Innovations for motorists in: what has changed

On January 1, 2020, a law came into force requiring the mandatory presence of the ERA-GLONASS system when installing gas equipment in a car, which became one of the most discussed changes for LPG owners. At the same time, the procedure for calculating the cost has changed state duties for issuing new license plates, which are now linked to the digital code of the owner’s registration region, and not to the place of purchase of the vehicle. These measures, along with the introduction of electronic PTS and tightening control over technical inspection, form a new reality for all road users, requiring drivers to pay increased attention to the legal aspects of owning a car.

A number of amendments also affected the registration procedure, where it is now prohibited to make any design changes without a preliminary laboratory examination and subsequent certification by the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. Federal law also increased liability for violations related to tinting and the use of prohibited lighting devices. Drivers need to clearly understand that ignoring new regulations can lead not only to financial losses, but also to problems when removing or registering a car, so studying the current requirements becomes a critical step.

Changes in the registration procedure and issuance of numbers

One of the most notable innovations was the separation of region codes on license plates. Now, when registering a car with the traffic police, the driver receives a number with the code of the region where he is registered, even if he buys the car at the other end of the country. This change is aimed at unifying data in the database traffic police and simplification of administrative processes, but creates certain difficulties for residents of large cities who buy cars in regions with less traffic.

In addition, since the beginning of the year, the opportunity to obtain license plates directly from car dealerships with appropriate accreditation has officially become operational. This saves buyers of new cars from the need to visit registration departments, since the dealer independently produces license plates and submits documents to the traffic police electronically. However, for this service you will have to pay an additional amount, the amount of which is regulated by market mechanisms and not by government tariffs.

• 🚗 The region code on the number now strictly corresponds to the owner’s registration, and not to the place of registration of the car.
• 🏢 Official dealers received the right to issue license plates and register cars without a visit to the traffic police.
• 📄 Electronic vehicle passports (EPTS) are becoming mandatory for new cars.
• 💰 The cost of license plate production services from dealers can vary significantly.

⚠️ Attention: When purchasing a car from a private person or in a dealership without a registration service, you must obtain the license plates yourself within 10 days, otherwise you will be fined for violating the registration rules.

It is important to note that old license plates obtained before the law came into force remain valid until the vehicle is sold or worn out. Forced replacement of plates with new ones with the current region code is not required, which reduces the burden on drivers’ budgets. However, when buying a used car, you should carefully check the compliance of the data in the documents and on the body, since the requirements for readability and condition of license plates have become stricter.

Mandatory installation of ERA-GLONASS when installing HBO

On January 1, 2020, a requirement came into force according to which the installation of gas cylinder equipment (LPG) on a car is possible only if there is a system ERA-GLONASS. If the vehicle was not originally equipped with this system by the manufacturer, it must be additionally installed before making changes to the design. This rule applies to both individuals and legal entities and is aimed at increasing safety when using gas fuel.

The procedure for legalizing HBO has become much more complicated and expensive. The car owner must first obtain preliminary permission from the laboratory, then install the equipment in a certified center, then undergo a re-examination and only then register the changes with the traffic police. The absence of markings on the cylinder or certificates of conformity for installed equipment may be grounds for refusal to register or deregistration of the vehicle.

Many drivers are wondering about the fate of equipment installed before 2020. The legislation is retroactive in this context: if HBO was legalized and included in the documents earlier, then there is no need to dismantle the system or retrofit it with GLONASS. Problems can only arise when selling a car or when violations are discovered during scheduled inspections, if documents for gas equipment were lost or issued with violations.

• ⛽ Without the ERA-GLONASS system, installation of HBO on cars without factory preparation is prohibited.
• 🔍 Double examination is required: before installation and after installation of equipment.
• 📑 All system components must have EAEU certificates of conformity.
• 🚫 Dismantling of previously legalized gas equipment is not required.

Electronic PTS and transition to digital documents

The transition to electronic vehicle passports (EPTS) in 2020 became mandatory for all new cars put into circulation in the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union. Paper equivalents are no longer issued for new cars, which means a complete abandonment of the usual blue forms in favor of digital records in a single database. This innovation is aimed at transparency of the car market and protecting buyers from fraudulent document schemes.

Owners of cars with paper PTS issued previously can continue to use them without restrictions. There is no forced replacement of old documents with electronic ones, however, if the car is lost, damaged or sold, the owner can voluntarily switch to EPTS. The electronic format allows you to make changes to information about the owner, collateral or restrictions instantly, which speeds up the process of purchase and sale and processing of loans.

⚠️ Attention: When buying a car with an EPTS, be sure to request an extract from the system, which indicates the status of the document and the current owner, since you will not physically see the document.

To access information about an electronic passport, the owner must register in the EPTS operator system or use the State Services portal. This makes it possible to track the history of the car, the number of owners and the presence of encumbrances. Experts note that the transition to digital significantly reduces the risks of buying a credit or stolen car hidden under clean documents.

New rules for technical inspection and control of diagnostic cards

Although the main changes in the field of technical inspection came into full force a little later, in 2020 the active introduction of photographic recording of the inspection process began. The new rules require that the technical inspection operator take photographs of the car before and after the diagnosis, linking them to the coordinates of the work location and time. This is done to combat the sale of diagnostic cards without actually inspecting the vehicle.

Insurance companies have received the right to request information about the validity of a diagnostic card in the unified EAISTO database in real time. If the car has not passed technical inspection or the card was issued with violations, the policy OSAGO may be declared invalid, and if an insured event occurs, the company has the right to refuse payment. In addition, the amount of insurance coverage paid may be recovered from a driver who fails to undergo an MOT by way of recourse.

Owners of cars older than three years (for taxis and special vehicles) or older than a certain age for personal transport must carefully monitor the validity period of the diagnostic card. In 2020, control over this parameter increased thanks to automated cameras, which began to compare data on MOT completion with the database. The absence of a valid inspection card is now easily detected by technical means of the traffic police.

• 📸 Mandatory photographic recording of the beginning and end of the inspection procedure.
• 📍 Linking the diagnostic coordinates to the address of the maintenance station.
• 🛑 Risk of cancellation of the MTPL policy if falsification of maintenance is detected.
• 👮‍♂️ Strengthened control by the traffic police through a single EAISTO database.

Changes in tariffs and payments under compulsory motor liability insurance

In 2020, the liberalization of MTPL tariffs continued, which led to the expansion of the tariff corridor. The central rate remains the same, but the range within which insurers can set the policy price has become wider. This means that for careful drivers with a good history, the coefficient may decrease, making insurance cheaper, while for offenders, the cost of the policy may increase as much as possible.

Changes regarding the insurance period also came into force. If previously the minimum insurance period for Russian drivers was 3 months, now there are opportunities for a more flexible approach in certain pilot regions and for certain categories of transport, although massively short policies (for 1-2 months) still remain unavailable to most individuals.

Insurance companies also have more rights when it comes to repairs. If repairing a car at the direction of the insurer is impossible or takes too much time, payment of monetary compensation has become a more accessible option. However, the payment amount is now calculated taking into account the wear and tear of parts, which is often less than the actual cost of restoring the car at stations that are not part of the insurance company’s partner network.

Fines and liability: what has become more expensive

The list of offenses for which fines are provided was not formally supplemented in 2020 with new articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses, however, the amounts of some penalties were indexed, and control over their compliance became stricter. Particular attention is paid to violations related to parking and driving in zones with limited environmental class. Owners of old cars should carefully monitor signs prohibiting the entry of vehicles below a certain environmental class, as fines for this violation are significant.

The fine for not having a compulsory motor liability insurance policy has increased, although the main change concerned the control method: cameras began to massively check the presence of insurance in automatic mode. Repeated violations within a short period are now recorded more easily, which leads to a rapid accumulation of the fine amount. Penalties for refusal to undergo a medical examination, which is equivalent to drunk driving, have also been tightened.

Separately, it is worth noting the fight against “checkers” and illegal taxis. In 2020, many regions introduced or tightened fines for the lack of permission to transport passengers if the car looks like a taxi (color, checkers). Owners of such cars must have the appropriate license, otherwise a fine may be issued for illegal business activity.

⚠️ Attention: Fines issued using photo recording cameras must be paid within 20 days to receive a 50% discount. Don't wait for a paper letter, check the information online.

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