Today many policies can be bought in a few minutes on an insurer's or marketplace's website. But the convenience of buying online also means that responsibility for accurate data and the choice of terms rests with the policyholder. Let us look at when online is the best option and when it is worth talking to a specialist.
What can already be bought online
- OSAGO (compulsory motor third-party liability insurance). Insurers selling OSAGO are required to offer the option of concluding the contract electronically. An electronic policy is equivalent to a paper one: its details are in the OSAGO automated information system, and traffic police check them against the database.
- Travel insurance. The simplest type to buy online: country, dates, age, programme — and the policy is in your inbox. On polisre.ru, travel insurance is purchased through Polis Re's partner, the Cherehapa service.
- Apartment insurance, mortgage insurance, accident insurance — packaged programmes and mortgage policy renewals are often available online.
- KASKO (voluntary motor hull insurance) — many insurers offer online quotes, but concluding the contract usually requires a vehicle inspection, sometimes a self-inspection through the insurer's app.
Tailored business insurance — commercial property, cargo, liability, construction and erection risks — almost always requires a questionnaire, an inspection and negotiation of terms. One-click online purchase is practically non-existent here.
Advantages of buying online
- Around the clock. You can buy a policy at any time without visiting an office.
- Fast. A simple policy takes a few minutes.
- Easy to compare. A marketplace shows prices from several insurers at once — for example, in Polis Re's calculators.
- The policy will not get lost. An electronic policy is stored in your e-mail and personal account.
Disadvantages and risks
- Data entry errors. A typo in a passport number, a VIN or the Latin spelling of a surname can complicate a claim or access to assistance. Under OSAGO, false information that resulted in a lower premium gives the insurer a right of recourse against the policyholder (Article 14 of Federal Law No. 40-FZ).
- Nobody explains the terms. The buyer reads the insurance rules and looks for exclusions and deductibles on their own.
- No personal contact when a claim arises. You have to prepare the claim and documents yourself and deal with a call centre.
- Technical failures — the website may be unavailable, or a payment may go through without a policy being issued; then you have to sort it out with customer support.
- Fraudulent websites. There are clone websites selling fake OSAGO policies. Check the website address and that the policy appears in the AIS OSAGO database on the website of the Russian Union of Motor Insurers (RSA).
Comparison table
| Criterion | Online on your own | Through a specialist |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | minutes | from a few minutes to several days for complex risks |
| Choice of terms | the buyer alone | the specialist explains and compares |
| Risk of data errors | higher | lower — data is checked |
| Complex and non-standard risks | usually unavailable | tailored terms |
| Help when a claim arises | the insurer's call centre | advice on documents and deadlines |
Three questions before buying online
- Do you know which law and which insurance rules govern the type of insurance you have chosen?
- Have you read the exclusions from cover and what to do when an insured event occurs?
- Could you prepare a claim and a formal complaint yourself if the insurer refuses?
If the answer to all three is "yes", buying online will suit you. If at least one answer is "no", it is better to consult a specialist in advance.
How to avoid mistakes when buying online
- Check the data against your documents: passport, driving licence, vehicle registration certificate (STS) or vehicle passport (PTS). For travel insurance, enter your first name and surname in Latin letters exactly as in your international passport.
- Check the start and end dates, territory and sum insured. For a Schengen visa, cover must be at least 30,000 euros.
- Make sure the options you need are included: active leisure, baggage, trip cancellation.
- Keep the policy, the insurance rules and the payment receipt.
- Remember the cooling-off period: for most types of voluntary insurance, an individual can withdraw from the contract within 14 calendar days and get the premium back (in full or in part) — provided no insured event has occurred. There are exceptions, such as insurance for travel abroad; check the rules.
The best of both
Combining the two is convenient: calculate the price online and ask a specialist the complex questions. With Polis Re you can buy travel insurance online, calculate OSAGO and KASKO in the calculator, and for business insurance or a non-standard situation, submit a request. A specialist's advice is free, and the policy price is the insurance company's rate.