The issue of obtaining temporary car insurance for another person is relevant for thousands of drivers every day. There are different situations: you need to transfer control to a relative, friends for a vacation, rent out a car, or simply allow a person to travel without their own insurance policy. But the law strictly regulates who can be included in compulsory motor liability insurance and who cannot. In this article, we will look at all the nuances: from permitted methods to pitfalls that can lead to fines or refusal to pay in case of an accident.
The main misconception is that temporary insurance automatically solves the problem of transfer of control. In practice, everything is more complicated: insurance companies check the connection between the car owner and the driver, and the traffic police can fine you for driving without a valid policy. We analyzed the current rules for 2026, interviewed lawyers and insurance agents to give clear answers: who can issue a temporary policy, what documents are required and how to avoid fraudulent schemes.
Who is allowed to take out temporary insurance for someone else's car?
According to Federal Law No. 40-FZ "On Compulsory Motor Liability Insurance", a temporary policy can be issued only for a person who has the right to drive a vehicle. This does not mean that the car owner is obliged to drive the car himself - but it is also impossible to transfer the insurance to the “first person you meet”. Insurance companies divide drivers into three categories:
- 👨👩👧👦 Close relatives (spouse, parents, children, brothers/sisters). For them, issuing a temporary policy is a standard procedure, but proof of relationship (marriage or birth certificate) will be required.
- 🤝 Persons with a notarized power of attorney to drive a car. The power of attorney must be drawn up correctly - indicating the right to insure and drive the vehicle.
- 📄 Tenants under contract (if the car is rented). In this case, temporary insurance is issued for the rental period, but an agreement with a stamp and signatures is required.
Important: insurance companies have the right to refuse to issue a policy if they consider that the connection between the owner and the driver is “unreliable.” For example, taking out temporary insurance on a friend without a power of attorney or lease agreement may be considered an attempt to defraud. In such cases it helps execution of a general power of attorney with the right to dispose of a vehicle is the only legal way to transfer the right to insurance to a third party without family ties.
⚠️ Attention: If temporary insurance is issued to a person who does not have the right to drive (for example, using forged documents), in the event of an accident the insurance company will refuse to pay, and the owner of the car may be held administratively liable for complicity in fraud (Article 159.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
Step-by-step instructions: how to take out temporary insurance for another person
The process of issuing a temporary MTPL policy for a third party differs little from the standard procedure, but there are critical nuances. Let's look at the algorithm using the example of design via RESO-Guarantee (one of the most loyal insurers to such cases):
- Preparation of documents:
- 📄 Passport of the car owner and future driver.
- 🚗 PTS or vehicle registration certificate.
- 👨⚖️ Document confirming the right to manage (power of attorney, lease agreement, certificate of relationship).
- 📋 Driver's license of the person for whom the policy is issued.
- RESO-Garantiya (allows registration for relatives and tenants).
- Ingosstrakh (requires a notarized power of attorney).
- AlfaInsurance (works with lease agreements).
- Filling out the application: The form contains information about the owner of the car (the policyholder) and the driver (the insured person). Important: in the “Vehicle Owner” column, the owner of the car must be indicated, even if the policy is issued to another person.
- Payment and receipt of the policy: The temporary policy can be obtained electronically (by email) or in paper form - at the IC office. The cost depends on the duration (from 5 to 30 days) and the driver’s experience.
Car owner's passport|Driver's passport|PTS or STS|Power of attorney/lease agreement/certificate of relationship|Driver's license of the future policyholder-->
The cost of a temporary policy is calculated at the same rates as standard MTPL, but adjusted for the period. For example, for 2020 Toyota Camry with a driver with 5 years of experience, the price for 20 days will be about 1,800–2,500 rubles (depending on the region). If the driver is under 22 years old or has less than 3 years of experience, the cost will increase by 30–50%.
First time|1-2 times a year|More than 3 times a year|Never applied-->
Limitations and pitfalls: when temporary insurance will not help
Even if you managed to get a temporary policy for another person, this does not guarantee that there will be no problems. There are situations when the insurance company may invalidate the policy or refuse to pay:
| Situation | Risk | Consequences |
|---|---|---|
| The driver is not included in the policy (even if there is a power of attorney) | Refusal to pay in case of an accident | Fine 800 rub. (Article 12.37 of the Administrative Code) + compensation for damages out of pocket |
| The power of attorney was drawn up with errors (there is no right to insurance) | The policy may be canceled | You will have to take out a new policy or pay a fine |
| A temporary policy is issued for a person without a driver's license | The policy is invalid | Fine 5,000–15,000 rubles. (Article 12.7 of the Administrative Code) |
| The policy has expired, but the driver continues to drive | No insurance | Fine 800 rub. + risk of losing payments in case of an accident |
Special case - temporary insurance for foreign citizens. If a person with a foreign driver’s license wants to drive your car, you can issue a policy for it only if you have notarized translation of rights and migration card (for CIS citizens). Insurance companies often refuse in such cases, so it is better to check the conditions in advance with several insurance companies.
⚠️ Attention: If temporary insurance is issued to a person who will not actually drive the car (for example, to “kickback” a KBM discount), this qualifies as fraud. If such a fact is revealed, the insurance company has the right to terminate the contract and add the car owner to the “black list” for 3 years.
Alternative methods: when temporary insurance is not suitable
If it is not possible to issue a temporary policy for another person (for example, due to the refusal of the insurance company), there are legal alternatives:
- 🔄 Inclusion in the main MTPL policy: You can add a driver to your existing policy without a time limit. Minus - the cost of the policy will increase by 20–40% (depending on the experience of the new driver).
- 📝 Execution of a power of attorney with the right to manage: A notarized power of attorney allows a person to drive a car without signing up for insurance, but only if he has his own MTPL policy (even a temporary one).
- 🚗 Rent with a full package of documents: If you rent a car, you can draw up a rental agreement with a mandatory insurance clause. In this case, the temporary policy is issued by the lessor.
- 🔄 Re-registration of a car to another owner: The last option is to temporarily re-register the car to the person who will use it. The downside is the need to pay tax and undergo technical inspection.
The most reliable, but also the most expensive way is CASCO registration with an unlimited number of drivers. Such a policy allows anyone with a valid license to drive a car, but its cost starts from 5–7% of the cost of the car per year. For example, for 2023 Kia Rio this is ~40,000–60,000 rubles per year.
If you need to transfer control of a car for a period of more than 30 days, it is more profitable to include the driver in the main MTPL policy than to issue several temporary policies in a row. This will save you up to 30% due to the KBM discount.
What to do if the insurance company refuses your application?
Refusal to issue temporary insurance for another person is a common practice. Insurance companies motivate this by “increased risks” or “non-compliance with the terms of the contract.” If you are refused, follow the algorithm:
- Specify the reason for refusal: By law, the insurance company is required to provide a written refusal with justification. Common reasons:
- Lack of supporting documents (power of attorney, lease agreement).
- Low experience or age of the driver (under 21 years old).
- Violations in the driver's history (frequent accidents, deprivation of license).
If all methods have been exhausted, the only option left is execution of a power of attorney and purchase of a separate MTPL policy for the driver. This will cost more (from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles depending on the region), but it guarantees the legality of driving a car.
What to write in a complaint to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation?
In your complaint please indicate:
1. Name of the insurance company and date of denial.
2. Reason for refusal (if specified).
3. Link to paragraph 1 of Art. 15 of Federal Law No. 40-FZ, which obliges insurance companies to enter into MTPL agreements without unreasonable refusals.
4. The requirement to consider your appeal within 30 days.
Attach scans of documents (passport, PTS, power of attorney) and a copy of the refusal from the insurance company.
Fines and liability: what you face for driving without insurance
If temporary insurance is not issued, and the person is driving someone else’s car, this qualifies as lack of compulsory motor liability insurance policy. There are penalties for this Art. 12.37 Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation:
- 🚔 Fine 800 rubles - if the policy has not been issued or is expired.
- 🚨 Fine 500 rubles — if there is a policy, but the driver is not included in it (provided that the driver has his own MTPL).
- 🛑 Vehicle detention — if the driver cannot present a policy (even a temporary one) or his data does not match the documents.
But the main danger is not in fines, but in refusal of the insurance company to pay compensation in case of an accident. If an accident occurs with a driver not included in the policy, the insurance company:
- Will refuse to pay the injured party (its damage will have to be compensated out of pocket).
- Will require the car owner to compensate for the repair of his car (if the driver is not the registered driver at fault).
- May terminate the MTPL agreement and add the owner to the “black list”.
Case study: in 2023 Moscow City Court a case was considered where the owner Hyundai Solaris handed over control to a friend without taking out temporary insurance. In case of an accident, the insurance company refused to pay, and the owner had to sell the car to cover the damage to the victim (1.2 million rubles).
Driving without temporary insurance in someone else's car is not only a fine of 800 rubles, but also the risk of being left without payments in the event of an accident. Insurance companies check policies through the PCA database and easily identify violations.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about temporary insurance for another person
Is it possible to obtain temporary insurance for a person without a license?
No. To obtain a temporary MTPL policy, the driver must have a valid driver's license. If there are no rights (for example, they have been seized or not yet received), the insurance company will refuse to issue a policy. An alternative is to issue a policy for the owner of the car and add another driver to it after he receives the driver’s license.
How much does temporary insurance cost for 1 day?
The minimum term of a temporary policy is 5 days (according to the rules of the RSA). The cost depends on the region, car model and driver experience. The average price in Russia for 5 days is:
- 1,200–1,800 rubles – for drivers with at least 3 years of experience.
- 1,800–2,500 rubles — for drivers with less than 3 years of experience.
- 2,500–4,000 rubles — for drivers under 22 years of age.
It is impossible to issue a policy for 1–4 days - you will have to pay for a minimum period (5 days).
Is it possible to buy temporary insurance online for another person?
Yes, but with restrictions. Most insurance companies (eg. Tinkoff Insurance, SberInsurance) allow you to issue a temporary policy online, but you will need:
- Scan of the car owner's passport.
- Scan of the driver’s passport and driver’s ID.
- Photo of a power of attorney or other document confirming the right to manage.
Some insurance companies (for example, AlfaInsurance) may require a personal visit to the office to verify documents.
What to do if the temporary insurance has expired and the driver continues to drive?
If the temporary policy has expired, you need to either issue a new policy or add the driver to the main OSAGO. Driving with expired insurance is equivalent to its absence and is punishable by a fine of 800 rubles (Article 12.37 of the Administrative Code). If an accident occurs, the insurance company will refuse to pay, and all costs will fall on the owner of the car.
Is it possible to get temporary insurance for a car that is pledged to the bank?
Yes, but with the consent of the bank. If the car is pledged, the owner needs:
- Obtain written permission from the bank to transfer control to a third party.
- Issue a power of attorney with the right to insure (if the driver is not a relative).
- Provide the insurance company with a copy of the loan agreement and the bank’s permission.
Without the consent of the bank, a temporary policy may not be issued, since the collateral property has restrictions on disposal.