Even a minor accident is unsettling. To keep your right to a payout, act in order: safety first, then registration, then the insurer. This guide covers both OSAGO (compulsory motor third-party liability insurance) and KASKO (comprehensive motor insurance) — the differences are marked separately.

Step 1. Safety at the scene

  • Stop immediately and do not move the car.
  • Switch on the hazard lights and put out the warning triangle: in a built-up area at least 15 m from the car, outside built-up areas at least 30 m.
  • Do not move objects related to the accident: debris, parts.
  • Put on a reflective vest if you step onto the road in the dark or in poor visibility.

Step 2. If anyone is injured

Give first aid and call an ambulance and the police on 112. In this situation the Europrotocol is not possible — the accident can only be registered by police officers. The cars are not moved, except when this is necessary to take an injured person to hospital; in that case record their position in photos.

Step 3. Choose how to register the accident

Europrotocol

Suitable if only the cars were damaged, there are two of them, both drivers have OSAGO and there is no dispute about the circumstances. The limit is RUB 100,000, and when recorded via "Gosuslugi Avto" or "DTP.Europrotocol" — up to RUB 400,000 without disagreements and up to RUB 200,000 with disagreements. Details are in "Europrotocol in 2026: limits and procedure".

With the traffic police

Necessary if someone is injured, more than two parties are involved, someone has no policy, there is a dispute and the accident cannot be recorded in the app, or the damage clearly exceeds the Europrotocol limit. If only the cars were damaged and traffic is obstructed, the traffic rules require you to clear the roadway after photographing the position of the cars, skid marks and debris.

The traffic police no longer issue the old-style accident certificate. The insurer needs copies of the record of the administrative offence, the ruling in the case or the decision refusing to open a case — depending on the situation.

Step 4. Collect evidence

  • Photos and video: a general view, number plates, damage, road signs, markings, braking marks.
  • The other party's details: full name, phone number, OSAGO policy number and insurer's name.
  • Witnesses' contact details.
  • The dashcam recording — save the file separately.

Step 5. Claiming under OSAGO

Where to file the claim

  • With your own insurance company — under direct settlement of losses, if only vehicles were damaged and the parties' liability is insured under OSAGO.
  • With the at-fault driver's insurer — if people were injured.
  • With the RSA (Russian Union of Motor Insurers) — if the insurer's licence has been revoked or it is bankrupt, or if the at-fault driver fled or has no policy (in the last two cases only for harm to health).

You can file the claim at an office or electronically via the insurer's website or Gosuslugi (the state services portal), if this option is available in your case.

What to attach

  • your passport and vehicle documents;
  • your driving licence;
  • the accident notice and (if the police registered the accident) copies of the police documents;
  • bank details — in case of a cash payout;
  • a power of attorney if the claim is filed by someone other than the owner.

Deadlines and form of settlement

The insurer must make a decision within 20 calendar days (excluding non-working public holidays) of receiving the claim with all documents. For delays the law provides for a penalty of 1% of the compensation for each day. The car must be presented for inspection when the insurer asks.

For cars owned by individuals, the main form of OSAGO compensation is repair at a service station on the insurer's referral. A cash payout is possible in the cases listed in the law — for example, under a written agreement with the insurer or when repair cannot be arranged. Do not repair the car before the inspection.

Step 6. Claiming under KASKO

The KASKO procedure is set by the insurance rules and the contract, so open them first:

  • notification deadline — the rules usually set a specific deadline, and missing it may give rise to a dispute;
  • whether police documents are needed — many contracts allow you to claim for glass or a single part without certificates, but not always;
  • form of compensation — repair at a dealer, at a service station chosen by the insurer, or cash based on a cost estimate;
  • deductible — it will be subtracted from the payout.

If you are not at fault and you have KASKO while the at-fault driver has OSAGO, it is usually more advantageous to claim under KASKO: the insurer will repair the car on its terms and recover the costs from the at-fault driver's insurer itself. But if your KASKO contract has a deductible or terms that raise the price at renewal, compare both options.

Step 7. If you are not happy with the payout

  1. Request the inspection report and the calculation of the amount.
  2. If necessary, order an independent expert assessment.
  3. Send the insurer a written claim.
  4. Apply to the financial ombudsman: under OSAGO with no cap on the amount, under KASKO for claims of up to RUB 500,000. The procedure is described in "The financial ombudsman: how to complain about an insurer".

What not to do

  • Leave the scene without registering the accident — this is an administrative offence.
  • Sign a notice you disagree with.
  • Repair the car before the insurer has inspected it.
  • Pay "on the spot" without a written receipt and without recording the damage.

Polis Re specialists will help you choose an OSAGO or KASKO policy with clear claims settlement terms — send us a request.