Millions of Russian vehicles remain uninsured despite mandatory coverage laws

New data reveals that nearly 54.4 million compulsory motor insurance policies were issued in Russia last year. Despite this, a significant number of vehicles remain uninsured. Official figures show a gap between registered cars and those covered by mandatory insurance.

Russia's Interior Ministry reports that around 68 million vehicles are currently registered in the country. However, not all of these are actively driven—many are older models or abandoned cars left off the road.

According to estimates from the Russian Union of Auto Insurers (RSA), roughly 13.6 million vehicles lack the required third-party liability coverage. This means about 7–10% of drivers continue to operate without insurance, despite legal requirements. No official figures were provided for uninsured vehicles in 2024. Available records focus instead on unrelated cases, such as uninsured oil tankers used for exports or Ukrainian vehicles in Germany.

The discrepancy between registered and insured vehicles highlights ongoing challenges in enforcement. With 54.4 million policies issued, millions of cars still travel without mandatory coverage. Authorities have yet to address the issue with updated statistics or new measures.