidents. Spare parts prices have risen sharply, by roughly 50 to 70% on average, while the catalog prices used by insurers show increases in the neighborhood of 20 to 25%.
The Bank of Russia has granted insurers permission to rely on spare parts analogues when calculating payouts. This change could further suppress payments, as insurers are likely to favor the cheapest analogue with a wear rate up to 50%. A caveat remains: alternative prices apply only if the original part is not available on the market. The exact procedures for installation and verification of replacement parts, however, have not been clarified.
As a result, the National Automobile Union projects that consumers will end up paying more while receiving less in insurance benefits. In the initial phase, more drivers may go without insurance due to higher service costs, and in the longer term, the market could see fewer prospective customers because of insufficient compensation levels.
Current estimates indicate that the share of drivers without OSAGO policies ranges from 10% to 20% depending on the region. Over the next two to three years, the union predicts this figure could rise to as much as 40%.
Among the proposed remedies is the idea of creating a single state insurance entity that would operate without profit incentives. Experts, meanwhile, contend that the civil liability framework for motor vehicles is overdue for modernization.
A representative summary of the situation is available from Moscow, reflecting concerns across the sector about affordability and coverage in the evolving policy landscape.