KBM — the bonus-malus coefficient — is the most "personal" multiplier in the price of OSAGO (compulsory motor third-party liability insurance). It rewards accident-free drivers with a discount of up to 54% and noticeably raises the price for those whose fault led insurers to pay out. Here is how it works under Bank of Russia Directive No. 7204-U, where to check it and how to get the correct class back if the database is wrong.
How KBM works
Each driver is assigned a class from M to 13. The class is determined once a year for the "KBM period" — from 1 April to 31 March of the following year — and does not change within that period, whatever contracts the driver is named in. The data comes from the automated insurance information system (AIS), whose operator since 1 October 2024 has been JSC NSIS (the National Insurance Information System).
A driver with no records in the AIS gets class 3 and a KBM of 1.17. An organisation with no history in the database also gets class 3.
Classes and transitions
The new class depends on the current one and on the number of payouts caused by the driver that were entered in the AIS during the KBM period. Several payouts for one insured event count as one.
| Class | KBM | 0 payouts | 1 payout | 2 payouts | 3 payouts | 4 or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | 3.92 | 0 | M | M | M | M |
| 0 | 2.94 | 1 | M | M | M | M |
| 1 | 2.25 | 2 | M | M | M | M |
| 2 | 1.76 | 3 | 1 | M | M | M |
| 3 | 1.17 | 4 | 1 | M | M | M |
| 4 | 1.00 | 5 | 2 | 1 | M | M |
| 5 | 0.91 | 6 | 3 | 1 | M | M |
| 6 | 0.83 | 7 | 4 | 2 | M | M |
| 7 | 0.78 | 8 | 4 | 2 | M | M |
| 8 | 0.74 | 9 | 5 | 2 | M | M |
| 9 | 0.68 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 | M |
| 10 | 0.63 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | M |
| 11 | 0.57 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 1 | M |
| 12 | 0.52 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 1 | M |
| 13 | 0.46 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 1 | M |
Example: a driver is in class 6 (KBM 0.83). A year without payouts means class 7 and KBM 0.78. One payout caused by them means class 4 and KBM 1.00, so the policy becomes about 20% more expensive because of this coefficient alone.
How KBM is applied in a policy
- A policy with named drivers — the highest KBM among them is used.
- An unrestricted policy on a car owned by an individual — the class 3 KBM (1.17) applies regardless of the owner's history.
- A car owned by an organisation — the legal entity's KBM, calculated as an average across all its vehicles.
Where to check your KBM
- Through NSIS. The check service works with a Gosuslugi (state services portal) login. You will need your full name, date of birth, driving licence series and number and the date for which you need the coefficient.
- From your insurer. Your class can be shown in your personal account, the app or by phone — insurance companies take the data from the same AIS.
- When calculating a policy. An insurer's online calculation pulls in your KBM automatically — check it against what you expect before paying.
The check is free. Avoid websites that ask for money to "view your KBM".
Keep the result of the check — a screenshot or a statement with the date. If the KBM in the policy offered to you turns out to be higher, this document will be useful when talking to the insurer.
Why KBM can be wrong
- the driver replaced their driving licence and the history was not linked to the new details;
- the driver's surname changed;
- a typo in the name, date of birth or licence number was made when a previous policy was issued;
- a payout for an accident in which the driver was not at fault was entered in the database;
- the driver drove for many years under an unrestricted policy, where no personal history was built up.
How to restore the correct class
- Collect evidence. Old policies (contract numbers), details of your previous driving licence, accident documents if you are disputing a payout.
- Contact the insurer. Write to the company with which you are concluding or concluded a contract and ask it to check and correct your KBM. Under Directive No. 7204-U, if the KBM does not match the AIS data, the insurer applies the corrected coefficient for the entire term of the contract — an overpayment is refunded and an underpayment must be topped up.
- Complain to the Bank of Russia. If the company does not correct the error, send a complaint via the regulator's online reception, attaching copies of documents.
- Apply to the financial ombudsman. The ombudsman considers money disputes under OSAGO, including refunds of overpayments, free of charge — see "The financial ombudsman: how to complain about an insurer".
Frequently asked questions
Will my KBM be kept if I change insurance company?
Yes. The data is stored in the single AIS, and the class is tied to the driver, not the insurer. The new company will receive the same data.
And if I buy another car?
Yes as well. The class belongs to the driver, so your no-claims discount is kept when you change cars.
I am named in a relative's policy. Does this affect my class?
The class is determined for each driver separately and applies to all contracts under which they may drive. Payouts made because of accidents in which you were at fault are recorded in your history regardless of whose policy it was.
When will my class be updated after a claim-free year?
From 1 April — the start of the new KBM period. If the policy was bought earlier, the new class will apply to the next contract or when the current one is amended.
Tips
- Check your KBM a week or two before buying a policy, not on the day.
- After replacing your licence, tell your insurer the new details at once, also giving your old licence.
- Remember the cost of a mistake: one payout caused by you drops your class several steps at once, while it recovers by only one class a year.
- If the car is used by the family, a policy with named drivers is usually cheaper than an unrestricted one.
The OSAGO calculator will help you estimate the cost of a policy with your class, and Polis Re specialists will help you choose an insurer on request. How the other coefficients work is explained in "How the cost of OSAGO is calculated".