An OSAGO policy (compulsory motor third-party liability insurance) is taken out for a year, and a lot can change in that time: a new driver appears, the car is sold, the plates or the owner's surname change. Some changes are made to the existing contract; others require a new policy. Let us go through them in order.
The general rule
The policyholder must promptly inform the insurer of any change in the information given in the application for the OSAGO contract. Changes are made on the policyholder's application. If a change increases the insured risk (for example, a driver is added to the policy), the insurer recalculates the premium and may require an additional payment.
Holders of an electronic policy (e-OSAGO) can make changes in their personal account on the insurance company's website. A paper policy is changed at the insurer's office. All contract data is transmitted to AIS OSAGO, the national OSAGO information system.
How to add a driver
- Submit an application to the insurer — online or at the office.
- Provide the new driver's details: full name, date of birth, driving licence series and number, and the date driving experience began.
- Pay the additional premium if the premium has changed.
- Receive the updated policy — from that moment the driver is allowed to drive the car.
The additional payment depends on the new driver's age and experience (the KVS coefficient) and their bonus-malus class (KBM). For a policy with a restricted list of drivers, the calculation uses the values of the driver with the least favourable combination of these coefficients. That is why adding a young driver with no experience is almost always more expensive than adding an experienced one.
Restricted or unrestricted policy
If there are many drivers or they change often, it is easier to switch to a policy with no restriction on who may drive. It uses the coefficient KO = 3.16 — such a policy is more expensive, but you do not need to add anyone. The OSAGO calculator will help you compare the options.
What happens if a driver is not listed
- a fine of 500 rubles under Part 1 of Article 12.37 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences for driving by a person not named in the policy;
- if such a driver causes an accident, the insurer pays the victims but may then recover the amount from the at-fault driver by way of recourse (Article 14 of Law No. 40-FZ).
Selling the car and a new owner
OSAGO insures the liability of a specific owner, so the seller's policy does not pass to the new owner.
For the buyer
Under Article 4 of Law No. 40-FZ, the new owner must insure their civil liability before registering the vehicle, and no later than ten days after acquiring ownership. Driving without OSAGO carries a fine of 800 rubles under Part 2 of Article 12.37 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
For the seller
A change of owner is a ground for early termination of the contract. Submit an application and a copy of the sale contract to the insurer: the insurance company will refund part of the premium for the unexpired term of the policy. The refund procedure and deadlines are set by the OSAGO Rules approved by the Bank of Russia.
Replacing the vehicle
An OSAGO policy is issued for a specific vehicle. You cannot swap one car for another within the existing contract: a new policy is taken out for the new car. If the old car has been sold, its contract can be terminated early with a partial premium refund. Your KBM class is not lost — it is linked to the driver and stored in AIS OSAGO.
Changes without additional payment
Some details are updated in the policy without recalculating the premium or with minimal formalities:
- new registration plates;
- replacement of the vehicle registration certificate (STS) or vehicle passport (PTS);
- a change of surname, passport or driving licence of a driver or the policyholder;
- a new address — but if the owner's region of registration changes, the territorial coefficient KT, and with it the premium, may change.
Extending the period of use
If the policy was bought for a season (for example, six months for a car used at the dacha) but you need to drive longer, the period of use can be extended on application with an additional payment. An accident outside the paid period gives the insurer a right of recourse against the at-fault driver.
Documents to prepare
- the policyholder's passport;
- the current OSAGO policy;
- driving licences of the drivers being added;
- STS or PTS — if the vehicle details change;
- the sale contract — for early termination due to sale.
More about the rules in the OSAGO section. If you want a better policy when buying a new car, compare insurers' offers in the insurance companies catalogue or submit a request to Polis Re specialists.