Which MTPL is better to choose in 2021: electronic or paper?

What is an electronic OSAGO policy?

This electronic MTPL policy has the same legal force as the paper version of the insurance. When asked what an electronic OSAGO policy is, we can say that it is a complete analogue of the insurance policy that car owners issue at the offices of insurance companies. A distinctive feature of the electronic version is its virtuality and the method of purchase. Issuing an electronic policy will require the same package of documents as the paper equivalent. Until 2015, car owners could only renew an existing document via the Internet, but on 10/1/15. The law “on compulsory motor liability insurance” has undergone changes and it is now possible to significantly save your time by buying a motor vehicle license via the Internet from scratch. Almost all insurance companies with an online service offer to issue insurance remotely.

After purchasing, the insurance is sent to the specified mailbox, from where you need to download and print the document.

Externally, the policy is practically no different from the traditional paper version, but there are still differences:

the paper version is printed on Goznak letterhead;
no micropattern;
has the XXX series;

In addition, the digital version can be either color or black and white.

Electronic insurance works as follows. Traffic police officers have access to the all-Russian IMTS database of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, where you can see the availability of insurance by entering the vehicle’s VIN and state registration number into the service. registration plate.

Advantages of e-OSAGO

Possibility to submit an application on a day and time convenient for you.
The sites operate 24 hours a day, without holidays or weekends. You don’t have to take time off from work, go to the insurance company’s office, or stand in a long line. You can apply for compulsory motor liability insurance in 10–15 minutes.

No expenses for unnecessary additional insurance

. For example, an insurance broker may refuse to issue an MTPL policy until you purchase accident insurance. This situation will not arise on the site. You will buy only what you need - an electronic MTPL policy.

The electronic MTPL policy cannot be lost or damaged.

You can always print a new e-MTPL. A paper form can be accidentally spilled with coffee, left on the street, or stolen. In all these cases, you will have to go with the documents to the insurance company’s office for a duplicate.

If this happens, bring your passport and driver's license to verify your identity. The broker may ask for a vehicle registration certificate or diagnostic card.

No shortage of forms

. Sometimes the insurer actually runs out of forms and cannot order new ones because the quota has been exhausted. If you are denied insurance due to lack of forms, apply for an electronic policy on the company’s website.

Online calculation of the cost of e-MTPL.

To choose the most profitable insurance option, use calculators on the insurers’ websites and fill out preliminary applications for calculation. The results of online calculations may differ from offline ones, but this way you can save time on trips to the offices of insurance companies and listening to the persuasion of insurance brokers. At home, in a comfortable atmosphere, you will make an informed decision.

A paper OSAGO policy seems more reliable, but this is a myth. It’s just that everyone is used to the paper format, but not everyone has an electronic one. Several years will pass, and more drivers will switch to e-MTPL. Electronic policies will be more common and will become more commonplace.

Pros and cons of electronic insurance

Let's consider the advantages and disadvantages of an electronic OSAGO policy.

Advantages:

By purchasing an electronic insurance policy, the car owner is freed from the need to carry a paper contract with him, which eliminates the problems associated with the risk of losing a document or the banal “forgot at home”. However, it is still recommended to keep a printed sample in your car.
By applying for an electronic policy, you can independently choose additional options or purchase insurance without unnecessary services that insurance company employees love to impose.
By purchasing a policy on the official websites of insurance companies, you minimize the risk of running into scammers.
A big advantage is the registration of compulsory motor liability insurance online for residents of small towns and cities, since there is a choice of insurance companies.
Save time. At the same time, you can apply for a motor vehicle license online on weekends and holidays.

Related article: OSAGO policy without payments in case of an accident, what it is and how to get insurance
Disadvantages:

Today, it is not possible to issue an electronic policy to car owners without driving experience, that is, the data on the owner of the vehicle must already be contained in the RSA database.
You must be careful when filling out the data on the SK website and double-check it after filling it out before making the payment. Incorrectly entered information is considered false and will invalidate the document.
Checking electronic insurance takes more time from traffic police officers, since it is necessary to check the data in the RSA database.
The computer system periodically crashes, which can cause inconvenience at the time of registration.

Before deciding which policy option to take out, you need to weigh all the pros and cons of such a purchase and choose the best option for yourself.

Advantages and disadvantages of an electronic policy

Using an electronic OSAGO policy is convenient and saves time and money for the car owner:

you can get it at home on your computer;
certificates and papers are not required;
the price of insurance is the same, and there is no need to waste time and gasoline;
online service is available around the clock;
you can take advantage of all discounts and promotions carried out by the company;
when checking out, options are selected as desired without intrusive offers in the office;
the virtual document will not be lost, it cannot be stolen - it is always available in your personal account;
it can be printed or copied to a smartphone or tablet;
fraud is practically excluded;
there is no need to agree to the terms of local companies - you can choose any one.

While making life much easier for car owners, there are several drawbacks:

owners of new cars will not be able to use the service - initial registration is carried out only in offices;
novice drivers with new licenses are also deprived of the opportunity to obtain insurance remotely;
checking the policy by a traffic police officer takes longer;
inaccuracies and errors when filling out the form online will make the document invalid (this may also cause the insurer to refuse to pay compensation).

Having compared the pros and cons of an electronic document, we can conclude that there are more positive aspects.

Stages of registration

The first step in obtaining a motor vehicle title electronically is to find a reliable insurance company. To make the right choice, it is necessary to compare insurance companies, evaluate financial stability, the amount of insurance payments and the cost of the policy. The cost can be calculated using an online calculator, which is available on the website of any insurance company.
After choosing a company, you need to register on the company’s official website, for which you need to enter the buyer’s personal data, phone number and email address. After registration, a password is sent to your phone (email), which must be entered to complete registration.
After this, on a special page for registration of a motor vehicle license, you need to fill out a form where you must enter the vehicle data (model and make, registration data, year of manufacture, etc.) and information about the owner of the car.
The next step is to pay for insurance. You can do this in any convenient way (using a bank card or from your phone account). After the payment has been completed, an electronic document will be sent to the specified email address, which must be printed.

IMPORTANT! Only vehicle owners who have previously issued a motor vehicle license can purchase an electronic policy!

The policy comes into effect 3 days after registration and payment on the Insurance Company website, in accordance with Decree of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation No. 4723.

What is e-OSAGO?

Electronic OSAGO is a complete analogue of the paper version . This is a virtual document that has no physical embodiment. The only external difference is the lack of graphic protection. The policy may be in the same color scheme as the original, or perhaps in black and white. To complete it, the same data is required as for the paper version:

Region of residence.
The driver's experience and age.
Vehicle type and power.

After registration and payment of the policy, the car owner receives a document in the form of a pdf file with a unique XXX series by email. It also contains all the important information:

Last name, first name and patronymic of the driver.
Validity
Car make and model.
List of authorized persons who can manage transport.
Cost and special notes.

Below you can see a sample XXX series policy:

How to check the authenticity of E-OSAGO

There are three ways to check the authenticity of E-OSAGO.

By policy number. After issuing an electronic motor vehicle license, the unique number enters the Russian insurers’ database within 1-2 days. However, this method does not guarantee the authenticity of the auto insurance policy, since fraudsters often make copies of real policies. Therefore, you need to check which car is registered under this insurance.
By car make and number. This method provides accurate information about the authenticity of the vehicle title. In addition, if the policy has lost its validity, you can see for what reason it is no longer valid.
By VIN code or State license. vehicle number. This is the most reliable way to check authenticity as it makes it possible to verify everything down to the smallest detail.

Related article: What does the new law on electronic compulsory motor liability insurance say?
Fraudsters do not sleep and every year they come up with new ways to deceive gullible car owners. To avoid the unpleasant situation of purchasing a fake policy, you should not use the services of intermediaries and apply for E-MTPL only on the official websites of insurance companies. Fraudsters often significantly reduce the price of insurance, trying to attract buyers in this way, so the cost of a policy, which is several times lower, should alert you. Buying a fake document has unpleasant consequences, namely, in the event of an insured event, compensation will not be paid.

What it is?

According to the Federal Law of July 1, 2003 “On Compulsory Motor Liability Insurance”, a compulsory motor third party liability insurance policy is required for all drivers living in the Russian Federation.

Having a valid MTPL agreement is mandatory for all car owners , since driving a vehicle without a policy is prohibited and is punishable by penalties.

Since July 2015, any citizen of the Russian Federation has the opportunity to submit an application for renewal of the current MTPL policy via the Internet, and since the fall of the same year - to draw up new contracts without visiting the insurer’s office.

You can issue a new electronic OSAGO auto insurance contract remotely - just visit the official website of the insurance company.

How to use the E-OSAGO policy

Having an electronic OSAGO policy greatly simplifies the life of car owners. If you must have a paper version with you, then information about the owner and the car when purchasing E-OSAGO is already contained in the Russian database of car insurers. An electronic policy protects the vehicle owner not only from fines, but also guarantees the return of compensation in the event of an insured event. You need to use the electronic policy in the same way as the standard version.

Since an electronic policy is an analogue of a paper version of car insurance, it is possible to issue road transport situations according to the European protocol. However, due to special cases of purchases of counterfeits, it is necessary to check the validity of the document through the insurers' database immediately at the scene of the accident.

If you need to add one more or more drivers to the policy, it is advisable to do this at the time of registration. Since a ready-made document does not provide for the possibility of additions or changes. And if some insurance companies offer this option, it is worth remembering that this will require additional costs.

When adding a driver to the policy, it is possible under two conditions:

driver's age;
he has a driver's license.

You can add only 5 people to your insurance for free. Each subsequent driver will be added at a separate cost.

FAQ

Do I need an electronic signature to issue e-OSAGO?

An electronic signature for registration of compulsory motor liability insurance may be required only if the policyholder is a legal entity. In other cases, alternative methods of confirming the application are sufficient - for example, an SMS code. The requirements for an electronic signature are set by the insurer.

Is the cost of an electronic policy different from a paper one?

Since the electronic MTPL policy is calculated in the same way as the paper one, the cost of its registration will be the same. It cannot be higher or lower, since the law does not establish the dependence of the price of insurance on the method of registration.

What to do if the traffic police officer still fines you for not having a policy?

Fines for the absence of compulsory motor liability insurance in the presence of an electronic policy or its printout are illegal. You have every right to appeal them through the court.

Is it necessary to print out an electronic motor vehicle policy?

A standard paper policy must be carried with you in the car and presented to the traffic police inspector. Lack of standard insurance entails a mandatory fine. With electronic car insurance, everything is simpler. It is advisable to take the printed document with you and present it to the traffic police officer, as this will reduce the inspection time. But if suddenly for some reason you don’t have insurance with you, this will only increase the time the inspector checks for the presence of the document in the database. At the same time, it is still recommended to download and print the electronic document. It is also recommended to download and save the electronic version of the document on your smartphone in order to have access to the policy data at any time.

Related article: The cost of an MTPL policy and what it depends on

Is a printed policy valid in 2021?

Valid. A printed policy has the same validity as a regular policy. The only difference is how the policies look. The printed electronic policy contains a note indicating that the policy is electronic:

In paragraph 8 on the first page the site where the electronic policy was purchased is indicated,
On the second page there is a note that the policy is reinforced with an electronic digital signature.

In addition, if you lose your electronic policy, it will be enough to print the policy again on any printer; with the restoration of a regular policy, things are more complicated.

Main.

To avoid a fine, we recommend taking a printed policy with you. It can be printed on any printer, the main thing is that the print is clear, with all pages. As a rule, the policy can be downloaded on the insurance company’s website immediately after purchase, or it will be sent to the email specified during registration. It all depends on the insurance company.

The inspector can verify the legality of the policy by checking the data against electronic databases. The validity of a printed electronic policy is equal to a standard policy on a standard form. If you lost your printed policy, don't worry - just print it again.

All articles by the author: Sergey Ivanov

Is an electronic policy valid for the traffic police?

An electronic OSAGO policy has the same legal force as a paper one, so it is valid wherever presentation of a motor vehicle license is required. This also applies when checked by a traffic police inspector. How it works? In order to check whether the policy is valid, the inspector will only need the vehicle number or its VIN number. By entering this data into the database on the car insurers website, the traffic police officer can easily determine the status of the car owner. However, if the inspector has additional questions, you must provide a printed policy form. Therefore, it is recommended to keep this document in your car.

What problems may arise when using electronic compulsory motor liability insurance?

The popularity of electronic car insurance is growing every year, but the system is not yet stable enough, and various problems associated with the virtual policy may arise. For example, an unstable system may fail when processing a document or checking it. And this leads to a slowdown in the process and, as a result, a waste of time. Although rare, there are cases when the inspector refuses to accept the electronic version and demands paper insurance. The car owner should know that the traffic police officer does not have the right not to accept the policy, and if he also issues a fine, then it can be easily appealed in court.

An MTPL policy is a mandatory document that any car owner must have, and its availability is strictly controlled by law. The main documents that will be required if the vehicle is stopped by an inspector are a driver’s license and an MTPL policy. But which of the two options to issue - electronic or standard - remains at the choice of the car owner. According to the law, there is no difference between these two samples; they differ only in the method of design and appearance.

Is an MTPL policy valid without a diagnostic card?

Any car owner who frequently uses his car knows that starting from 2013, a technical inspection does not have to be carried out at the traffic police. But instead of this procedure, the state introduced another operation. When applying for an MTPL policy, a diagnostic card for the car is now required.

This procedure has become mandatory, but a large number of drivers still ask today: is it possible to issue a policy without a diagnostic card? This needs to be sorted out.

Diagnostic card

It confirms that the vehicle is in good working order and is issued after the vehicle has been inspected. When applying for an insurance policy, this document is needed so that the company’s client can prove that his car meets safety standards. This card can be issued by different organizations that have a license to do so. When conducting a technical inspection, specialists must check the functionality of important vehicle mechanisms and the presence of safety elements - a fire extinguisher, warning triangle and other elements.

It is legal to take out an MTPL policy without a car diagnostic card if the car was manufactured less than three years ago. In other cases, obtaining a policy is associated with greater risks. The diagnostic card is a certain guarantee of the safe technical condition of the car of the owner taking out the policy.

Taking out a policy without a technical inspection

Any driver can take out a policy without a diagnostic card, but you need to know that such a practice may have an unpleasant effect on the offender in the future. When receiving a policy in this way, you need to remember the possible risks. A driver can apply for a policy without a diagnostic card using different methods:

Through a formal inspection by the insurance company . This is a formally clean and legal method of obtaining a policy. To complete it, it is enough to come to an insurer who has the appropriate license for technical inspection and issuance of documents. The expert will inspect the car on site and take photographs of the car. It takes only a few minutes.
By purchasing a policy with a ready-made diagnostic card from the insurer . This method can be considered legal. But this depends on the prestige of the insurer. The risk of receiving punishment from the state is higher than using the previous method.
By applying for a policy online . This practice is doable with the help of an insurance broker, and is also legal, but there are also some risks.
Using fake documents . This method is illegal and is often used by domestic drivers. We do not advise you to obtain an MTPL policy without a technical inspection using document falsification.

Before taking out a policy without a technical inspection, you should think several times about what would be better - to be punished by law or to complete all the documents and spend a little time.

Possible consequences

It was discussed above that when taking out a policy without a technical inspection, the car owner will definitely take a risk. If you're lucky, nothing will happen, but possible risks should be taken into account.

The most serious consequences in this case may be:

Refusal to provide compensation from the insurer in the event of an accident, the car owner will not be able to prove the serviceability of his vehicle, the technical inspection has not been passed. It is easier for an insurer to pay a fine for violating the issuance of a policy than to compensate for accident damage.
Traffic inspectors may catch you for illegally issuing a policy. In practice, such cases are rare.

If we look at it in general, it won’t be difficult to get a normal MTPL policy without a diagnostic card. But everyone must decide whether it is worth doing. When obtaining a policy in this way, it is necessary to take into account possible problems that may arise. An MTPL policy without a diagnostic card is quite valid, taking into account the considered consequences.