CAUTION – your car may get stolen in Russia
CAUTION – your car may get stolen in Russia
The statistical data of BTA Kindlustus indicate that the number of people travelling to Russia by personal car has increased in recent years, and the number of thefts and staged thefts of cars with Estonian number plates has also increased accordingly. As the usual comprehensive insurance contracts offered by insurance companies generally do not cover the risks associated with Russia, drivers should consider taking out extra cover that does offer protection against these risks, said the manager of the Estonian branch of SE BTA Olavi Laido.
“The figures of our company show that the number of thefts committed in Russia is growing up every year,” said Olavi Laido. “People mostly travel in the direction of St Petersburg, which means that the number of thefts registered there is the highest. We believe that more than 100 Estonian vehicles are stolen by criminals in Russia every year.”
Different makes and models are preferred in different regions in Russia and the cars stolen over there are often makes whose owners feel pretty safe in Estonia. “We have noticed, and Russian special services have also confirmed to us that middle class cars are hot property in Leningrad Oblast with thieves loving models such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Avensis, etc.,” said Laido. “These cars hardly ever get stolen in Estonia. Lexus jeeps are also not often targeted by thieves in Estonia, but in Russia they are hot favourites. On the other hand, the 2003-2010 BMWs that Estonian thieves love are rather rarely stolen in Russia.”
Approximately 20% of thefts are staged
Olavi Laido says that approximately 20% of all thefts are thefts by agreement, which are actively practised in Russia. “The scheme is simple: you want to sell your car quickly and go to Russia, where the crooks pay about one-third of the price in cash. You go to the police in Russia and report that the car was stolen from a random car park after you have regained possession of the spare keys that you temporarily gave to the thief. Criminal proceedings are initiated in Russia, but nobody will actually be looking for anything. The document issued by the Russian police is the basis for making an insurance claim in Estonia.”
Laido says that trying to find cars in Russia is very difficult, which is why accidents cannot generally be distinguished from staged thefts and the insurer pays out the indemnity.
“Assuming that the majority of our clients are law-abiding, I would like to emphasise that taking your car to Russia is a relatively big risk, which you should try to reduce, even if it is temporarily for the duration of your travels,” he said. “Russia, Ukraine and other eastern countries are not included in ordinary comprehensive insurance packages, which means that European comprehensive insurance is no use to you if your car is stolen in Russia.”