What is OSAGO

OSAGO is compulsory motor third-party liability insurance for vehicle owners in Russia. It is governed by Federal Law No. 40-FZ of 25 April 2002. The policy protects not your car but your liability: if you cause an accident, the insurer compensates the harm caused to other road users, pedestrians and their property.

You may not drive without OSAGO. Driving a vehicle whose owner has not insured their liability is punishable by a fine of RUB 800 (Part 2 of Article 12.37 of the Code of Administrative Offences), and driving by a person not listed on a policy with a limited list of drivers by a fine of RUB 500 (Part 1 of the same article). Most importantly, without a policy the person at fault has to pay for the damage out of their own pocket.

What the policy covers

  • up to RUB 400,000 — damage to the property of each victim (car, fence, other property);
  • up to RUB 500,000 — harm to the life and health of each victim.

OSAGO does not pay for repairs to the at-fault driver's car. For that you need KASKO (motor own-damage insurance). If the damage exceeds the limits, the victim may claim the difference from the person at fault, which is why many drivers also buy extended liability cover (DSAGO).

How much OSAGO costs

The OSAGO price is calculated using the formula set by Bank of Russia Directive No. 7204-U (as amended by No. 7349-U of 4 May 2026):

Premium = TB × KT × KBM × KVS × KO × KM × KS

  • TB — base rate. For passenger cars owned by individuals, the insurer chooses it within a range of RUB 1,399–8,665.
  • KT — territorial coefficient based on the owner's place of registration.
  • KBM — bonus-malus: a discount for accident-free driving or a surcharge for at-fault accidents.
  • KVS — age and driving experience of the drivers.
  • KO — restriction on the list of drivers; with no restriction it is 3.16 (1.97 for organisations).
  • KM — engine power.
  • KS — period of use of the vehicle during the year.

Because each company chooses its own base rate, the price of the same policy can vary noticeably between insurers. It is easy to compare in the OSAGO calculator.

How to buy a policy

  1. Prepare the owner's passport, vehicle documents (registration certificate or vehicle passport), driving licences of all drivers, and a diagnostic card if one is required for your vehicle.
  2. Get price quotes from several insurers.
  3. Buy an electronic policy (e-OSAGO) on the insurance company's website or a policy at an office.
  4. Check that the policy appears in the AIS OSAGO database and save it on your phone or print it out.

An electronic policy is equivalent to a paper one. Traffic police (GIBDD) officers check it in the database.

What to do after an accident

  1. Stop, switch on the hazard lights, put out the warning triangle and help anyone injured.
  2. If no one is injured and the drivers agree on the circumstances, fill in a European accident report (europrotokol): the limit is up to RUB 100,000, or up to RUB 400,000 if recorded via the Gosuslugi Avto app or the DTP.Evroprotokol app.
  3. In all other cases, call the traffic police.
  4. The victim files a claim with their own insurer if the conditions for direct settlement are met, or with the at-fault driver's insurer.

The insurer must issue a referral for repair or make a payment within 20 calendar days (excluding non-working public holidays). For late payment the law provides for a penalty of 1% of the indemnity for each day. For passenger cars owned by individuals and registered in Russia, the main form of settlement is repair at a service station.

When the insurer will claim money from the person at fault

Article 14 of the OSAGO law gives the insurer a right of recourse against the person at fault who, for example, was drunk, had no right to drive, was not listed on a policy with a limited list of drivers, fled the scene or caused the harm intentionally. In these cases the victim still receives compensation, and the insurer then recovers it from the person at fault.

If the insurer does not pay

First send the insurer a written claim. If the reply is unsatisfactory, apply to the Financial Ombudsman — for OSAGO disputes this is a mandatory pre-trial step before going to court. More on what to do is in the Insured Event section.

Everything about the policy is on the OSAGO page. Polis Re specialists will help you compare offers from insurance companies — send a request.