Do I need a diagnostic card when applying for compulsory motor liability insurance?

Table of contents

• What is a diagnostic card
• Who doesn't need it
• How to get
• Is it possible to get it online
• Why can they refuse?
• Buy a card without maintenance
• Get OSAGO without a diagnostic card
• Recover a lost card

Inspection rules change from October 1, 2021

The Russian government announced that amendments to the law on technical inspection will come into force on October 1, 2021. Previously, it was planned to change the maintenance procedure in March, but the deadline was pushed back due to the pandemic. We will update the article as soon as changes are made. Now the information in it is relevant.

When can you get compulsory motor insurance without maintenance?

Today, owners of vehicles no older than three years can apply for compulsory motor liability insurance without mandatory maintenance and submitting a diagnostic card to the insurance company. The age of the car is calculated from the moment of assembly (the year of manufacture is indicated in the title). Cars from 3 to 7 years old must undergo maintenance once every 2 years, over 7 years old - annually.

updated rules were supposed to come into effect . But due to the pandemic, the changes will take effect on March 1, 2021. The main changes will affect the frequency of maintenance. Owners of cars under 4 years old will be able to obtain compulsory motor insurance without a maintenance or diagnostic card. Cars from 4 to 10 years old will have to undergo inspection every 2 years, over 10 years old - annually.

The following changes will take effect from March 2021:

1. Employees of an accredited service center will take photographs of the MOT (car before and after). Photos taken at a maximum distance of 500 m from an accredited car service center will be uploaded, along with the coordinates of the shooting location, directly to EAISTO. It will also record the time of arrival and departure of the car.
2. For late technical inspection and lack of a legitimate diagnostic card, you will have to pay a fine (2000 rubles).
3. The traffic police inspector will be able to cancel the diagnostic card on the spot if the document is counterfeit or the vehicle is found to not comply with safety requirements. Within 3 days, the information is transferred to the RSA, the insurer and the owner.
4. Each diagnostic report will be signed by a technical expert (using an enhanced electronic signature). At the request of the vehicle owner, a paper version will be printed.

From January 1, 2021, mandatory maintenance is canceled for trailers weighing up to 3.5 tons owned by individuals.

What is a diagnostic card

A diagnostic card is the result of a technical inspection of a car. The inspection is carried out by accredited service stations. Thanks to the technical inspection, the driver and other road users are confident that the wheel of the truck will not fall off, and the brakes of the bus with children will not fail.

They will not sell an MTPL policy without a diagnostic card. The fine for driving without a policy is 800 rubles.

When to undergo technical inspection. It depends on how old the car is:

• from 4 to 10 years - every two years;
• over 10 years old, and also if it is a taxi or bus under 5 years old - annually;
• taxis and buses over 5 years old and truck trailers - every six months.

What changes from October 1, 2021. Diagnostic cards are becoming electronic. Information about cards is already stored in a unified automated information system (UAISTO). From October 2021, paper cards will be cancelled.

If it turns out that the driver received the old card without inspection, it will be declared invalid and information about this will be entered into the EAISTO. The company that issued such a document will receive a fine.

At the inspection station, information about the car, PTS data are written down on the card, an opinion is given and a stamp is placed. Using this card, the driver can obtain an MTPL policy

Technical inspection or diagnostic card?

Back in the early 2000s, under the windshield of each car you could see multi-colored coupons with large numbers for the current year and a “stamped” circle on one of the edges of the card, corresponding to the month of the inspection. In 2011, coupons were abolished, and later (on January 1, 2012, Law No. 170-FZ “On technical inspection of vehicles and on amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation” came into force) they were replaced by diagnostic cards.

technical inspection

A service station employee performs a technical inspection of a vehicle.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Alexander Kryazhev

Author of the quote

Technical inspection (MOT) is a procedure for checking the technical condition of a car, as well as their parts and elements of additional equipment, for compliance with mandatory vehicle safety requirements in order to allow vehicles to participate in road traffic on the territory of the Russian Federation, as well as beyond its borders. Due to the fact that government agencies are responsible for road safety, they have the right to set strict requirements for the condition of cars, and the procedure itself is under the control of the state or organizations authorized by it.

Since then, without a document on the technical condition of the car, it has become impossible to issue a motor third party liability insurance contract, without which the operation of the vehicle is prohibited.

Auto expert called technical inspection a rudiment

Let us remind you that, unlike service, the timing of which is regulated by the car manufacturer, passing a technical inspection is a kind of certification that the vehicle is in good working order, and its use is safe and does not pose a threat to either the driver or others. In addition, without a valid technical inspection, a car simply will not be insured, and driving without a compulsory motor liability insurance policy is an administrative offense, punishable by a fine of 500–800 rubles.

Who doesn't need a diagnostic card

If 4 years have not passed since the car was released, a vehicle diagnostic card is not needed.

Also, the law on compulsory motor liability insurance states that owners of several types of vehicles may not receive a policy, which means they do not undergo technical inspection:

• motorcycles that are prohibited from driving on public roads, such as off-road motorcycles;
• wheeled and tracked vehicles of the Russian Armed Forces;
• car trailers;
• tracked vehicles. For example, a bulldozer.

Is a technical inspection required for compulsory motor liability insurance in 2021?

Not all vehicle owners know whether a technical inspection is required for compulsory motor liability insurance in 2021. But this topic is relevant, and you need to think about it in advance. Road safety is a national priority today. In order to exclude the facts of operation of faulty vehicles, control over its condition was transferred to Rostransnadzor in 2021. One of his first decisions was to introduce mandatory vehicle inspection.

This requirement does not violate the law, since it is stated in paragraph 3 of Art. 15 Federal Law No. 40 “On OSAGO” dated April 25, 2002. In accordance with the provisions of the regulatory act, a technical inspection is a necessary condition for purchasing a motor vehicle policy. At the same time, in Art. 15 No. 170-FZ stipulates that this provision is not mandatory for vehicles under three years old.

Thus, a diagnostic card for MTPL in 2021 must be purchased by drivers whose equipment was manufactured before 2021 inclusive. For its absence, owners of minibuses, trucks, taxis, buses and special vehicles may be punished with a fine of 500-800 rubles. At the same time, insurance without a vehicle diagnostic card is valid. But, for its absence, there is also a fine of 800 rubles.

To understand what a diagnostic card for MTPL is, you need to know what needs to be checked to obtain it.

The specialist diagnoses the presence and condition of the following parts and mechanisms of the vehicle:

• government number;
• fire extinguisher;
• first aid kit;
• seat belts;
• warning triangle;
• exhaust toxicity;
• level of special liquids;
• mirrors;
• glass;
• seats;
• lighting;
• locks;
• steering system;
• brakes;
• signal;
• windscreen wipers.

Based on the results of the check, the driver is issued a diagnostic card. It is a formalized form that provides an assessment of the condition of 65 positions. At the bottom, a conclusion is given about the serviceability of the vehicle.

Note! The conclusion of the service station is not a reason to prohibit further operation of the car. But the insurance company may refuse to sell the policy or apply a very high increasing factor.

How to get a diagnostic card

Select a technical inspection point. Find your nearest service point on the website of the Russian Union of Auto Insurers (RUA).

Car owners have the right to receive a vehicle diagnostic card in any region. Also, starting from October 2021, mobile maintenance points will appear where there are no stationary ones, for example, in remote areas of the region or region.

Collect documents. Take your civil passport, STS or PTS with you.

Pay. The price depends on the type of car. For cars - from 500 to 1000 rubles, for trucks and buses - from 1600 rubles. Technical station employees are required to calculate the exact cost using the formula recommended by the Federal Tariff Service.

Wait until the work is completed. All components and assemblies must be checked:

• brake systems,
• steering,
• external lighting devices,
• windshield wipers and washers,
• tires and wheels,
• engine and its systems.

All work takes about an hour.

If an operator’s computer breaks down or access to the database is lost, starting October 1, 2021, he is required to enter the diagnostic card number and other data into the EAISTO within 24 hours and draw up a report of the technical problem. In addition, the operator is prohibited from accepting new machines onto the line until the problems are corrected. This means that if you arrive at the service point, but there is no access to the EAISTO database, there is no point in waiting. The operator will not be able to complete the inspection, issue a card and release the machine from the line until access to the base is available.

Get an electronic card - from October 1, 2021. If the car meets all safety requirements, the center employee will enter information about this, along with a photograph of the car and coordinates, into the EAISTO and certify it with a qualified signature. Previously, information could be entered into the database within 24 hours; now this must be done immediately upon completion of work. Internet access must be constant.

The validity period of the card will begin from the moment the information is in the database, and not from the day the card is issued.

At the request of the car owner, they can also issue a paper copy of the diagnostic card. It's free.

The procedure for obtaining a diagnostic card for MTPL

Not all drivers know where to undergo a technical inspection and issue a diagnostic card for an MTPL policy, believing that to do this they can stop at the first service station they come across. In fact, this procedure can only be legally carried out by organizations that have a special license. These may be inspection points, specialized service stations and dealership centers. Such points have a full set of diagnostic equipment, with the help of which the test is carried out quickly and the results are extremely accurate.

When you need a diagnostic card, you should not delay the examination process until the last day. It may well happen that the queue will be booked several days in advance or the point will be closed for some reason. We must also remember about the quarantine restrictions in force in the country. Therefore, it is recommended to call the diagnostic center and make an appointment for a specific date and time.

Article on the topic: Features of car repair under OSAGO in 2021, rules and deadlines

You should also properly prepare your vehicle for the inspection.

You need to do the following:

1. Wash the chassis, body, and clean the interior well.
2. If you have airbrushing, paint it over with washable paint. Drawings may be regarded as a violation of the appearance of the car.
3. Remove the tint film so that it covers no more than 30% of the glass.
4. Remove devices and decorations not provided by the manufacturer and for which there is no permission.
5. Change technical fluids, gaskets, seals, spark plugs, lamps and other consumables that may cause a negative rating.

In conclusion, you need to collect the necessary documents, put everything aside and go to an important event.

Important! If there are doubts or suspicions about the presence of malfunctions, it is better to eliminate them in advance. You should not hope that the master will be able to persuade him not to include them in the map. A sane person would not take on such responsibility even for money. In the event of an accident, he may be involved as one of the culprits.

You can read more about the features of the diagnostic card for MTPL here.

Required documents and technical data

Passing a technical inspection is purely voluntary; no one has the right to force a driver to spend their time and money on it. However, this cannot be avoided, since the absence of a diagnostic card is considered a violation and an integral condition for the purchase of compulsory motor liability insurance.

In addition to the car itself and the driver, you will need to submit the following documents to the diagnostic center:

• passport;
• rights;
• certificate of ownership;
• vehicle registration certificate;
• general power of attorney, if the owner cannot come himself.

The reason for the inspection is the statement of the driver. It is written in free form or by filling out a formalized form developed by various organizations to speed up and simplify the process of documenting the procedure.

Note! Diagnostics takes several hours. It is recommended to think in advance about what to do with yourself during this time. It is best to join a master who will tell you a lot of interesting things and give a lot of useful tips.

Cost of vehicle inspection and timing of obtaining a diagnostic card

There is no single tariff for maintenance; the price is determined locally and averages 600 ± 100 rubles. Motorcycles will cost between 200-300 rubles, and trucks 800-1600, depending on the tonnage. In principle, this is not much even for representatives of the low-income class of the population.

MTPL insurance is much more expensive, so the procedure for obtaining a diagnostic card can be considered an inexpensive formality.

One nuance needs to be taken into account here. If deficiencies are discovered, 20 days are usually given to eliminate them. During the vehicle inspection during this period, only those parts and assemblies that were found to be non-compliant will be examined. But you will have to pay the same amount as the first time. If the driver does not meet the allotted time, then a full inspection will be carried out, and it is not a fact that the parts that were in good working order will no longer be so.

Related article: Peculiarities of driving without an MTPL insurance policy after purchasing a car

Important! Every day you drive without a card is fraught with fines. If there are too many of them, the license plates may be removed from the car, and it will be taken at the owner’s expense by a tow truck to the impound area.

Is it possible to get a diagnostic card online?

It is not yet possible to obtain a diagnostic inspection card online. All offers on the Internet on this topic are deception and attempts to lure money. If you bought a card online, check its authenticity on the EAISTO website.

In the same way, the insurance company will check it when the driver buys a compulsory motor liability insurance policy. If it turns out that the card is invalid, the policy will not be issued.

To check the diagnostic card, enter its number in the last field and click “Check”

What does a diagnostic inspection card look like?

After successfully passing the technical inspection, the car owner is issued a diagnostic card. The document is in A4 format, filled out on both sides and certified with a signature and seal. What does a vehicle inspection look like? Photo below.

The diagnostic card contains the results of the vehicle inspection. If, after checking the vehicle, a specialist notices malfunctions, the driver must eliminate them and go through the procedure again. But you will have to pay again for a new attempt.

Car owners should know that when applying for compulsory motor liability insurance, insurance company employees check the data entered in the diagnostic card against a special database of the union of motor insurers. So if someone decides to falsify a document and produce it themselves, the deception will be exposed.

Experienced drivers remember what a vehicle inspection ticket looks like. But in 2019, such a compact document is no longer issued. Its analogue, a diagnostic card, introduced in 2012 along with the reform of the technical inspection system, contains the following points:

1. Diagnostic card registration number.
2. Its validity period.
3. Information about the technical inspection operator - the name of the organization, its number in the register and address.
4. Information about the type of inspection (primary or repeated).
5. Car registration numbers and VIN.
6. Frame and body numbers.
7. Car make and model.
8. Vehicle category.
9. The year in which the car left the assembly line.

After the introductory block there are 69 technical parameters of the machine, each of which was checked during the technical inspection. If at least one point does not meet the standard, the specialist will note in the document that the vehicle cannot be operated.

A separate block indicates the weight of the car without load, the permissible maximum weight, the type of fuel and braking system, the mileage of the car and what brand of tires are installed.

The document is completed by the date of inspection and the date of the next inspection, the full name of the expert, his signature and the seal of the enterprise. To clearly demonstrate what a technical inspection looks like, the document is presented below.

A vehicle diagnostic card is an official document that must be filled out in the form prescribed by law and has a clear structure.

Why can they refuse?

If the car does not meet safety requirements, the technical inspection operator will send the driver to correct the deficiencies.

Tuning. This may include tinting, non-certified gas equipment, and other illegal design changes.

Malfunction. An oil leak, an excessively noisy exhaust, non-functioning wipers or a non-functioning seat belt are all reasons for refusing to issue a diagnostic card.

No first aid kit or fire extinguisher. The technical regulations of the Customs Union on vehicle safety say that the car must have a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit.

The period for correcting defects is 20 days. If the driver plans to undergo a second inspection at the same center, he can only pay for checking the components that were faulty.

The VIN number on the car and in the documents do not match. If the individual license plates of the car, the design of the body, frame or cabin do not correspond to the entries in the documents for the car, the diagnostic center employee will refuse to check and make a note in the EAISTO indicating the reasons for the refusal. Before October 1, 2021, he would have simply refused the driver the procedure without any records. If such a driver decides to go to another center, he will be refused right away - before all checks are completed.

If during the check it turns out that the citizen received the previous card without undergoing inspection, it will be canceled and information about this will be entered into the EAISTO. The center that issued such a card will be punished with a fine.

Checking the diagnostic card for authenticity

You should always be sure of the authenticity of your documents, including the diagnostic card. Organizations that issue it must have a license. After filling it out and signing, all data is entered into the EAISTO database. This is where you can find out all the information about the card, its validity period, and authenticity. If the card is not included in the database, this indicates that the document is fake. During an insured event, it may cause non-payment of insurance.

Expert opinion

Ivan Strahovsky

Insurance expert

OSAGO calculator

To verify for yourself the authenticity of the card, you need to go to the EAISTO website and enter the necessary data about your transport. After a while you will receive complete information. Traffic police officers will also check your documents.

Remember

1. To receive a diagnostic card, undergo a technical inspection. It will take about an hour, costs from 500 to 1000 rubles.
2. After all checks, information about the car, date and location will be entered into the EAISTO database. A paper copy of the card can be issued, but only at the driver’s request.
3. They will not give a card if the VIN code under the hood and in the documents do not match, the car has unregistered tuning, malfunctions, or does not have a first aid kit with a fire extinguisher.
4. If it turns out that the driver received the previous card without undergoing maintenance, the document will be cancelled.
5. The diagnostic card cannot be purchased online. Vehicle inspection centers do not legally sell cards like this. If the center issues such a card, it will receive a fine.
6. If you have lost your diagnostic card, contact the same center that issued the original. A duplicate costs from 50 to 100 rubles.

All articles by the author: Evgeniy Lesnov

How to check the authenticity of a diagnostic card

Many drivers may be interested in the possibility of forging a diagnostic card, fortunately this is not at all difficult to do. It is enough to take a photograph of the original document of your friend and acquaintance, and then process it in Photoshop. However, such paper can only pass visual inspection. All inspection results are entered into the electronic database of the EAISTO State Traffic Safety Inspectorate and fraud can be detected in a matter of seconds.

To check the authenticity of your card, you need to go to the database, enter its number and wait for the result. You should know that information appears in the system within three days after entry.

How long is a diagnostic card valid?

The content and form of this document were developed and approved by the Government. When registering, the period during which the DC is valid is regulated. It will be different for different machines. For vehicles manufactured and in use on roads for more than seven years, car owners are provided with a card valid for one year.

Owners of cars whose operating period, from the date of production by the car plant to the date of contact with the maintenance operator, is less than seven years, receive a document valid for two years. Vehicles transporting people must be used for a period of 6 months, and then undergo diagnostics again. But a car that has just rolled off the factory assembly line is exempt from technical inspection. A certificate of registration is not issued for such a vehicle.

The following transport is also exempt from this during the preparation of documents for OSAGO and CASCO:

• passenger cars less than three years old from the date of manufacture;
• newly launched trucks with a payload capacity of less than four tons;
• trailers, semi-trailers that have not yet been used;
• technical means of a motorcycle group intended for movement.

When drawing up a contract, each car owner must simultaneously enter into a compulsory motor liability insurance agreement. A mandatory clause must specify the validity period of the document. If an accident occurs, the amount of monetary compensation stipulated by the insurance will be paid in full for this period.

Is it possible to get insurance without a diagnostic card?

If the owner of the car has not passed the MOT, he can still apply for compulsory motor liability insurance

. The insurance company will issue him a temporary policy valid for 20 days. Its cost is approximately 20% of the price of regular insurance. Such insurance is necessary for the driver to transport the vehicle to a service station for technical inspection or to the place where it will be registered. If it takes more than 20 days to complete the technical inspection, the temporary policy will have to be reissued.

Owners of cars whose age does not exceed 3 years (from March 2021 - 4 years) will be issued compulsory motor vehicle insurance without a diagnostic card.

The policy will be valid for 1 year. The new rules for passing a technical inspection will take effect in March 2021. The postponement of the entry into force of the law adopted by the State Duma in the fall of 2019 is due to the difficult situation with the coronavirus pandemic. Until March 2021, drivers will be able to apply for compulsory motor liability insurance without diagnostic cards.

For how long is a diagnostic card issued?

The validity period of the diagnostic card depends on the type of vehicle and its age:

From March 2021, vehicles will have to undergo maintenance:

1. Cars, semi-trailers, trucks, motorcycles, trailers up to 3.5 tons, age 4 – 10 years – once every 2 years.
2. Cars over 10 years old – once a year.
3. Buses, trucks from 3.5 tons, passenger cars from 8 seats, passenger taxis, training vehicles, vehicles transporting dangerous goods, with special equipment. signals age from 5 years – once every six months.
4. Taxi up to 5 years – once a year.