a. OSAGO policy will increase in price
By the end of June, decisions were made to raise the cost of OSAGO insurance. The impact hit those who have frequent accidents and, to a lesser extent, drivers with limited driving experience. The Central Bank altered the method for calculating coefficients, which pushed the price of the policy higher for these groups. The shift wasn’t uniform across all insurers, however. Some kept OSAGO prices steady or nudged them up only modestly, creating surprisingly attractive options for many customers in the market.
Starting August 1, most companies are expected to align with the Central Bank’s guidance and push OSAGO prices toward the market level. Yet a carve-out exists for drivers with substantial driving experience, and those with clean accident histories. Proponents of the change argue this approach helps insurers better gauge risk as costs for spare parts rise and overall road risk evolves.
In practice, the timing of rate updates varied. A number of insurers had already adjusted pricing in anticipation of the new coefficients, while others waited to see how the market would react before applying larger increases. The result is a more differentiated pricing landscape where the best offers may be tied to a driver’s record and experience.
2. Cameras in the “chandeliers” of traffic police cars
These devices have mostly been tested in the field inside traffic police cars. The equipment uses light beams paired with 360-degree video capture to monitor street activity.
Beyond catching violations, the system can read license plates to identify stolen vehicles and can recognize faces to locate individuals under investigation. This multi-purpose setup is designed to enhance road safety, streamline enforcement, and improve identification capabilities in real time.
The pilot is currently limited to Moscow and the Moscow region. If the tests demonstrate clear benefits, authorities plan to roll out the technology more broadly next year.
3. Panic button required again
Earlier, Russian car manufacturers were allowed to deliver vehicles without the ERA-GLONASS emergency system due to a chip shortage. Cars produced under this temporary waiver were to be finished with the panic button at a later stage.
Manufacturers can adjust configurations through February 1, 2023, but the deadline for finalizing cars without the panic button falls on August 1. From that point onward, every new Russian car will come equipped with an emergency call system, ensuring rapid assistance in the event of an incident.
four. Difficulty crossing the border
The border becomes more troublesome for those who travel to Latvia frequently. Beginning August 1, 2022, Latvia suspended the agreement that allowed simplified border crossing for Russians living in border regions.
The move followed the closure of the Latvian Consulate in Pskov, which had been the only place issuing such permissions. Previously, simplified visa procedures offered valid access for a prolonged period, but the policy shift tightened entry options for travelers with Russian residency near the border.
5. Penalty for dirty rooms (from the end of August)
A new system for toll road travel signals a broader change in how road usage is charged. The plan is to begin operating a barrier-free toll network later in the summer. If a vehicle travels on a toll route, its license plate is captured and the corresponding toll is debited automatically from the linked account. If the balance is insufficient, the driver has a five-day window to settle the debt. If the license plate is unreadable, the driver may face a fine of 500 rubles. The new rules also give toll operators the right to deny passage to vehicles with illegible numbers.
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