Although compulsory car insurance has been in place in Russia since 2003, it remains unpopular in some sectors. Many older drivers allege that exorbitant premiums, which increased dramatically in 2015, have priced them out of the market.
All vehicles must be insured with at least third-party liability insurance in Russia, which covers you if someone brings a claim against you for vehicle damage, personal injury, or legal costs.
Comprehensive insurance, on the other hand, covers any damage to your own car caused by an accident, as well as damage caused by fire or theft. Because basic third-party insurance has such a narrow scope, many foreigners opt for completely comprehensive coverage.
In Russia, the cost of automobile insurance is determined by your policy, level of coverage, and driver profile. The cost of basic government-mandated coverage is roughly $65-75 per year.
For further information, see our guides to driving in Russia and getting a Russian driver’s license.
Social insurance
Employees and self-employed workers in Russia are required to pay social security contributions. If you’re employed, though, it’s up to your boss to resolve the situation. As a result, unless you are self-employed in Russia, you will not be required to make any arrangements.
Is insurance free in Russia?
The Russian government provides healthcare through the Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund, which is controlled by the Ministry of Health. Since 1993, the Russian Federation’s Constitution has guaranteed all citizens the right to free healthcare. In 2008, Russia’s healthcare system employed 621,000 doctors and 1.3 million nurses. In urban regions, there were 43.8 doctors per 10,000 people, but only 12.1 in rural areas. The number of general practitioners was 1.26 percent of the total number of doctors. There are nearly double the OECD average of 9.3 beds per thousand people.
In 2013, healthcare spending accounted for 6.5 percent of GDP, or US$957 per person. About 48% of the funding comes from the government, mostly from medical insurance deductions from salaries. Voluntary health insurance is used by about 5% of the population, especially in major cities.
In 2016, Russia’s overall population was 146.8 million people. The number of employed people in this population reached 72.3 million, with 99 different categories of productive and nonproductive activity. Due to the high mortality rate, significantly higher male mortality level, and a high prevalence of major noncommunicable diseases, especially those of the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems, world experts estimate the overall health of the Russian working population (men 18-60 years, women 18-55 years) to be rather low in modern conditions. According to official government figures, one out of every three Russian workers is exposed to hazardous working circumstances, with exposure levels in the workplace exceeding national hygiene norms. Occupational morbidity, on the other hand, remains extremely low in Russia. Only 8175 instances of occupational disorders were reported in 2014, corresponding to 5.5 cases per 100,000 in the general population, a rate far lower than that of several European countries.
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russian healthcare became a mix of public and private institutions. The quality of healthcare supplied by the state-run healthcare system has deteriorated as a result of severe funding cuts. This allowed more expensive private clinics to compete by promoting themselves as delivering higher-quality treatment. Privatization was no longer a priority when Boris Yeltsin retired, with Vladimir Putin restoring more financing to the state-owned healthcare system. Throughout the 2000s, the state’s healthcare system improved dramatically, with health spending per person jumping from $96 in 2000 to $957 in 2013.
Since 2014, severe cuts in health spending have resulted in a reduction in the quality of service provided by the public healthcare system, owing to the Russian financial crisis. Around 40% of basic medical facilities have fewer employees than they are expected to, with others closing. Treatment wait times have gotten longer, and patients have had to pay for more services that were previously free.
Does the average Russian own a car?
In Russia in 2005, there were only 180 cars per 1,000 people. Since then, the number of automobiles has significantly increased. Subsidies were granted to encourage new automobile sales in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. From 2010 to 2014, new car sales increased to roughly 2.6 million per year. Car sales fell to roughly 1.6 million in 2015 due to the economic downturn. Last year, only 1.4 million new cars were sold. The number of automobiles on the road, on the other hand, is anticipated to continue to rise as the number of cars in relation to Russia’s overall population remains low. In EU countries, the average car ownership rate is around 500 cars per 1,000 people. In Russia, the equivalent figure is currently around 315 per 1,000 people.
Because an increasing percentage of cars sold in Russia are made domestically, the market share of imported vehicles has dropped to roughly 25%. Because of the increasing market and tighter domestic-content rules, many multinational automakers have built their own production lines or purchased shares in Russian automakers. The most well-known example is Renault-purchase Nissan’s of a majority share in Avtovaz in 2014. Avtovaz is the manufacturer of Lada, Russia’s best-selling car. Daimler, the newest player on the scene, revealed in February that it intends to construct a Mercedes-Benz automobile assembly factory in the Moscow region. When Daimler’s new facility is factored in, Russia currently has 17 foreign automaker assembly factories. Over half of all automobiles sold in Russia are imported brands that are built in the country.
Because of the new assembly plants, some wasteful domestic production has been eliminated, and the automobile industry today employs less than 190,000 people. Almost a million Russians are employed in the manufacturing of all types of vehicles and parts, which accounts for slightly less than 15% of all manufacturing occupations. The automobile industry has just entered the list of businesses receiving top priority under the government’s subsidies program. In 2017, the government budget set out 62 billion rubles (1 billion) for the vehicle industry, which will be distributed through a variety of support programs. The government’s goal is to boost domestic production while also increasing exports of Russian-made vehicles. Because production is tailored exclusively for the Russian market, assembly plants have little interest in exporting at the moment. Because most components are still imported from overseas, the devaluation of the ruble has had little impact on the competitiveness of Russian cars on foreign markets. Russia exported 68,000 passenger cars in 2016, a 50 percent decrease from 2014.
All cars sold in Russia or imported into Russia must be equipped with a Russian ERA-GLONASS alarm system as of the beginning of this year. For imported secondhand autos, the regulation is extremely pricey. Domestic laws like this do little to help export attempts.
How much is insurance in Russia?
Private health insurance in Russia costs anything from 10,000 to 45,000 rubles per year, depending on the number of medical establishments and services covered.
How does insurance work in Russia?
Since 1996, Russia’s constitution has guaranteed citizens the right to free healthcare. Russia’s healthcare is supplied through the Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund, which is funded by the government. The Ministry of Health is in charge of it. OMI, or obligatory medical insurance, is the name given to Russia’s public health-care system. It is supported by both employee and employer contributions.
Inpatient treatment and any procedures that require an overnight stay in the hospital are covered by OMI, as well as chronic conditions, maternal and newborn care, vaccines, and other services.
Is college free in Russia?
In Russia, the Ministry of Education and Science regulates education and provides the majority of educational services. Within the framework of federal laws, regional authorities oversee education within their borders. Russia’s education spending increased from 2.7 percent of GDP in 2005 to 3.8 percent in 2013, although it still falls short of the OECD average of 5.2 percent.
Prior to 1990, the Soviet Union’s school training program lasted ten years, but by the end of 1990, an 11-year program was formally implemented. Education in state-run secondary schools is free; first-year postsecondary (university) education is also free, with the exception that a large percentage of students pay full tuition. In all phases of education, male and female students have equal representation, with the exception of postsecondary education, where women have a 57 percent share.
According to a 2015 estimate by the US Central Intelligence Agency, Russia’s literacy rate is 99.7%. (99.7 percent for men, 99.6 percent for women). According to a 2016 OECD estimate, 54 percent of Russian individuals (aged 25 to 64) have completed a postsecondary degree, placing Russia second among 35 OECD member nations in terms of tertiary education completion. 47.7% have completed secondary school (the entire 11-year course); 26.5 percent have completed middle school (9 years); and 8.1 percent have completed elementary school (at least 4 years). Women aged 35 to 39 years had the highest rates of higher education (24.7 percent) (compared to 19.5 percent for men of the same age bracket).
Russia has some of the smallest class sizes and the shortest instructional hours per year when compared to other OECD countries.
Russia’s education was ranked 8th in Europe and 13th in the world by the Pearson/Economist Intelligence Unit in 2014; Russia’s educational attainment was ranked 21st in the world, and students’ cognitive skills were ranked 9th.
Is Russian healthcare good?
In Russia, healthcare is a challenge. For a country that was once acclaimed for having one of the best healthcare systems in the world, the best description now is that it provides a fair standard of treatment. Russia’s health-care system is ranked 58th out of 89 nations in the 2021 Health Care Index, with a relatively low infrastructure quality score. Based on the effectiveness of governmental healthcare systems, a Bloomberg survey puts Russian healthcare worst out of 55 developed countries. This is a significant reversal of fortune for a country that was once regarded as one of the most innovative and scientifically advanced in the world. While there are some signs of development, Russia’s healthcare system is beset by difficulties.
What is the highest paying job in Russia?
Surgeons, with an average monthly compensation of 386 thousand Russian rubles in 2021, were first on the list of highest-paying professions in Russia. Judges came in second, with an average monthly salary of 324 thousand Russian rubles.
What is the average income of a Russian?
Russia’s average nominal monthly wage from 1998 through 2020 In 2020, the average nominal pay in Russia was estimated to be over 51.1 thousand Russian rubles per month, up over 3.2 thousand Russian rubles from the previous year.
Is it cheaper to live in Russia?
Living in Russia is relatively inexpensive, with a monthly budget of $150 to $200 sufficing for a single student. The most costly cities in the world to live in are St. Petersburg and Moscow.
Can a foreigner buy a car in Russia?
When buying a car in Russia, it is frequently suggested to buy from a well-known car dealer rather than from small dealers or private persons located through word of mouth or newspaper advertisements. Even if the documentation appears to be in order, buying a car privately provides no guarantee of quality.
On the day of purchase, some new cars can be driven straight from the dealership. Other models may necessitate placing an order, which could result in a 3-4 month wait for delivery. Local brands, such as Lada, are popular among Russian drivers because they are less expensive than foreign ones, however opinions on the level of comfort, reliability, and safety supplied varies. As a result, expats are more likely to purchase overseas brands. Due to import duties, cars manufactured in Russia may be less expensive than cars manufactured elsewhere.
Cash, credit or debit card, or bank transfer are the most common methods of payment. Cheques aren’t often accepted in Russia. A bank or a dealer may be able to help with financing.
All major foreign vehicle brands have dealers in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as most important cities around Russia. The websites listed below provide information on purchasing a new car, including price comparisons, financing alternatives, insurance, and maintenance options. Some sites feature two versions Russian and English but the majority are entirely in Russian, necessitating language expertise or assistance.
Information Websites
The following pricing comparison websites, while in Russian, provide a comprehensive list of all brands available in Russia:
- Yandex Is a list of 34 websites where you can compare new and secondhand automobile costs online.
Foreign nationals must produce a valid ID (passport) as well as proof of a visa and a residence permit in order to purchase a car. In most cases, new car dealers will aid with registration.
- The Guide to Registering a New or Used Car provides an outline of what is involved in registering a new or used car.