How to get part of the money back for insurance when selling a car: step-by-step instructions

Selling a car is a process that is often accompanied by the question: Is it possible to get back part of the money paid for insurance?? Many car owners do not even suspect that if they terminate the MTPL or CASCO contract early, they are entitled to a refund of part of the insurance premium. However, there are nuances here: from the type of policy to the timing of contacting the insurance company.

In 2026, the rules for the return of insurance funds remain relevant, but not all insurers voluntarily inform clients about this possibility. In this article we will look at what types of insurance are refundable, how to properly prepare documents, what deadlines apply for filing an application, and how to avoid common mistakes. You will also learn in what cases the insurance company can legally refuse to refund funds - and how to prevent this from happening.

We will pay special attention practical steps: from drawing up an application to receiving money in your account. And at the end of the article there are answers to the most common questions that car owners have when returning insurance.

What types of insurance can be returned when selling a car?

Not all insurance policies are refundable when you sell your car. Let's figure out which types of insurance can be partially or fully refunded, and which cannot.

1. OSAGO (compulsory motor third party liability insurance)

This is the only type of insurance that required for all vehicle owners in Russia. When selling a car, the MTPL contract can be terminated early, and the insurance company is obliged to return part of the premium for the unused period. However, there is an important nuance here: return is possible only if the new owner has not reissued the policy to himself within 10 days. Otherwise, the insurance automatically transfers to the new owner and no refund is provided.

2. CASCO (voluntary auto insurance)

CASCO is a voluntary policy, and the terms of refund depend on the agreement with the insurance company. Most insurers provide a refund of part of the premium upon early termination, but may charge a commission (usually 20-30% of the refund amount). It is important to check the terms of a specific policy: some companies do not return money at all if the contract was valid for less than 3-6 months.

3. DSAGO (voluntary motor third party liability insurance)

This policy is similar to MTPL, but with extended coverage. The return rules are the same as for compulsory motor liability insurance: when selling a car, you can terminate the contract and return part of the money for the unused period. However, some insurers may charge a fixed amount for conducting a case (usually 500-1500 rubles).

4. Life and health insurance for driver/passengers

If you took out a separate life or health insurance policy (for example, when financing a car), it can also be terminated. The terms of the return depend on the insurance company, but usually the rule is: the sooner you terminate the contract, the larger part of the premium can be returned.

• 🔹 OSAGO — return is possible if the new owner has not reissued the policy
• 🔹 CASCO — depends on the terms of the contract, a commission is often retained
• 🔹 DSAGO — the rules are the same as those of OSAGO, but deductions are possible
• 🔹 Life insurance — part of the premium is returned, but the conditions are individual

Insurance return conditions: what the law says

The return of part of the insurance premium upon early termination of the contract is regulated by several regulations:

1. Law No. 40-FZ “On OSAGO” (Article 10)

For compulsory motor third party liability insurance, a portion of the premium is refunded when the car is sold. The insurance company is obliged to return money for the unused period, but retains 23% of the refund amount (this is the so-called “unused period coefficient”). The insurer also has the right to withhold a fixed amount for conducting a case (usually up to 1000 rubles).

2. Civil Code of the Russian Federation (Article 958)

This article regulates the early termination of an insurance contract at the initiative of the policyholder. According to the law, the insurance company is obliged to return part of the premium for the period during which the risk did not occur (that is, after the sale of the car). However, the insurer has the right to withhold part of the amount to cover its expenses.

3. Terms of a specific insurance contract

For CASCO and other voluntary types of insurance, the return rules are specified in the policy itself. Some companies set a minimum contract period (for example, 3 months), before the expiration of which a refund is not possible. Others charge an early termination fee (up to 30% of the refund amount).

Important: if the CASCO agreement does not stipulate the terms of return, then the general rules of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation apply - the insurance company must return part of the premium for the unused period.

⚠️ Attention: If you sold the car but did not terminate the MTPL policy, the new owner can re-register it in his or her name within 10 days. In this case, refund impossible — insurance automatically transfers to the new owner.

Type of insurance	Is a return possible?	Insurance deductions	Deadline
OSAGO	Yes	23% + up to 1000 rub. for conducting the case	Within 14 days after sale
CASCO	Depends on the contract	20-30% or fixed amount	Until the expiration date
DSAGO	Yes	Up to 1500 rub. for conducting the case	Within 30 days after sale
Life insurance	Yes	Individually (up to 50%)	Anytime

Step-by-step instructions: how to get your insurance money back

To get a portion of your insurance premium back, you need to follow several steps. Let's look at the process using compulsory motor liability insurance as an example (for CASCO and other policies the steps are similar, but may differ in details).

Step 1. Gather the necessary documents

To terminate the contract and return the money you will need:

• 📄 Application for termination (a sample can be downloaded from the insurance website or taken from the office)
• 📄 Passport policyholder (or power of attorney if a representative applies)
• 📄 Car purchase and sale agreement (copy)
• 📄 PTS with a mark about the new owner (or an extract from the traffic police about deregistration)
• 📄 Original MTPL/CASCO policy
• 📄 Account details to transfer money

Step 2. Write an application for termination

An application can be submitted:

• 🖥️ Via personal account on the insurance company website (if there is such a function)
• 📧 By email (certified by digital signature)
• 🏢 B insurance office (in person or through a representative)

In your application, be sure to indicate:

• Insurance contract number
• Vehicle sale date
• Details for refund
• Reason for termination (“sale of vehicle”)

Step 3. Submit documents to the insurance company

The application review period is up to 14 working days (for OSAGO) or up to 30 days (for CASCO). The insurance company can:

• ✅ Approve the return and transfer money to the account
• ❌ Refuse with justification (for example, if the new owner reissued the policy)
• ⚠️ Request additional documents

Step 4. Get money

If the decision is positive, the insurance company will transfer the money to the specified account within 5-10 banking days. The refund amount will be less than the premium paid due to deductions (23% for OSAGO, commission for CASCO).

How much money can be returned: calculation of the amount

The refund amount depends on the type of insurance, the duration of the policy and the terms of the contract. Let's figure out how the return is calculated for compulsory motor liability insurance and comprehensive insurance.

1. Return under compulsory motor liability insurance

Calculation formula:

Refund amount = (Insurance premium × Unused period coefficient) − Deductions

Where:

• Unused period coefficient = (Number of days until the end of the policy) / (Total number of days of the policy)
• Holds = 23% of the refund amount + up to 1000 rubles. for conducting the case

Example: You paid 5,000 rubles for OSAGO for a year (365 days), but sold the car after 6 months (182 days). Unused period coefficient = (365 − 182) / 365 ≈ 0.5. Amount before deductions = 5000 × 0.5 = 2500 rub. After holds: 2500 − (2500 × 0.23) − 1000 ≈ 875 rubles.

2. Return under CASCO

It all depends on the terms of the contract. Typically, insurance companies use one of the following schemes:

• 🔸 Percentage withholding (for example, 30% of the refund amount)
• 🔸 Fixed commission (for example, 2000 rubles)
• 🔸 Minimum validity period (if the policy was valid for less than 3 months, no refund is provided)

Example: You paid 30,000 rubles for CASCO for a year, but terminated the contract after 4 months. The insurance company withholds 30% of the return. Unused period coefficient = (365 − 120) / 365 ≈ 0.67. Amount before deductions = 30,000 × 0.67 ≈ 20,100 rubles. After 30% retention: 20,100 − (20,100 × 0.3) ≈ 14,070 rubles.

⚠️ Attention: If you took out CASCO insurance on credit (for example, when buying a car at a car dealership), then when the contract is terminated, the bank may demand that part of the loan be returned, since the insurance was part of the security. Check this point with the lender up to termination of the policy!

Common mistakes when returning insurance and how to avoid them

Many car owners lose the right to a refund due to mistakes made. Let's look at the most common of them.

1. Delay in submitting documents

For MTPL, a refund application must be submitted within 14 days after selling the car. If you are late, the insurance company has the right to refuse. For CASCO, the terms are usually longer (up to 30 days), but it is better not to delay.

2. Incorrect execution of the purchase and sale agreement

If the policy does not include the passport details of the new owner or does not indicate the date of sale, the insurance company may not accept the document. It is also important that a note is made in the PTS about the new owner (or there is an extract from the traffic police about deregistration).

3. Renewal of the policy by the new owner

If the buyer within 10 days re-registered compulsory motor liability insurance for yourself, then refund impossible. Insurance automatically transfers to the new owner. To avoid this, check with the buyer whether he will reissue the policy, and, if necessary, terminate the contract up to machine transfer.

4. Lack of original policy

Some insurance companies require you to present the original policy for cancellation. If you lose it, you will have to restore it (this may take up to 5 days). It is better to keep all documents for the car in one place.

5. Incorrect return details

If you make a mistake in the account number or bank name, the money may go to the wrong place or get stuck. Always double check your details before submitting your application.

• ❌ Error: Submission of documents later than 14 days (for MTPL)
• ✅ Solution: Track deadlines and apply immediately after the sale
• ❌ Error: Incorrect DCT without buyer data
• ✅ Solution: Check all details in the contract before signing
• ❌ Error: Re-registration of OSAGO by the new owner
• ✅ Solution: Check with the buyer whether he will reissue the policy

What to do if the insurance company refuses to refund?

If the insurance company refuses a refund without legal grounds, you can:

1. Write a claim addressed to the head of the department (in two copies, one with a receipt stamp).

2. Contact Rospotrebnadzor with a complaint about violation of consumer rights.

3. File a lawsuit (if the refund amount is significant, this is justified).

In most cases, a claim is enough - insurance companies make concessions to avoid inspections.

What to do if your insurance company is delaying your refund?

By law, the insurance company is required to consider a refund application within 14 working days (for OSAGO) or 30 days (for CASCO). If the money does not arrive in your account within the prescribed period, proceed according to the following algorithm:

1. Check the status of the application

Call the insurance company and ask where they are in the review process. Additional documents may be required or technical delays may occur.

2. Write a formal complaint

If the insurance company ignores your calls, send the claim in writing (by registered mail with notification or through your personal account). In your complaint please indicate:

• Return application submission date
• Insurance contract number
• Amount to be returned
• Requirement to return money within 10 days
• A mention that in case of refusal you will contact Rospotrebnadzor or the court

3. Contact Rospotrebnadzor

If the insurance company does not respond to the claim, file a complaint with Rospotrebnadzor through their official website. Attach copies of all documents (application, policy, policy, claim). Insurance companies usually expedite the refund process after a complaint.

4. File a lawsuit

If the refund amount is significant (for example, several tens of thousands of rubles under CASCO), it makes sense to go to court. To do this you will need:

• Copy of the insurance contract
• Copy of return application
• A copy of the claim and response from the insurance company (if any)
• Account statement confirming payment of the policy

The court usually sides with the policyholder if all documents are in order. In addition to a refund, you can demand compensation for moral damages and a fine for violating consumer rights.

Special cases: credit, leasing, car recycling

Situations with insurance returns can become more complicated if the car was purchased on credit, leased, or sent for recycling. Let's look at these cases in more detail.

1. Car on loan

If the car was purchased on credit, and you have signed up for CASCO insurance as a mandatory condition of the bank, then when selling the car you need:

• 🔹 Notify the bank about the sale and termination of CASCO
• 🔹 Obtain the bank’s consent to terminate (sometimes required)
• 🔹 Repay part of the loan if insurance was included in its amount

The bank may require you to take out a new CASCO policy for another car (if it is also collateral). If this is not done, the lender has the right to increase the interest rate or demand early repayment of the loan.

2. Leased car

If the leasing agreement is terminated early and the car is returned to the lessor, insurance (MTPL or CASCO) is also subject to termination. However, there are nuances here:

• 🔹 The leasing company may require you to renew the policy for it (if the car is returned)
• 🔹 If the car is purchased as a property, the insurance is reissued to the new owner
• 🔹 Refunds are possible only upon complete termination of the leasing agreement

3. Vehicle disposal

If the car is sent for recycling, the MTPL policy can be terminated with a refund of part of the premium. To do this you will need:

• 🔹 Document on disposal (act of acceptance and transfer for disposal)
• 🔹 Certificate from the traffic police about deregistration
• 🔹 Application for termination of insurance

In this case, the return is made according to the same rules as when selling a car.

⚠️ Attention: If the car was pledged to the bank, then before disposal it is necessary to obtain the consent of the lender. Otherwise, you may violate the terms of the loan agreement.

FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to return money for compulsory motor liability insurance if the new owner has already transferred the policy to himself?

No, if the new owner reissued the MTPL within 10 days after purchase, then the policy automatically transfers to him and a refund impossible. To avoid this, terminate the contract up to transfer of the car to the buyer or check with him whether he will reissue insurance.

How long does it take to get a refund after submitting an application?

For compulsory motor liability insurance, the review period is up to 14 working days, for CASCO – up to 30 days. Money is transferred to the account within 5-10 banking days after approval. If the insurance company is delaying the process, file a claim or contact Rospotrebnadzor.

Is it possible to get insurance back if the car was stolen?

Yes, in this case, the MTPL or CASCO policy can be terminated with a refund of part of the premium. You will need to provide the insurance company with a copy of the police report about the theft and a certificate from the traffic police confirming the deregistration of the car.

What to do if the insurance company refuses to return the money without explanation?

First, request a formal refusal in writing. If the reason is unfounded (for example, “there are no grounds”), write a claim demanding a refund. If you refuse, contact Rospotrebnadzor or the court. In 90% of cases, insurance companies make concessions after a complaint to regulatory authorities.

Is it possible to return CASCO if the car is sold abroad?

Yes, but you need to provide the insurance company with documents confirming the export of the car outside the Russian Federation (for example, a customs declaration or a sales agreement with a foreign citizen). Refunds are processed according to standard rules, but some insurers may require additional confirmation.