Check KBM online:
how to control and optimize expenses on MTPL Automatic translate

In the world of car insurance, the bonus-malus coefficient (KBM) affects the cost of an MTPL policy. This important indicator reflects your driving history and can significantly affect your insurance costs. In order to save money and find good deals, it is worth paying close attention to the choice of policy, for example, buying car insurance online can be a convenient option. In this article, we will take a detailed look at how to check the KBM online, why it is important, and how to use this information to optimize your insurance costs.

What is KBM and why is it important?

KBM is a coefficient that takes into account your insurance history when calculating the cost of your MTPL policy. It can vary from 0.5 (maximum discount of 50%) to 2.45 (maximum surcharge of 145%). The better your driving history, the lower the KBM and, accordingly, the cheaper the insurance. If you are considering the option where unlimited MTPL insurance may be more convenient, it is important to understand how the KBM will affect the final cost of the policy.

The importance of KBM is difficult to overestimate:

• Financial impact: KBM can either reduce the cost of your MTPL policy by half or increase it by almost 2.5 times.
• Reflection of your driving style: A low KBM indicates that you drive without accidents.
• Long-Term Savings: With each year of accident-free driving, your KBM improves, resulting in significant savings in the long run.

How to check KBM online?

There are several ways to check your KBM online, but the most reliable and official is to check through the website of the Russian Union of Auto Insurers (RSA). Here are step-by-step instructions:

1. Go to the official website of the Russian Union of Motor Insurers (www.autoins.ru).
2. Find the “Services” section and select “KBM Check”.
3. Fill out the form, indicating:
   • Type of document (Russian passport, driver’s license, etc.)
   • Series and document number
   • Date of birth
4. Please enter the captcha to confirm that you are not a robot.
5. Click the "Check KBM" button.

After completing these steps, the system will display your current KBM class and the corresponding coefficient. It is important to note that the data on the RSA website is updated daily, which ensures that the information is up-to-date.

Alternative ways to check KBM online

In addition to the official RSA website, there are other ways to find out your KBM online:

• Through insurance company websites: Many large insurers provide the ability to check the KBM on their websites. This is convenient if you plan to issue an OSAGO policy with a specific company.
• Online calculators of OSAGO: Various aggregators and services for comparing insurance services often include a function for checking the KBM in their calculators. This allows you not only to find out your KBM, but also to immediately calculate the approximate cost of the policy from different insurers.
• Mobile apps: Some insurance companies and aggregators offer mobile apps with the KBM check function. This is especially convenient if you need to quickly get information about your KBM anywhere and anytime.
• Through the State Services portal: Although the portal itself does not provide a direct way to check the KBM, it can be useful for confirming your identity when using other online KBM checking services.

It is important to remember that when using alternative methods of checking the KBM, the data may differ slightly from the official information in the RSA database. Therefore, it is always recommended to double-check the information on the official RSA website, especially before issuing a new OSAGO policy.

What to do if you find an error in your KBM?

Sometimes when checking your KBM online, you may find that your coefficient does not correspond to your actual driving history. This can happen for various reasons, including technical errors in the RSA database, incorrect transfer of information by insurance companies, or even attempts at insurance fraud.

If you think your KBM is calculated incorrectly, here’s what you need to do:

1. Gather documents: Prepare copies of all your MTPL policies for the last 3 years, as well as any documents confirming the absence of insurance payments due to your fault.
2. Contact the insurance company: Write an application for adjustment of the KBM to your current or last insurance company. Attach the collected documents.
3. Wait for a response: By law, the insurance company is obliged to consider your request within 5 working days.
4. Contact the RSA: If the insurance company refuses to correct the error or you are not satisfied with their response, the next step is to contact the RSA. You will need to write an official complaint, attaching all documents and correspondence with the insurer.
5. Check the result: After making changes, wait 1-2 days and check your KBM again on the RSA website. Make sure that the changes were made correctly.

Remember that the process of restoring the correct KBM may take some time, from several days to several weeks. Be persistent and patient, because the correct KBM can significantly reduce your insurance costs.

How to improve your KBM?

Once you have learned how to check your KBM online, the next logical step is to work on improving it. Here are some strategies that will help you reduce your KBM and, accordingly, the cost of your MTPL policy:

• Accident-free driving: This is a key factor in improving your KBM. Every year without an accident due to your fault leads to a decrease in the coefficient.
• Regular insurance: Try to avoid interruptions in insurance for more than 1 year, as this may lead to the KBM returning to the base value of 1.0.
• Choosing the optimal insurance period: If you rarely use your car, consider taking out a policy for a shorter period, this may be more profitable in terms of the KBM.
• Be careful when filling out the policy: Make sure that all your details are correct, especially if you have recently changed your documents.
• Regular KBM check: Periodically check your KBM online to notice and correct possible errors in time.

Features of KBM for novice drivers

If you are new to the road, it is especially important for you to understand how the KBM system works and how you can use it to your advantage:

Feature Description Initial KBM All novice drivers start with a coefficient of 1, which corresponds to class 3 in the KBM system. Rapid improvement With accident-free driving, a novice’s KBM can improve faster than that of experienced drivers. After just one year of accident-free driving, your KBM can drop to 0.95. Caution is critical For beginners, even one accident can significantly worsen the KBM, so it is especially important to avoid accidents. Regular practice The more you drive, the faster you gain experience, which indirectly affects your accident-free record and, consequently, your KBM. Additional training Consider taking additional courses to improve your driving skills. Although this does not directly affect the KBM, it can help avoid accidents.

KBM when changing insurance company

Many drivers are interested in the question: will their KBM be preserved when switching to another insurer? The answer is yes, it will be preserved. KBM is your personal indicator, which is not tied to a specific insurance company. Here’s what you need to know about preserving KBM when changing insurers:

1. Unified database: Information about the KBM of all drivers is stored in the centralized RSA database, to which all insurance companies have access.
2. Automatic update: When you issue a new MTPL policy, the insurance company automatically requests information about your KBM from a single database.
3. Check before changing: Before switching to a new insurer, it is recommended that you independently check your KBM on the RSA website to ensure that the data is correct.
4. Providing accurate information: When applying for a policy with a new company, it is important to provide accurate information about previous MTPL policies.
5. Correcting errors: If, when switching to a new insurer, you discover an error in your KBM, contact your previous insurance company or RSA to correct it.

The Importance of Regular Online KBM Checking

Regular monitoring of your KBM via online services is not just a useful habit, but a necessity for every responsible driver. Here’s why it’s so important:

1. Expense control: Knowing your current KBM, you can more accurately predict the cost of your MTPL policy and plan your budget.
2. Timely detection of errors: Regular online checking allows you to quickly identify and correct possible inaccuracies in the RSA database.
3. Motivation for accident-free driving: Seeing how your KBM improves during online checks gives you an additional incentive to drive carefully.
4. Optimization of insurance payments: Knowing your current KBM, you can choose the most advantageous offer among different insurance companies.
5. Preparing to apply for a policy: Up-to-date information about the KBM, obtained online, will help avoid misunderstandings when purchasing OSAGO insurance.

It is recommended to check your KBM online at least once every six months, and also before applying for a new MTPL policy.

Conclusion

The ability to check the KBM online is a powerful tool that allows drivers to control their insurance history and influence the cost of MTPL. Regular online checking of the KBM, combined with accident-free driving and understanding the mechanisms of the MTPL system, helps not only save on insurance, but also improve the overall driving culture.

Remember that your KBM is a reflection of your driving style and attitude to road safety. Using online services to check KBM, comparing offers from different insurance companies and paying close attention to your insurance history, you can optimize your MTPL expenses and make using your vehicle more profitable and safer.

Be careful on the road, regularly check your KBM online, and let your trips be safe and cost-effective!

How KBM changes over time

To better understand how your accident-free driving affects your KBM and, accordingly, the cost of insurance, consider the following table. It shows how the driver class and the corresponding KBM change with accident-free driving over several years.

KBM class Accident-free driving period Discount/surcharge M 2.45 – +145% 0 1.55 – +55% 1 1.4 – +40% 2 1.1 – +10% 3 1.0 Entry class 0% 4 0.95 1 year -5% 5 0.9 2 years -10% 6 0.85 3 years -15% 7 0.8 4 years -20% 8 0.75 5 years -25% 9 0.7 6 years -30% 10 0.65 7 years -35% 11 0.6 8 years -40% 12 0.55 9 years -45% 13 0.5 10 years and more -50%

This table clearly shows how with each year of accident-free driving your KBM decreases, which leads to an increase in the discount on OSAGO insurance. Starting with class 3 (the initial class for new drivers), you can gradually improve your KBM up to a maximum 50% discount after 10 years of accident-free driving.

It is important to note that in the event of an accident due to your fault, your class may be downgraded, which will lead to an increase in the KBM and, accordingly, the cost of insurance. Therefore, safe driving not only saves lives and health, but also allows you to save significantly on insurance.