Registration of the second policy on an already insured car does not automatically double the insurance payment upon the occurrence of an insured event. The owner of the vehicle has full legal right to conclude a contract voluntary (CASCO) is in parallel with the mandatory CTP policy, in which case he will receive compensation from both companies, but within the limits of each contract and without exceeding the real cost of damage. The situation is radically different when it comes to trying to obtain two compulsory insurance policies for the same vehicle for the purpose of double payment, since the legislation strictly prohibits enrichment through an insured event.
Automated accounting system Russian Union of Auto Insurance Companies (PSA) instantly records the presence of a valid CTP agreement on the VIN code of the car. When trying to issue a second mandatory policy in another insurance company, the system will issue an error or require the termination of the previous contract, since the presence of two active CTP policies for one car at the same time is technically impossible in a single database. If the owner manages to get a paper duplicate or policy through an error in the data, in case of an accident, payment will still be made only under one contract, and the actions of the owner can be regarded as an attempt. insurance-fraud.
The optimal protection strategy is the availability of one CTP policy to cover liability to third parties and one CASCO policy for repairing your own car.
Legislative limitations and the principle of reparation
The basis for the regulation of insurance relations in the Russian Federation is the Civil Code and the Federal Law on CTP, which are based on the principle of full but one-time compensation for damage. This means that the insurance payment cannot exceed the actual cost of the repair or the market value of the car at the time of the accident. If you make two policies property-insurance (for example, two CASCOs in different companies), then in case of an insured event you will not be able to receive double the amount. Insurance companies, learning about the second contract, proportionally reduce their payments or require the return of overpaid funds.
In the case of compulsory insurance, the law is even more categorical. The CTP policy does not insure the car, but the driver’s civil liability to third parties. Since the liability cannot be double (you cannot be twice to blame for the same accident in double size), the payment is made once. Even if you have two forms of OSAGO with different numbers, but for one VIN-code, premium The contract will be burned and the payment will be made only under one of the contracts selected by the victim or determined during the proceedings.
⚠️ Warning: Attempting to conceal the existence of a second policy when applying for payment may result in the denial of insurance coverage under both contracts and the initiation of a criminal case under the article on fraud.
There is a nuance associated with a break in insurance. Some drivers mistakenly believe they can get a new policy before the old one ends to create a “stockpile.” In reality, the second policy will only be effective the day after the expiration of the first one, unless the dates overlap. If the dates are crossed, the previous contract must be terminated. It is important to distinguish double-insurance and joint-insuranceThe risk is shared between several companies by agreement, but for the average car enthusiast, it is rare.
Combination of OSAGO and CASCO: the only legal doubling
The only scenario where obtaining two insurances is not only legal but also economically feasible is a combination of compulsory and voluntary insurance. In this bunch, the policy OSAGO covers damages you have caused to other road users within the limits established by law (400 thousand rubles for property and 500 thousand for life and health). Polis. CASCOThis in turn covers damage to your own vehicle regardless of who is to blame for the accident, and also compensates for theft and fire.
In case of an insured event due to the fault of the owner of the car, he receives a payment on OSAGO from his insurance company (in the account of the victim) and a payment on CASCO from his own or another company for the repair of his car. There is no conflict of interest, since the objects of insurance are formally different: in the first case it is a liability, in the second case it is property. However, it is important to properly prepare the documents. When submitting an application to the insurance company for CASCO, it is necessary to provide a copy of the certificate of accident and data of the CTP policy.
Some insurers offer 2-in-1 products or extended packages that formally look like one policy but contain two types of insurance. When buying such a product, carefully study. insurance and exceptions. For example, the policy may be called “Maximum Protection”, but in fact be a regular OSAGO with the option “assistance on the road”. Double protection is possible only if there are two separate contracts or one complex, where both types of coverage are clearly spelled out.
⚠️ Note: When registering CASCO, be sure to indicate all drivers allowed to drive, otherwise the insurance company may apply a recourse claim or refuse payment, even if you have a valid CSAGO policy.
The advantage of this double insurance is that it covers the risks. If you become the culprit of the accident, OSAGO will cover the repair of someone else's car, and CASCO - yours. If it is not you who is to blame, the insurance culprit will pay for the repair of your car under OSAGO, and you can not use your CASCO policy, saving a break-even discount (the insurance culprit will pay for the insurance culprit).MCF) for the following year. This gives you flexibility in managing insurance claims.
Double insurance risks and insurance companies
Attempting to issue two policies of the same type (for example, two CASCOs in different companies) carries serious financial and legal risks. Insurance companies actively exchange information through insurance history bureaus and databases. If the fact of double insurance is found, the payment will be divided between insurers in proportion to the insurance amount specified in each contract, or one of the companies will require the termination of the contract as concluded in violation of the principle of good faith.
In the worst case, if it is proved that the second policy was issued for the purpose of obtaining illegal enrichment (for example, after the car has already been in an accident or was stolen), the contract may be declared invalid by the court. This will not only result in a denial of payment, but also a non-refund of the payment. premium. Moreover, such actions fall under Article 159.5 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Fraud in the insurance sector”.
Insurance agents are also not interested in selling double policies, as this sets a precedent for future lawsuits. When making a contract, you will be asked whether the car is insured by CASCO in another company. A false answer in the questionnaire is the basis for refusal to pay. In this case, honesty protects the insured himself.
What happens if you hide the second policy?
The insurance company has the right to request data from the PCA and other databases. If it turns out that at the time of the conclusion of the contract you already had a valid insurance covering the same risk, the contract may be canceled retroactively. Money for the policy is often not returned, as the contract was considered concluded, and the risk was formally present.
Procedure for registration and verification of existing policies
Before you think about a second insurance, you need to conduct a thorough check of the current status of the car in the databases. This can be done online through the official website of the PCA or the portal of public services. By entering the VIN code, you will see a list of all existing and archival policies of the OSAGO. If you find a policy that was not issued, this is an occasion to immediately contact the insurance company and the police, as your data could be used by fraudsters.
The process of registration of an additional CASCO policy requires the provision of a full package of documents: the passport of the owner, PTS or CTS, driving licenses of all admitted persons and the current CSAGO policy. The presence of CTP is a prerequisite for the conclusion of the CASCO contract in most insurance companies, as this reduces the general risks and confirms the legal purity of the car.
When calculating the cost of the second insurance, the bonus-malus coefficient (BMC) is used. It is important to know that the MBM for OSAGO and CASCO is calculated on different systems, but the driving history affects both indicators. If you have breaks in insurance, the cost of the policy may rise. Therefore, it is often more profitable to extend an existing contract or issue a new one in advance to avoid losing the accumulated discount.
☑️ Checking before buying a second insurance
Comparative table of types of insurance
For a visual understanding of the differences and possibilities of combining insurances, we will consider the main parameters in the comparative table. This will help you determine what kind of “second insurance” you need and whether it makes sense.
| Parameter | OSAGO (Mandatory) | CASCO (Voluntary) | OSAGO duplicate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance object | Responsibility to third parties | Own vehicle (damage, theft) | Absent (impossible) |
| Limit of payment | 400,000. rub. (property), 500,000. rub. (life) | Market value of the car | Not applicable |
| Possibility of a double policy | No (technical ban) | Yes (but the payout won't double) | No. |
| Impact on cost | Regulated by the state and MSC | Market, depending on the company's tariffs | Loss of money |
From the table it is clear that the only working version of the “double protection” is a bundle of OSAGO + CASCO. Attempting to create a duplicate of a mandatory policy is doomed to failure due to a centralized database. In the case of CASCO, a double policy is technically possible, but economically meaningless, since the total payment will not exceed the cost of the machine.
It is also important to take into account that if there are two CASCO policies (for example, one old one is still valid, and you bought a new one), when an insured event occurs, you choose which contract to apply for. However, the second company will still have to be notified. Often, insurance companies require a certificate that payment under another policy has not been made, or vice versa, confirmation of the amount of compensation already received.
⚠️ Note: The term of application for payment of the insurance event is limited. According to the OSAGO, it is 5 working days (according to the Euro Protocol) or the terms specified in the rules, according to the CASCO - usually from 3 to 15 days. Missing a deadline due to waiting for a “appropriate” policy can lead to a rejection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you get two insurances if you have two?
No, it is impossible to get double the amount. The insurance principle prohibits enrichment. If you have two CASCO policies, the payment will be split between the companies or made by one of them in full, but not more than 100% of the damage. If it is OSAGO and CASCO, then payments are summed up only in the sense that one covers someone else’s damage, and the other is yours.
What happens if you accidentally make two OSAGO policies?
Most likely, the PCA system will not allow you to issue a second policy while the first one is valid. If an error occurred and the policy was issued, then in case of an accident, payment will be only for one of them. The second policy can be terminated and some money returned for the unused period, if you did not apply for payment.
How to check how many insurances are on my car?
To do this, you need to use the service "Verification of the OSAGO policy" on the official website of the PSA. Enter the VIN code, body number or chassis, and the system will show all current and completed policies issued for this car.
Can I insure a car in two companies?
Technically, two contracts are possible, but when an insured event occurs, you will have to notify both companies. Payment will be made proportionally to the insured amount in each contract, but in the aggregate will not exceed the actual damage. This will only increase your premium costs without increasing your protection.
Two insurances make sense only in the OSAGO + CASCO bundle. Two policies of the same type are unnecessary costs and the risk of invalidation of the contract.
In summary, the question of whether two insurances can be obtained requires a clear separation of insurance types. The law does not prohibit having multiple policies, but it severely limits the possibility of profiting from them. The best and only reasonable solution for the owner of the car is the availability of an up-to-date policy. OSAGO law-and-policy CASCO to protect their own financial interests. Any scheme with duplication of policies of the same type is either technically impossible or economically impractical.
Always check the status of your contracts in official databases and keep your documents safe. In case of loss of the policy, do not rush to issue a new one - it is easier and cheaper to get a duplicate in the same insurance company. Remember that transparency of the relationship with the insurer is a guarantee of a quick and full payment at a critical moment.