Recent observations in the OSAGO sector show a notable absence of widespread consumer complaints despite rising costs for automobile spare parts. In an interview with Realnoe Vremya, Evgeny Ufimtsev, president of the Russian Association of Motor Insurers, shared these insights.
Ufimtsev pointed out that insurance companies have stayed true to their core purpose: delivering compensation to accident victims for both medical needs and vehicle repairs. He emphasized that queues and delays seen six to seven years ago when contracts were hard to secure and payments slow are no longer the norm. This improvement reflects a more streamlined process across the industry.
Another development highlighted is the entrance of new insurance players and the creation of a reinsurance pool. This pool allows insurers to allocate challenging or higher-risk customers to a collective safety net, enabling compensation from the broader insurance community. Ufimtsev also noted progress in tariff visualization, a tool that clarifies how premiums are determined and how they respond to various risk factors.
Analyses show that drivers with clean accident histories and favorable bonus-malus ratios saw premium changes of no more than 10 percent year over year. In contrast, the cost of spare parts has risen significantly, with certain brands experiencing increases of 30–50 percent. The average uptick in replacement parts costs was around 30 percent, according to the PCA guide cited by the expert.
Ufimtsev described a recent trend where tariffs are kept fair. He explained that vehicle owners maintaining a good rate often see only modest premium growth for OSAGO, while those with frequent accidents may face more substantial increases in cost. This approach aims to balance affordability for safe drivers with risk-based pricing for higher-frequency policyholders.
Statistics from the Russian Association of Motor Insurers, covering July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, indicate regional patterns in insured events. The Republic of Dagestan registered the highest frequency of claims, followed by Ingushetia and the Chechen Republic. These figures underline the geographic variation in operating conditions and risk profiles across the country.
In related news, Alexander Kazachenko, vice-president of the Automobile Service Association, warned that winter tire prices could rise in Russia. This observation came from the Public News Service and reflects broader cost pressures affecting vehicle maintenance and safety decisions during colder months.
There have also been discussions about applying OSAGO-style mechanisms to other modes of local transport. Some proposals have explored creating a courier insurance analogue for electric scooters, signaling interest in expanding risk-sharing frameworks beyond traditional passenger cars. These conversations illustrate how policy design can adapt to evolving mobility landscapes while maintaining core protections for road users. (RSA, 2023; PCA Guide, 2023; Public News Service, 2023)