Why insurance has become a mandatory step when learning to drive
Since 2021, the rules for training in driving schools have become more stringent: now every student who gets behind the wheel of a training vehicle must be insured. This requirement is enshrined in Order of the Ministry of Education and Science No. 1408 and Federal Law No. 40-FZ about OSAGO. Without a policy, the instructor does not have the right to let the student go to practical classes - even in a closed area.
But why did this rule appear? It's simple: training cars often get into accidents. According to traffic police statistics, everyone 12th training vehicle becomes involved in an accident within a year. This is due to the inexperience of the cadets, stressful situations on the road and the objective difficulty of the first trips. Insurance protects both the driving school, the instructor, and the student himself from financial losses in the event of damage to the car or harm to third parties.
It is important to understand: this is not a standard OSAGO, but about a special policy for driving lessons. It is issued either by the driving school itself (including the cost in the general check), or by the cadet independently. In the article we will analyze all the nuances: from types of insurance to ways to save money without the risk of being left without practice.
What types of insurance are required when learning to drive in 2026?
There are three main types of cadet policies on the market. Each solves its own problems and has design features:
- 📄 School car insurance (MTPL marked “Training driving”) — a mandatory policy issued by a driving school for each training vehicle. It covers damage to third parties caused by a student driving. The cost is included in the total cost of training.
- 👤 Cadet personal insurance - a voluntary policy that protects the health and life of the student during classes. Driving schools often insist on its registration, but the law does not require this.
- 🚗 Cadet civil liability insurance contract - an extended version of OSAGO, which covers damage not only to third parties, but also to the training car itself. Such a policy is usually taken out by cadets studying in a personal car with an instructor.
The most common option is the first one. Driving schools enter into contracts with insurance companies and include the cost of the policy in the overall training package. For example, in Moscow and St. Petersburg this amount varies from 3,500 to 8,000 rubles depending on the region and the number of practical hours.
If you are studying at personal car with a private instructor, the situation is different. Here you will need to register separate MTPL policy with a note about admission to training driving. The cost of such a policy is higher - from 5,000 to 12,000 rubles per year, since the risks are higher than with standard insurance.
How much does insurance cost to get a license in 2026?
The cost of the policy depends on five key factors: region of training, type of car, instructor experience, number of practical hours and the selected insurance company. The table below shows current prices for the first quarter of 2026 for popular cities in Russia:
| City | Cost through a driving school (RUB) | Cost for self-registration (RUB) | Average franchise (RUB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moscow | 6 500 – 9 000 | 8 000 – 12 000 | 5 000 |
| St. Petersburg | 5 800 – 8 500 | 7 500 – 11 000 | 4 500 |
| Yekaterinburg | 4 500 – 7 000 | 6 000 – 9 500 | 3 000 |
| Novosibirsk | 4 200 – 6 800 | 5 500 – 9 000 | 2 500 |
| Kazan | 3 800 – 6 200 | 5 000 – 8 500 | 2 000 |
Please note: Some driving schools offer "free insurance" as part of their promotion. In practice, this means that the cost of the policy is already included in the total price of training, but is not highlighted as a separate line. To avoid overpaying, always ask for a transcript of all payments.
If you are studying at a driving school with a large fleet of cars (10+ training cars), ask about a group discount on insurance. Some companies provide a discount of up to 15% for cadets of such schools.
Additional costs may arise if:
- 🔴 You caused damage to the training car (for example, you damaged the bumper in the parking lot). In this case it applies franchise - the amount that the cadet pays independently. The franchise amount is specified in the contract (usually from 2,000 to 10,000 rubles).
- 🔴 You have decided to increase the number of practical hours beyond the basic package. Each additional hour may require additional payment for insurance (from 200 to 500 rubles per hour).
Where to get insurance to test your license: step-by-step instructions
If the driving school does not provide a turnkey policy, you will have to arrange it yourself. The process takes no more than 30 minutes and consists of 5 steps:
Collect documents (passport, instructor’s license, license plate of a training car)
Select an insurance company (compare rates on aggregators)
Fill out an application online or in the office
Pay for the policy with a bank card
Receive an electronic or paper policy by email -->
Let's look at each stage in more detail:
- Preparation of documents. You will need:
- 📋 Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation (or identity document for foreigners).
- 📋 Instructor's driver's license (if you are taking out a policy for his car).
- 📋 PTS or STS of a training vehicle.
- 📋 Agreement with a driving school (if you study there).
- 🔹 Policy type: “MTPL for training driving”.
- 🔹 Data of the training vehicle (make, model, year of manufacture).
- 🔹 Validity period (usually coincides with the training period).
- 🔹 Full name and contact information of the instructor.
- Payment. Most companies accept Visa/Mastercard, as well as e-wallets. Save your payment receipt!
- Obtaining a policy. The electronic policy arrives by email within 10–15 minutes. You can print it out or show it from your phone to the instructor.
What to do if the insurance company denies the policy?
If you have been refused insurance for driving lessons, check:
1. Data correctness — errors in the PTS or car passport can cause a refusal.
2. Availability of existing fines from an instructor or driving school (some companies block registration in case of debt).
3. Car model — insurance companies refuse if the car is older than 10 years or has a high risk of theft.
If all the data is correct, submit an application to another company or contact the Central Bank with a complaint about the unreasonable refusal.
Important: the policy must be issued before the first trip to practice. If the instructor allows you to drive without insurance, this is a violation of the law - in the event of an accident, the fault will fall on the driving school, and you may be deprived of the right to take exams.
What does cadet insurance cover: analysis of real cases
Many cadets mistakenly think that insurance will cover any damage caused during training. In practice there are nuances. Let's consider which situations are covered by the policy and which are not.
The insurance is valid only if two conditions are met: 1) a cadet with an instructor is driving; 2) the car is used exclusively for educational purposes.
What the policy covers:
- 🚘 Damage to third cars caused by a cadet (for example, if you hit a car in a parking lot).
- 🏥 Harm to the health of pedestrians or passengers of other vehicles.
- 🔧 Damage to the training vehicle, if it occurred due to the fault of the cadet (for example, hitting a pole while performing an exercise).
- 💥 Fire or explosion of a car during a training drive (extremely rare cases).
What the policy does NOT cover:
- 🚫 Damage caused intentionally (for example, if a cadet deliberately damaged the car).
- 🚫 Accidents that occurred without an instructor in the cabin.
- 🚫 Damage caused by a technical malfunction of the vehicle (for example, brake failure).
- 🚫 Traffic police fines for traffic violations.
An example from practice: a cadet from Novosibirsk lost control during a lesson and crashed into a fence. The damage to the training car amounted to 45,000 rubles. The insurance company paid 40,000 rubles, and the remaining 5,000 rubles (deductible) was paid by the cadet. If there were no deductible, the entire amount would be covered by the policy.
⚠️ Attention! If an instructor asks you to “ride a quiet route without insurance,” refuse. In the event of an accident, you may be found at fault, and the driving school may lose its license. All practical exercises must be recorded in training log indicating the route and time.
How to save on insurance when learning to drive: 5 proven ways
The cost of insurance can reach 10–15% of the total price of training. But there are legal ways to reduce costs without the risk of being left without a policy:
- Take out a policy for a minimum period. If you are confident that you will pass the exam in 2-3 months, take out insurance for this period, and not for a year. Savings - up to 30%.
- Choose driving schools with group insurance. Large schools (eg. "AutoMotoClub" or "Profi Drive") negotiate with insurance companies about discounts for cadets.
- Check for franchise availability. Policies without a franchise are more expensive, but if you are confident in your skills, you can save by choosing the option with a franchise of 3,000–5,000 rubles.
- Apply for a policy online. Virtual insurance (for example, "Tinkoff Insurance" or "Turtle") offer discounts of up to 10% for registration without visiting the office.
- Use cashback. Some banks (for example, Sberbank or Alfa-Bank) return up to 5% for purchasing insurance using the card.
An example of savings: a cadet from Kazan took out a policy through a driving school for 6,000 rubles. His friend independently chose an insurance company with cashback and a deductible of 3,000 rubles - the total cost was 4,800 rubles. The difference is 1,200 rubles under the same conditions.
If you are studying at automatic, check with your insurance company to see if there is a discount for a lower risk of an accident. Some companies reduce the tariff by 5–7% for cars with automatic transmission.
Another way to save money is training in a personal car. If you or your relatives have a car, you can take out a compulsory motor liability insurance policy marked “training driving” and study with a private instructor. This is beneficial if:
- 🔹 You already have a car and you are planning to take the exam with it.
- 🔹 You want to learn from a specific model (for example, Kia Rio or Hyundai Solaris).
- 🔹 It is more convenient for you to study on an individual schedule.
Frequent mistakes made by cadets when taking out insurance
Even experienced drivers sometimes make mistakes when purchasing a policy. And cadets, encountering insurance for the first time, risk running into scammers or losing money. Here are the most common mistakes:
- 📛 Unverified insurance companies. By taking out a policy in a little-known office, you risk receiving a “dummy” document - a document that will not cover damage. Check the company on the website Central Bank of the Russian Federation (section "Register of insurance organizations").
- 📅 Mismatch of deadlines. The policy must be valid for the entire period of study. If it expires a week before the exam, you will have to apply for a new one.
- 🚗 Incorrect vehicle data. An error in one character of the VIN or license plate number can invalidate the policy. Always check the data with the PTS.
- 💰 Ignoring the franchise. Some cadets do not read the contract and learn about the franchise only after an accident. Check this point in advance!
An example from practice: a cadet from the Rostov region took out a policy in a little-known company, which went bankrupt a month later. When he got into an accident, they refused to pay him. I had to resolve the issue through the court, which took 4 months.
⚠️ Attention! If the instructor requires you to take out a policy with a specific insurance company, check to see if there is any collusion between them. By law, you have the right to choose any accredited company. Refusal to accept another insurance policy is a reason to write a complaint to the traffic police.
To avoid problems:
- Always take an extended copy of the policy (with insurance rules and a list of risks).
- Make sure that the policy contains the note "
Training ride allowed". - Keep all receipts and correspondence with the insurance company.
What to do if an insured event occurs during training
Even if you follow all the rules, an accident can occur due to the fault of other road users. In this case, it is important to follow the algorithm to receive the payment:
Stop the car and turn on the hazard lights
Place a warning triangle (no closer than 15 m from the vehicle)
Call the traffic police (phone 102) or fill out a European protocol
Take photographs of the accident scene and damage
Notify the insurance company within 5 working days-->
Let's look at each step in more detail:
- Recording an accident. Use your phone to film:
- 📸 General plan of the accident site (with visible landmarks).
- 📸 Damage to all participants.
- 📸 Position of cars relative to markings and signs.
Put up an emergency stop sign - for not having one, the instructor may be fined 1,000 rubles (Part 1 Art. 12.27 Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).
Training ride".- 📋 Notification of an accident (if a European protocol was issued).
- 📋 Traffic police protocol (if inspectors were called).
- 📋 Passport and instructor license.
- 📋 OSAGO policy.
The application review period is up to 20 working days. If the insurance company delays payment or refuses without reason, file a complaint with RSA (Russian Union of Motor Insurers) through their website autoins.ru.
Example: a cadet from Krasnodar got into an accident due to the fault of another driver. The other party's insurance refused to pay, citing that the training vehicle could not be the injured party. After a complaint to the RSA, the payment was still made.
FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions about insurance to obtain a license
Is it possible to take the traffic police exam without insurance?
No. To pass a practical exam in a driving school or instructor's car, you must have a valid MTPL policy with a note indicating admission to training driving. If you pass on in your car, a standard OSAGO is sufficient, but there must be an instructor in the salon (or a person with a license of the appropriate category and at least 3 years of experience).
What happens if you drive a training car without insurance?
If the instructor allowed you to drive without a license, this is a violation Art. 12.37 Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. Fines:
- For the cadet: from 500 to 800 rubles.
- For the instructor: from 5,000 to 10,000 rubles.
- For driving school: up to 50,000 rubles or suspension of activities.
In addition, in the event of an accident, you and the instructor will bear all responsibility - the insurance company will refuse to pay.
Is it possible to get insurance for 1 day to take the exam?
Technically yes, but it's not profitable. Minimum insurance period for training driving - 3 days (in some companies - 5 days). The cost of such a policy will be 80–90% of the monthly tariff. If you are taking a traffic police test, check with the driving school to see if their group policy covers this day. Most often - yes.
Do I need insurance if I am learning on a moped (category M)?
Yes, but the rules are simpler. To learn on a moped or scooter, a standard MTPL policy for the vehicle is sufficient. Cadet insurance is not required, since mopeds are classified as low-risk vehicles. However, if you are studying at a driving school, check whether the cost of insurance is included in the total check.
Can I get my insurance money back if I change my mind about studying?
Yes, but with a commission deduction. According to Art. 958 Civil Code of the Russian Federation, you can terminate the insurance contract and return part of the premium in proportion to the unused period. The insurance company will retain:
- 🔹 23% of the amount for conducting the case (if the policy was valid for less than a month).
- 🔹 50% of the amount if you applied 1-3 months after registration.
To return, write an application to the insurance company and provide your passport, policy and transfer details.