The situation when you need to insure a car, but there are no state license plates yet, is familiar to many car owners. This can happen when purchasing a new car from a dealer, after recovering from an accident, or when re-registering the car. Insurance without license plate is a topic surrounded by myths and conflicting information. Some claim that this is impossible, others talk about “gray” schemes. Actually You can legally issue a policy without numbers, but with important nuances.

In this article we will look at all legal ways get OSAGO or CASCO insurance without a license plate in 2026, we’ll tell you about the pitfalls and give step-by-step instructions. You will find out what documents are required, how much it will cost and what restrictions the lack of registration plates imposes. Also, what to do if the insurance company refuses to issue a policy, and how not to run into scammers.

Let us warn you right away: You cannot issue an electronic MTPL policy without a state number through standard services (for example, on the RSA website). But there are workarounds - from temporary numbers to registration through partner salons. The main thing is not to break the law and not to use dubious “assistants” who offer to “solve the issue” for a fee. Such schemes often lead to problems with the traffic police or cancellation of the policy.

In this article we rely on current regulations for 2026, including Federal Law No. 40-FZ “On Compulsory Motor Liability Insurance”, Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 399 and clarifications of the Bank of Russia. If you are planning to buy a car or have already encountered the need for insurance without numbers, save this article to your bookmarks. It will save you time, nerves and money.

Why do insurance companies refuse a policy without a license plate?

The main reason for refusal is legal requirements. According to paragraph 3 of Art. 15 of Federal Law No. 40-FZ, to register compulsory motor liability insurance, you must indicate state registration plate of the vehicle. This rule has been in effect since 2015, when the electronic database of RSA (Russian Union of Auto Insurers) was introduced. Without a number, the system simply will not allow you to create a policy.

However, there are nuances:

  1. For new cars, purchased in the salon, preferential conditions apply.
  2. For CASCO the rules are looser—insurance companies can accommodate them halfway.
  3. Temporary transit numbers (transits) solve the problem legally.

Insurers are also wary of fraud. Without reference to the license plate number, it is more difficult to track the history of the car: whether it was in an accident, whether it is listed as stolen or under arrest. For example, according to RSA, in 2023, more than 12,000 cases of issuing policies for “ghost” cars (without real registration) were identified. Therefore, companies are reinsuring themselves.

Important! If you are offered to apply for compulsory motor liability insurance without numbers “through friends” or for an additional fee, this is 100% fraud. Such a policy will be invalid, and in case of an accident you will be denied payment.

📊 Have you ever tried to get insurance without a license plate?
Yes, it worked
Yes, but they refused
No, but the situation was
No and I don't plan to

Ways to legally obtain insurance without a license plate

Despite the restrictions, there are 4 legal ways insure a car without registration plates. Let's look at each in detail.

1. Registration through a car dealership (for new cars)

If you buy new car from an official dealer, the salon is obliged to provide a temporary MTPL policy for 20 days. This is stated in paragraph 7 of Art. 4 of Federal Law No. 40-FZ. This policy is valid until the car is registered with the traffic police.

Documents for registration:

  • 📄 Owner's passport
  • 📋 Purchase and sale agreement (PTS) or PTS with salon mark
  • 🔑 Car keys (for inspection)

The cost of such a policy is fixed - 1,500 rubles (for 2026). It is valid only on the territory of the Russian Federation and does not apply to trailers. After receiving license plates, you need to take out a permanent policy.

💡

Before purchasing, check with the dealer whether the cost of temporary compulsory motor insurance is included in the price of the car. Some salons include it in the turnkey package, others ask you to pay separately.

2. Temporary transit numbers

If the car has already been used (for example, purchased secondhand or restored after an accident), you can get transit numbers at the traffic police department. They are issued for a period of up to 20 days and allow you to legally issue compulsory motor liability insurance.

How to get transits:

  1. Submit an application to the traffic police via Public services or in person.
  2. Provide your PTS, DCP and passport.
  3. Pay the state fee - 1,600 rubles (for 2026).
  4. Get transit numbers and apply for compulsory motor liability insurance according to the standard procedure.

Transits are valid only for driving a car to the registration location. You cannot drive them all the time - there is a fine for this. 5,000 rubles (Part 1 of Article 12.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).

3. Registration of CASCO insurance without compulsory motor liability insurance

Unlike OSAGO, CASCO can be issued without a license plate. Insurance companies are willing to help, since this is a voluntary type of insurance. However, there are nuances:

  • 🔹 The cost of the policy will be higher (the risk of fraud is higher).
  • 🔹 The vehicle may need to be inspected by an expert.
  • 🔹 Some companies require preliminary registration.

For registration you will need:

  • 📄 Passport and driver's license
  • 📋 PTS or DCP
  • 📊 Data on the technical condition of the car (VIN, model, year of manufacture)

Average cost of CASCO without numbers for 2026:

Vehicle type Cost (RUB/year) Franchise (RUB)
New car (up to 3 years) 80 000 — 150 000 10 000 — 30 000
Used (3–7 years) 60 000 — 120 000 15 000 — 50 000
Premium class 150 000 — 300 000 30 000 — 100 000
Rebuilt after an accident 100 000 — 200 000 50 000 — 150 000

Please note: CASCO without compulsory motor liability insurance does not replace compulsory insurance. You will be able to receive payment for theft or damage, but in the event of an accident due to your fault, you will have to compensate the victims from your own pocket.

4. Insurance by VIN code (for legal entities)

Legal entities (for example, fleets or transport companies) can take out insurance under VIN code without reference to the license plate number. This is possible thanks to the internal regulations of insurance companies, but does not apply to individuals.

To do this you need:

  • 📋 Provide an extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities
  • 📊 Specify the VIN code and vehicle details
  • 🔑 Present the car for inspection

Such a policy is valid until it is registered, after which it must be reissued.

💡

The only legal way for individuals is temporary transit or registration through a salon. All other options are either unavailable or associated with risks.

Step-by-step instructions: how to apply for compulsory motor liability insurance through transit numbers

If you chose the option with transit numbers, follow these instructions:

Step 1. Obtaining transits from the traffic police

  1. Make an appointment via Public services (service "Vehicle registration → Obtaining transit numbers").
  2. Pay the state fee (1,600 rubles) online - it will be cheaper (30% discount).
  3. Come to the traffic police with the following documents:
    • 📄 Passport
    • 📋 PTS
    • 📝 DCT (if the car is purchased)
    • 💳 Receipt for payment of duty
  • Receive transit numbers and registration certificate.

    • Step 2. Registration of compulsory motor liability insurance

    Get transit numbers|Select an insurance company|Prepare a passport, PTS, transits|Pay for the policy (can be done online)|Receive the policy by email or in the office-->

    With transit numbers you can apply for compulsory motor liability insurance:

    • 🖥️ Online on the insurance company’s website (for example, RESO-Garantiya, Ingosstrakh, SberInsurance).
    • 🏢 In the insurer's office.
    • 📱 Via a mobile application (for example, SberInsurance Online).

    Step 3. Registration and renewal of the policy

    After receiving permanent numbers:

    1. Register your car with the traffic police.
    2. Update the data in your MTPL policy (this can be done online through your insurance account).
    3. Hand over the transit numbers back to the traffic police (optional).

    Attention! If you do not reissue your policy to permanent numbers within 20 days, it will be automatically cancelled. In this case, driving without a valid MTPL carries a fine of 800 rubles (Part 2 of Article 12.37 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).

    What to do if the insurance company denies the policy?

    If you are denied registration for compulsory motor liability insurance without a state number, follow the algorithm:

    1. Specify the reason for the refusal

    Ask the insurer why they are not issuing a policy. Possible reasons:

    • 🚫 No transit numbers
    • 🚫 The car is not listed in the RSA database
    • 🚫 Problems with documents (for example, the PTS does not match the database)
    • 🚫 Suspicion of fraud (for example, the VIN code has been stolen)

    2. Check the car according to the databases

    Make sure the car is not stolen or seized. To do this:

    3. Contact another insurance company

    Different insurers may have different internal rules. If one company refuses, try another. For example:

    • 🏦 AlfaInsurance — often meets halfway requirements when processing through salons.
    • 🏦 VTB Insurance — accepts transit numbers without problems.
    • 🏦 SOGAZ — works with new cars according to a simplified scheme.

    4. Write a complaint to RSA or the Bank of Russia

    If the refusal is illegal (for example, you have transits, but the insurance company still does not issue a policy), you can:

    1. Write a complaint on the site RSA.
    2. Contact Bank of Russia (it regulates the activities of insurers).
    3. File a lawsuit (if you lost money due to illegal refusal).
    ⚠️ Attention! Never agree to “gray” MTPL registration schemes without numbers through intermediaries. In 2023, RSA canceled more than 50,000 such policies, and their owners were left without insurance and with problems with the traffic police.

    Common mistakes and how to avoid them

    When taking out insurance without a license plate, car owners often make mistakes that lead to fines or cancellation of the policy. Let's look at the most common of them.

    1. Buying a fake policy

    Fraudsters offer to “buy compulsory motor insurance without license plates” for 500–1,000 rubles. In fact, these are fake policies that do not work. How to recognize deception:

    • 🚩 The price is significantly lower than the market price (real cost - from 1,500 rubles).
    • 🚩 Polis is issued without document verification.
    • 🚩 The policy number is not displayed in the database RSA.

    2. Delay in policy renewal

    Temporary policy (via salon or transit) is valid maximum 20 days. If you do not have time to register the car, the policy will be canceled, and driving without compulsory motor liability insurance will be punishable by a fine.

    3. Incorrect data filling

    When applying through transit, make sure that the policy indicates:

    • ✅ Exact number of transit signs (for example, T 123 AB 777).
    • ✅ Correct VIN code (check it using PTS).
    • ✅ Correct owner details (full name, address).

    4. Ignoring vehicle inspection

    When applying for CASCO insurance without numbers, the insurance company may require an inspection. If you refuse, payment for an accident or theft may be denied.

    ⚠️ Attention! If you bought a car on credit, the bank may require you to issue CASCO insurance before receiving license plates. In this case, check with the insurance company whether it is possible to link the policy to the VIN code.

    The cost of insurance without a license plate in 2026

    The price of the policy depends on the registration method and type of insurance. Below are the current tariffs for 2026.

    1. Temporary compulsory motor liability insurance through a car dealership

    • 💰 Cost: 1,500 rubles (fixed).
    • ⏳ Validity period: 20 days.
    • 📌 Features: valid only for new cars.

    2. OSAGO by transit numbers

    The cost is calculated according to standard MTPL tariffs, but taking into account the following coefficients:

    • 📊 Base rate: from 2,000 to 5,000 rubles. (depends on the region).
    • 📈 Odds:
      • Driver age/experience (PIC) - from 1.0 to 1.8.
      • Engine power (KM) - from 1.0 to 1.6.
      • Territory (CT) - from 0.6 to 2.1.
    • 💳 Total price: 3,000 - 10,000 rub. per year.

    3. CASCO without license plate

    The cost depends on:

    • 📌 Car makes and models (for example, Toyota Camry cheaper Mercedes-Benz S-Class).
    • 📌 Age of the car (new ones are cheaper than used ones).
    • 📌 Region (rates are higher in Moscow and St. Petersburg).
    • 📌 A set of risks (theft, damage, accident).

    Approximate prices:

    Car CASCO cost (RUB/year) Franchise (RUB)
    Lada Vesta (new) 50 000 — 80 000 10 000 — 20 000
    Kia Rio (2020) 70 000 — 120 000 15 000 — 30 000
    BMW X5 (2018) 150 000 — 250 000 30 000 — 80 000
    Rebuilt after an accident 100 000 — 200 000 50 000 — 100 000

    4. Insurance according to VIN (for legal entities)

    The cost depends on the number of cars in the fleet and the history of the company. On average:

    • 💰 From 50,000 rub. per car per year.
    • 📉 Discounts for insurance of 10 cars or more - up to 20%.
    Why is CASCO without numbers more expensive?

    Insurance companies are raising rates because the risk of fraud is higher. Without reference to the license plate number, it is more difficult to check the car’s history (theft, accidents, arrests). In addition, such policies are often issued for used or refurbished cars, which are more susceptible to breakdowns.

    Frequently asked questions about insurance without a license plate

    Is it possible to drive without compulsory motor insurance if the car is not yet registered?

    No. According to Art. 4 of Federal Law No. 40-FZ, insurance is required for all vehicles involved in road traffic. An exception is a temporary policy for 20 days for new cars or issued using transit numbers. Penalty for driving without compulsory motor insurance - 800 rubles (Part 2 of Article 12.37 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).

    What happens if you don’t reissue a temporary policy with permanent numbers?

    The policy is automatically canceled after 20 days. If you continue to drive, it is equivalent to driving without insurance. In addition to the fine (800 rubles), in the event of an accident you will have to compensate the victims from your own pocket. There may also be problems during registration - the traffic police checks the presence of a valid compulsory motor liability insurance.

    Is it possible to issue an electronic MTPL policy without a state number?

    No. The PCA system requires the indication of a state number to create an electronic policy. The exception is temporary transit numbers. In this case, you can apply for compulsory motor liability insurance online, indicating the transit number (for example, T 001 AA 199).

    What documents are needed to apply for CASCO insurance without numbers?

    For CASCO you will need:

    • 📄 Owner's passport
    • 📋 PTS or DCP
    • 🔑 Vehicle data (VIN, make, model, year of manufacture)
    • 📊 Sometimes - an inspection report (if the car is used or restored)

    Some companies also request a certificate from the traffic police about the absence of restrictions (for example, if the car is stolen or under arrest).

    Is it possible to issue compulsory motor liability insurance under a purchase and sale agreement without registration?

    No. The DCP confirms ownership, but does not replace registration with the traffic police. It is impossible to apply for compulsory motor liability insurance without a state number or transit signs. An exception is a temporary policy through a car dealership for new cars.