Insurance company "Centras Insurance"** (Centras Insurance) is one of the key players in the insurance services market in Russia, specializing in auto insurance (CASCO, OSAGO), property insurance and business protection. The company has been operating since 1993, but still causes conflicting reviews: some clients praise the promptness of payments, others are faced with delayed processes or hidden conditions in contracts. In this article we will analyze whether it is worth taking out a policy in Centras Insurance in 2026, what programs the company offers, and what to look for when concluding a contract.
Feature Centras Insurance — flexible tariffs and the ability to select individual conditions to suit the client’s needs. For example, with CASCO you can choose a deductible from 0 to 50 thousand rubles, and with OSAGO you can take advantage of discounts for accident-free driving. However, as practice shows, cheap policies often hide pitfalls: restrictions on repairs, mandatory use of specific service stations, or delays in assessing damage. To avoid falling into a trap, it is important to study the contract in detail before signing - we’ll talk about this later.
Who owns Centras Insurance and how does this affect reliability?
Company "Centras Insurance"** belongs to the group SOGAZ - one of the largest insurance holdings in Russia. This means that it has the financial support of its parent, which theoretically reduces the risk of bankruptcy. However, in practice, clients often encounter bureaucracy: decisions on payments may take longer to make than with small regional insurers due to a multi-level approval system.
According to Central Bank for 2026, Centras Insurance occupies the top 20 in terms of premium volume among Russian insurers, but at the same time has an average reliability rating (BBB+ according to Expert RA). This speaks of stability, but not of an impeccable reputation. For example, in 2023, the company was among the top complaints of Rospotrebnadzor regarding insurance disputes - most often clients complained about:
- 🔄 Delays in CASCO payments (average period - 30-45 days instead of the promised 14).
- 📉 Unreasonable reduction in the amount of compensation after damage assessment.
- 📑 Difficulties with terminating the contract and returning money.
On the other hand, the company also has advantages: a wide range of insurance programs (including rare types, for example, insurance of ATVs or water transport), as well as partnerships with the largest banks (VTB, Sberbank), which allows you to issue policies in credit products.
- Yes, CASCO
- Yes, OSAGO
- Yes, property insurance
- No, but I considered it
- No and I don't plan to
Insurance programs: what does Centras Insurance offer in 2026?
The company covers almost all popular types of insurance, but its main focus is auto insurance. Let's look at the key programs and their features:
| Type of insurance | Minimum cost (from) | Features | Application review period |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASCO | 12,000 ₽/year | Franchise from 0 to 50,000 ₽, repairs at partner service stations or monetary compensation | 10-30 days |
| OSAGO | 4,500 ₽/year | Discounts for accident-free driving (up to 30%), electronic policy in 5 minutes | 5-14 days |
| Property insurance | 2,000 ₽/year | Covers apartments, houses, commercial properties against fire, flooding, theft | 14-45 days |
| Life/health insurance | 5,000 ₽/year | Includes COVID-19 treatment, dentistry, emergency care abroad | 7-20 days |
The most popular program - CASCO, but there are nuances here. For example, in the basic tariff, repairs are carried out only on partner service stations, the list of which is limited. If you want to choose your own service station, you will have to pay an additional 10-15% of the policy cost. In addition, the contract often states exceptions for “worn parts” - if your car is more than 5 years old, the insurance company may refuse to pay, citing “natural wear and tear” of body elements.
B OSAGO the situation is simpler: tariffs correspond to the market average, and you can issue a policy online in 5 minutes. However, there are also pitfalls here - for example, in case of an accident with victims, payment may be delayed for a month due to the need for additional examinations.
Before applying for CASCO insurance with Centras Insurance, check whether there are service stations of the company in your city. If not, choose a policy with the option of monetary compensation instead of repairs.
Customer reviews: real interaction experience
Analysis of reviews on Yandex.Maps, Google Maps And Banki.ru shows that opinions about Centras Insurance polarized. The average score is 3.8 out of 5, but the distribution is as follows:
- ⭐ 5 stars (30% of reviews): clients praise the fast issuance of policies, polite managers and payments without delays.
- ⭐ 1 star (25% of reviews): complaints about refusals of payments, understatement of amounts and difficulties with returning money upon termination.
- ⭐ 3 stars (45% of reviews): “ok, but could be better” - standard conditions, but nothing outstanding.
Typical complaints:
⚠️ Attention: If you are involved in an accident, do not agree to the insurance agent’s verbal promises of “quick payment.” B Centras Insurance often they first give hope for a quick solution, and then delay the process for months, citing “additional checks.”
Example from a review (June 2026, Banki.ru):
“I have registered for CASCO for a new Nissan Qashqai. After 3 months, I got into a minor accident and damaged the bumper. The insurance company sent it to a service station, where they said that repairs would take 2 weeks. As a result, I waited 1.5 months because “there weren’t enough spare parts.” At the same time, the contract stated that the repair period was up to 30 days. As a result, I received a car with a crookedly painted bumper and a refusal to repair it.”
Positive reviews are most often associated with compulsory motor liability insurance - here the process is standardized, and there are fewer complaints about delays. For example:
“I issued an e-MTPL through the website in 5 minutes. In case of an accident, the payment came within 10 days without any questions asked. No problem."
What reviews are most often deleted?
Centras Insurance, like many insurance companies, actively moderates negative reviews on its official platforms. Most often messages are deleted from:
- photographs of damaged cars after “low-quality” repairs;
- screenshots of correspondence with managers, where they promise one thing and do another;
- complaints about specific employees (by full name).
How to apply for a policy online: step-by-step instructions
Take out insurance in Centras Insurance possible through the official website (centras.ru) or mobile application. The process takes from 5 to 20 minutes depending on the type of policy. Let's look at an example OSAGO:
- Go to the website and select a section
OSAGO → Calculate cost. - Enter vehicle details (make, model, year of manufacture, VIN).
- Provide information about the drivers (full name, length of service, accidents in the last 3 years).
- Select the insurance period (usually 1 year) and pay by credit card.
- The policy will be sent to your email within 5 minutes. Make sure it lists all drivers and the correct VIN.
For CASCO the process is more complicated:
- 📋 You will need to upload a photo of the car (front, back, sides).
- 💰 You need to choose a franchise (0 ₽, 10,000 ₽, 20,000 ₽, etc.). The higher the deductible, the cheaper the policy.
- 🔧 Indicate whether you want repairs at a partner service station or monetary compensation.
An important point: when applying for CASCO insurance online, the system can automatically add additional options (for example, insurance against theft or “protection against natural disasters”), which will increase the cost by 20-30%. Please check the total amount carefully before paying!
- The amount of insurance payment (must cover the actual cost of the car)
- List of service station partners in your city
- Availability of a franchise and its size
- Exceptions (for example, “wear of parts” for cars older than 5 years) -->
How much does insurance cost at Centras Insurance? Comparison with competitors
The cost of the policy depends on the type of insurance, region, vehicle characteristics and driver history. For comparison, let's take 2020 Toyota Camry in Moscow with a driver with 5+ years of experience:
| Type of insurance | Centras Insurance | Ingosstrakh | RESO-Garantiya | AlfaInsurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OSAGO (basic tariff) | 5 800 ₽ | 6 200 ₽ | 5 900 ₽ | 6 000 ₽ |
| CASCO (without franchise) | 42 000 ₽ | 45 000 ₽ | 40 000 ₽ | 43 000 ₽ |
| CASCO (franchise 20,000 ₽) | 31 000 ₽ | 33 000 ₽ | 30 000 ₽ | 32 000 ₽ |
As can be seen, by OSAGO Centras Insurance offers some of the lowest prices on the market. However, according to CASCO the difference is insignificant, and the conditions may be less favorable. For example, RESO-Garantiya often offers more flexible repair options (you can choose any service station), whereas in Centras Insurance this list is limited.
Another nuance: the company often holds promotions. For example, in 2026 there is a 10% discount on CASCO when registering through a mobile application. But be careful - sometimes the “discount” is already included in the initially inflated cost of the policy.
Centras Insurance is beneficial for OSAGO due to its low rates, but for CASCO it is better to compare the conditions with 2-3 other insurance companies, especially if your car is older than 3 years.
What to do if the insurance company refuses to pay?
Payment refusals are one of the most painful topics for clients. Centras Insurance. According to Consumer Protection Society, in 2023 the company refused CASCO insurance in 12% of cases (the market average is 8%). Most often, refusals are motivated by the following:
- 📜 “Violation of the terms of the contract” (for example, if you did not provide the car for inspection within 3 days after the accident).
- 🚗 “The damage occurred before the conclusion of the contract” (even if you bought the policy the day after purchasing the car).
- 🔧 “Repair without approval” (if you fixed the problem yourself before assessing the damage).
If you receive a refusal, follow the algorithm:
- Demand written justification for refusal (by law, the insurance company is required to provide it within 5 days).
- Compare the reason for refusal with the terms of your contract. Often insurance companies refer to clauses that are not there.
- Write claim addressed to the general director (a sample can be found on the website Rospotrebnadzor).
- If it doesn't help, contact Central Bank or court. According to statistics, 60% of claims against insurance companies are satisfied in favor of clients.
⚠️ Attention: If the insurance company delays payment for more than 30 days (for CASCO) or 20 days (for OSAGO), you have the right to penalty in the amount of 1% of the payment amount for each day of delay. This is stated in Art. 16.1 of the Law “On Protection of Consumer Rights”.
Case study: a client from St. Petersburg filed a lawsuit against Centras Insurance for refusal to pay under CASCO (damage to the windshield). The insurer claimed that the crack appeared before the policy was issued, although the accident occurred 2 weeks after the insurance was purchased. The court sided with the client, and the company paid not only compensation, but also a fine for an unreasonable refusal.
Alternatives to Centras Insurance: where to turn if you are not satisfied with the conditions?
If after analysis you decide that Centras Insurance not suitable, consider alternatives:
| Insurance | Pros | Cons | Average rating (Yandex) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ingosstrakh | Fast payments, wide list of service stations | 10-15% more expensive | 4,1 |
| RESO-Garantiya | Flexible CASCO terms, customer loyalty | Long approvals for complex cases | 4,0 |
| AlfaInsurance | Good mobile application, discounts for regular customers | High tariffs for young drivers | 4,2 |
| VTB Insurance | Integration with banking products, cashback | Frequent calls with offers of additional services | 3,9 |
If you care payout speed, pay attention to AlfaInsurance or Ingosstrakh. If you are looking flexible CASCO terms — RESO-Garantiya or Liberty Insurance. For MTPL, the difference between companies is minimal, so you can choose the one that offers a discount for online registration.
When choosing an insurance company, always check:
- 📌 Reliability rating (on the website Expert RA or Central Bank).
- 📌 Reviews for the last 6 months (old ones may no longer be relevant).
- 📌 Availability of service station partners in your city (relevant for CASCO).
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Centras Insurance
Is it possible to get a CASCO policy for a used car (over 10 years old)?
Yes, but with restrictions. For cars older than 10 years Centras Insurance usually:
- Establishes an increased franchise (from 30,000 ₽).
- Excludes “worn parts” (suspension, body parts) from coverage.
- Requires a preliminary inspection of the vehicle.
The cost of the policy will be 40-50% higher than for a new car.
What to do if after an accident the insurance company underestimates the amount of payment?
Please request first full damage assessment report (the insurance company is obliged to provide it). If the amount is clearly underestimated:
- Order independent examination (cost - 3,000–5,000 rubles).
- Write a claim to the insurance company with a request to revise the amount.
- If they refuse, contact RSA (Russian Union of Auto Insurers) or court.
In 70% of cases, after an independent examination, insurance companies make concessions.
How to terminate the CASCO agreement and return the money?
You can terminate the contract at any time, but the refund amount depends on the term:
- If it's passed less than 30 days — 90% of the cost will be returned.
- If 30-90 days — 70%.
- If more than 90 days — there will be no returns (according to the conditions Centras Insurance).
To terminate, write an application by email info@centras.ru or through your personal account. The money will be returned to the card within 10 days.
Is it possible to apply for compulsory motor liability insurance at Centras Insurance without inspecting the car?
Yes, inspection is not required for OSAGO. It is enough to enter data from the PTS and STS. However, if you provided incorrect information (for example, an incorrect VIN), the policy may be invalidated.
What documents are needed to apply for CASCO insurance?
List of documents:
- Owner's passport.
- PTS and STS of the car.
- Driver's licenses of all persons authorized to drive.
- Photo of the car (if you apply online).
- Purchase and sale agreement (if the car was purchased less than a year ago).
For legal entities, constituent documents will be additionally required.