Car owners often face the need to hand over the steering wheel to another person: a spouse, child or friend. At this point, the question arises about the legality of such actions and the risks associated with possible accidents. It is precisely this problem that exists car insuranceIt removes the limit on the number of drivers. Unlike the classic policy, where specific names are inscribed, this option allows anyone with a valid driver's license of the corresponding category to drive a vehicle.
This approach to insurance provides the owner of the car with maximum flexibility in the use of equipment. You no longer need to worry that a friend who decides to give you a ride from the guests, formally violates the rules, since he is not on the list of allowed to drive. However, this freedom has to be paid for, and the rates are significantly different from the standard ones. In this article, we will discuss in detail how the cost is calculated, what risks exist and why. The KBM ratio is not maintained with open insuranceThis is often a surprise for inexperienced car owners.
The essence of the concept and legal aspects
Under the open policy CTP means an insurance contract, which does not specify a specific list of persons allowed to drive a vehicle. Legally, this means that anyone who has a valid driver's license and power of attorney can be behind the wheel (although according to the current rules of traffic rules, it is not necessary to have a power of attorney in paper form with you if you are inscribed in the policy, but in the case of open insurance, simply rights are enough). This makes it ideal for corporate fleets or families where the car is used by several people irregularly.
It is important to understand that the absence of names in the column “Driver” does not mean permissiveness. The person driving the car is obliged to comply with all traffic rules and have the rights of category «B» or higher, depending on the type of vehicle. If a person without rights or deprived of them is driving, the insurance company has the full right to refuse payment and to issue a recourse claim. Thus, insurance protects the property interests of the owner, but does not remove the responsibility of the driver.
⚠️ Attention: If the car is driven by a person who does not have a driver's license at all, insurance coverage does not apply, even if there is an open policy. The owner may be responsible for handing over the steering wheel to an incapacitated or untrained person.
From the point of view of the law, such a policy is completely legal and regulated by the Federal Law on OSAGO. The only difference from the “closed” option is the method of calculating the insurance premium. The insurer puts the maximum risks in the cost, since it cannot assess the driving experience and accident rate of those who can potentially drive. That is why the tariff is carried out on average, often maximum indicators.
Key differences from a policy with a restriction
The main difference lies in the column “Limitation of the number of drivers”. In a regular policy, there is a mark on a specific list of persons, and the insurance premium is calculated individually for each based on their driving history. In the open version of this graph, as it were, does not exist in the usual sense - access is allowed to an unlimited number of people. This entails a change in the base coefficients when calculating the price.
It is also worth noting the difference in documentation. If you get into an accident with an open policy, the traffic police officer or the insurance commissioner does not need to provide a list of drivers. It is enough to present the policy itself and the rights of the person driving at the time of the incident. This simplifies bureaucratic procedures, but makes it more difficult for the owner to control who is operating the property.
- 🚗 Number of drivers: In a limited policy - only inscribed persons, in an open one - any holders of rights.
- 💰 Cost: Open policies are always more expensive because of the maximum risk ratios.
- 📉 MSC (Bonus Malus): In an open policy, the owner’s driving history does not affect the discount, whether it is lost or not applied.
Another important nuance concerns the restoration of the history of discounts. With closed insurance, if you don’t get into an accident, your bonus-malus ratio (BMC) drops, making the policy cheaper every year. In the case of open insurance, this mechanism works differently: since anyone can sit behind the wheel, the insurance can not guarantee accident-free, so the discount for accident-free driving often “burns” or is not charged in full. This makes owning a policy less profitable in the long run for one particular driver.
How to calculate the cost of open OSAGO
Price formation insurance It is carried out according to special rules established by the Central Bank and the tariffs of insurance companies. The base rate is multiplied by a number of coefficients, but the key here is the coefficient of the number of drivers (CVS). If in a conventional policy it can be equal to 1.0 or even less (if there is experience), then in the open version it always takes the maximum value.
In addition, the calculation ignores the age and experience of the owner of the car. The insurance company is based on the worst-case scenario: a young driver with no experience can get behind the wheel, who statistically is more likely to get into accidents. Therefore, the age coefficient is neglected, using averaged high values. This makes the total payment amount significantly higher, sometimes one and a half to two times compared to the policy, where one experienced driver is inscribed.
If you plan to include young drivers under 22 years old in the policy, compare the price of an open policy and policy with the drivers inscribed. Sometimes it is cheaper to write in specific people than to pay for "openness."
Also, the price is affected by the engine power of the car and the region of registration of the owner. These parameters remain unchanged regardless of the type of insurance. However, due to the lack of the opportunity to apply the discount for accident-free driving (BMK) in full, the final figure in the check can shock an unprepared buyer. Insurers insure themselves against unpredictable risks.
Advantages and disadvantages for the owner
When deciding whether to issue such a policy, it is necessary to weigh all the pros and cons. Of course, the main advantage is convenience. You don’t have to call the owner of the car every time to dictate the details to fit in a new driver or hand over the policy. The car can be used by any family member or friend in an emergency, giving a sense of freedom and security.
But the downsides are also significant. First and foremost, it is a high price. Overpayment can be tens of thousands of rubles a year, which for many families is a tangible amount. There is also a risk of uncontrolled use of the vehicle. If you hand over the car to a friend with open insurance, and he will arrange an accident, your insurance history may suffer, and repairs will still have to wait, even if the payment is made.
☑️ Pros and cons of open insurance
Another disadvantage is the difficulty of selling the car. Buyers are often wary of cars with open insurance, assuming that they were used by many different people, which could have a negative impact on the technical condition. In addition, when selling a car, the policy burns down, and it is more difficult to return money for an unused period in the case of open insurance or the refund amount will be minimal due to the high initial cost.
Effects on bonus-malus ratio (MBM)
The issue of saving discounts for accident-free driving is one of the most painful when choosing a type of policy. Many drivers mistakenly believe that if they have not been involved in an accident, their MBM will automatically improve. In reality, with open insurance, the situation is different. Because anyone can drive, the insurance company cannot personalize the risk.
When issuing an open policy, the MBM of the owner of the car, as a rule, is not taken into account or reset to the base level (1.0 or higher), since the contract is not concluded with a specific driver (oil, but with the owner of the vehicle without reference to his driving skills. This means that the accident-free years you have accumulated may be “frozen” or not applied in calculating the cost of that particular policy.
| Parameter | Restricted policy | Open policy |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting for the owner's MSC | Applying fully | Not applicable/Resetting |
| Age coefficient | Depends on the age of the driver | Maximum (as for young people) |
| Seniority ratio | Depends on the length of the driver. | Maximum (as for beginners) |
| The price of the policy | Below (if discounted) | Higher (maximum rates) |
If you decide to switch from an open policy to a limited one next year, your driving history can be restored, but only if the RCA database has correctly stored your previous data. However, during the open policy, the accumulation of a new discount usually does not occur. This is an important point for those who appreciate their reputation as a careful driver.
Can I return the CBM after an open policy?
Yes, when you switch to a limited list of drivers in the next insurance period, your history (MBM) must be restored in the RCA database, if there were no insurance events. However, in the year of the open policy, the discount does not increase.
Procedure for registration and necessary documents
Fill out insurance It is possible both in the office of the insurance company and online through the insurer’s website or aggregators. The process is not much different from the standard one, except for the option of the number of drivers. You will need a standard package of documents: the passport of the owner, the PTS or the CTS of the car, as well as a driver's license (at least one of the drivers to fill in the data, but the list is not formally limited).
When making an online checkout, the system will automatically prompt you to select the option “Without limiting the number of drivers” or similar. After entering the data, the system will calculate the maximum tariffs. It is important to carefully check all the data entered, especially the engine power and the region, as an error here can lead to the policy being declared invalid and the money will not be returned.
⚠️ Attention: When buying e-OSAGO, be sure to check the availability of the policy in the PCA database immediately after payment. The data should be in the system within minutes. The absence of an entry in the database is equated with the absence of insurance.
After payment, you will receive an electronic policy, which must be downloaded and saved in a smartphone or printed. Although the law allows you to display insurance in electronic form, the presence of a paper copy or file in the phone is mandatory. Remember that the absence of a policy (even open) when checking documents threatens with a fine, and in the case of an accident – problems with payments.
Open insurance is a choice in favor of comfort and freedom of action, but it requires a willingness to overpay for the lack of binding to specific drivers and loss of discounts for experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I put the driver in an open policy?
This is not necessary or technically possible. The meaning of the open policy is that anyone with the rights of the appropriate category can drive a car. No additional entry is required, access is already allowed for everyone.
What happens if someone without a license is driving an open car?
In this case, the CTP policy will not cover the damage caused by such a driver. The insurance company will pay compensation to the injured person, but then put a recourse claim against the driver without rights and possibly the owner of the car for the transfer of the steering wheel. The driver is also fined and evacuated.
Can I cancel the open policy and get my money back?
Yes, the owner of the car has the right to terminate the insurance contract at any time. However, only a portion of the premium for the unused period is refundable, and the insurance company’s costs can be deducted from this amount (up to 50% in some cases, especially if the policy has been used for a short time).
Is there open insurance abroad?
No, OSAGO operates only on the territory of the Russian Federation. To travel abroad (for example, to Belarus, Kazakhstan or Europe), you must obtain an international policy "Green Card" or local insurance in the host country, regardless of the type of your Russian policy.