Old foreign cars and new “Chinese”: which cars are cheaper to repair

Lada Iskra became the cheapest in repair among domestic cars - the average payment for the casco for it was only 52 thousand rubles. In general, the repair of Russian cars is cheaper than Chinese and familiar foreign brands, but within each category the difference between models can remain significant, follows from the statistics of payments of Rosgosstrakh for the first half of 2026, which was reviewed by RBC.

During this period, the insurer made 5.2 thousand payments for domestic cars. On average, the payment for the repair of one such machine amounted to 90 thousand rubles. For comparison: for Chinese cars, this figure reached 147 thousand rubles, for brands from Europe, Korea, Japan and the United States – 188 thousand rubles. The average check for all stamps was 146 thousand rubles.

How the counting was done

Calculations are based on data from Rosgosstrakh on payments under the Casco and OSAGO for the period from January 1 to July 1, 2026. The average check is calculated as the total amount of payments on the model divided by the number of payments, taking into account repairs at the car maintenance station. Modifications of one model are combined. The rating of Chinese cars included models of Chinese brands; cars of Russian brands on Chinese platforms were not taken into account.

After Lada Iskra in the ranking of domestic cars with the lowest average payout on the helmet are Lada Niva (Legend, Travel and cars of previous generations) – 64 thousand rubles, Lada Vesta – 83 thousand, Lada Granta and Lada XRAY – 87 thousand rubles. Next are the Tenet T4 crossover (93 thousand rubles) and the Lada Largus station wagon (95 thousand rubles).

The first place Iskra, as the insurer notes, should be considered preliminary, since the model went on sale recently - the official start of sales took place on July 20, 2025. When calculating the average check, all modifications of each model were taken into account. So, the statistics on Granta included a sedan, liftback, station wagon and Granta Cross, on Vesta - sedan, station wagon and Cross-version.

The most expensive in the group of domestic cars is the repair of crossovers of the Russian assembly under new brands. The average payout for the Casco for Tenet T8 was 182 thousand rubles, for Solaris HC - 134 thousand, for Xcite X-Cross 7 - 132 thousand rubles.

How much does it cost to repair Chinese cars

Among the Chinese brands, the lowest average payouts were recorded for Changan UNI-S and Haval H7 – 109 thousand rubles each. In third place, the Tank 300 (111 thousand rubles), followed by Haval H9 (113 thousand) and Changan CS55 Plus (115 thousand rubles). In total, in the first half of the year, Rosgosstrakh made 10.5 thousand payments under the helmet for cars of Chinese brands - this is 46% of all insurance cases under the helmet.

Among the mass models, the average payment was 118 thousand rubles for Haval M6, 119 thousand for Chery Tiggo 4 and 134 thousand rubles for Haval Jolion.

The most expensive to repair were premium models and hybrids. Voyah Free leads with an average payment of 398 thousand rubles - comparable amounts fall on Volkswagen Touareg and Mercedes-Benz GLE. Next are Jaecoo J8 (260 thousand rubles), Chery Tiggo 9 (256 thousand), Exeed RX (250 thousand) and Tank 500 (244 thousand).

The cost of repairs varies significantly within individual brands. For example, the average payment for the Tank 300 was 111 thousand rubles, while for the larger Tank 500 - 244 thousand rubles. At Chery, the figure varies from 119 thousand rubles. for Tiggo 4 to 256 thousand rubles. for Tiggo 9, Haval - from 109 thousand for H7 to 156 thousand rubles. for Dargo.

What foreign cars are cheaper to repair

Among the cars of the usual foreign brands, the cheapest is the repair of Renault Duster, which has an average payout for the casco amounted to 107 thousand rubles. The sample of Rosgosstrakh for the first half of the year included 6.9 thousand payments for cars from Europe, Korea, Japan and the United States.

The five models with the lowest average check also included Skoda Octavia (124 thousand rubles), Hyundai Creta (126 thousand), Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage (127 thousand rubles each). Next are Kia Rio (128 thousand rubles), Renault Sandero and Kia K5 (131 thousand each), Hyundai Solaris (133 thousand) and Volkswagen Polo (136 thousand).

At the same time, the highest payments in this group fall on the Porsche Cayenne – an average of 463 thousand rubles. for an insured event, Volkswagen Touareg (391 thousand) and Lexus LX (282 thousand). The absolute record in statistics is the Audi Q7 with an average check of 753 thousand rubles. According to the latest model, there are only 23 payments, so the indicator should be considered indicative, Rosgosstrakh noted.

What OSAGO statistics show

According to OSAGO, the average payment for domestic cars was also lower than for cars of other categories: 69 thousand rubles against 93 thousand rubles for Chinese brands and 95 thousand rubles for conventional foreign cars.

How OSAGO is different from Casco

Casco is voluntary car insurance against damage and theft. It insures not only against an accident, but also in cases where, for example, a car was stolen, smashed, set on fire or it suffered during a hurricane. The owner will not have to pay himself, the insurance company will compensate for any damage.

OSAGO allows the victim to receive a payment from the insurance company in which the culprit of the accident is insured. It compensates for repairs and other costs incurred under the policy. OSAGO insures the responsibility of each motorist to others, since citizens do not always have the opportunity to compensate for harm to affected road users.

Among domestic models, the cheapest is the repair of old Lada: the average payment for the “nine” is 36 thousand rubles, for the “five” – 39 thousand, for the “seven” – 43 thousand rubles. Among the Chinese cars, the minimum performance of the Great Wall Hover (64 thousand rubles), Changan CS55 Plus (69 thousand) and Lifan X60 (72,000). In the group of foreign cars - Daewoo Matiz and Chevrolet Lanos (53 thousand rubles each), as well as Daewoo Nexia (58 thousand).

What affects the cost of repairs

The cost of repairing a car is determined by the availability of spare parts, the cost of their delivery and the technological complexity of the machine, says Alexander Rusinov, manager of S + Consulting. According to him, European brands parts are becoming more expensive, including due to complicated supplies and reduced demand. Historically, Chinese companies have focused on selling cars rather than spare parts, so their availability is difficult.

Project Director of ATK Consulting Anton Bazanin notes that if the part is needed quickly, it is carried more expensively or taken from the dealer at the maximum price. Normal deliveries from China and the UAE stretch to a month and a half. Speaking about uncommon Chinese brands, the expert notes that it is unprofitable to keep a warehouse under the model, which in the country is 200-300 pieces, so parts are brought to order. The mass of the model is able to compensate for the difficulties with the supply of original parts, says Rusinov.

An additional influence has the design of modern cars. According to Rusinov, technologically complex models require more expensive repairs. For example, the Avatr 11 bumper can only be replaced in its entirety, as its repair can affect the readings of the built-in radar. Recovery of electric vehicles and hybrids when damaged may require battery replacement.

How the cost of repair affects the economy of STO

The cost of auto repair is affected not only by the price of spare parts, but also by the growing costs of car service enterprises, notes the product coach of the manufacturer of auto parts and components Marshall Andrei Abramov. Among the main factors, he highlights the shortage of qualified personnel, competition for specialists, growth in rental rates and additional tax burden. These costs are reflected in the final cost of services for car owners.

Among other factors is the positioning of the brand and the availability of alternative components, says Roman Timashov, after-sales service director of Avtodom Altufievo. Parts for premium cars are usually more expensive than for mass models, even if they are built on a common platform, he said. In addition, the cost of repair affects the ability to use non-original components. An illustrative example is windshields, alternative versions of which can cost 15-20 thousand rubles. against 100 thousand rubles. and more for the original.

The additional burden is created by the prices of original parts, says Abramov. For example, the rear right door for Changan UNI-K without hinged elements costs about 150 thousand rubles. The Hongqi HS5 radiator grille from Russian distributors is offered from 50 thousand rubles, while when buying directly in China, its price is about 21 thousand rubles. excluding delivery.

The availability of quality non-original spare parts for popular Chinese models allows to partially restrain the growth of repair costs. In the case of rare premium cars, the choice of components is limited, and the cost of parts and insurance can be significantly higher, Abramov explains. However, in his opinion, it is not necessary to expect a decrease in the cost of auto repair in the near future.

According to Timashov, when comparing cars of the same class and the price segment, repair costs can be close. So, the average cost of repair Audi on the helmet, according to him, is about 180 thousand rubles, Lixiang – 140 thousand rubles, GAC – 95 thousand rubles.

According to the project manager of Strategy Partners Artem Suvorov, Renault Duster, Hyundai Creta and Skoda Octavia have formed a wide range of spare parts, including non-original parts, and service centers have accumulated experience in their repair. In the new Chinese models, the component market is still less developed, especially in terms of body parts and electronic components. This can increase both the cost of repair and the waiting time for parts, but the country of origin of the brand is not ultimately a determining factor.

But to assess the cost of a car makes sense not only on insurance payments. Rusinov notes that OSAGO calculates damage according to a single methodology of the Central Bank, and not at market prices. To estimate the total cost of ownership, it recommends taking into account total costs over 3-5 years, including depreciation, maintenance, repair and insurance. Suvorov also advises to check in advance the availability of the most popular parts - headlights, bumpers, mirrors and body elements, as well as the timing of their delivery.