The new procedure for calculating the recycling fee came into force in Russia on December 1.

      01 December 2025 09:38 Society

      As of December 1, 2025, updated rules for calculating the utilization fee for imported cars have come into force in Russia. The changes were approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and are aimed at streamlining the procedure for paying the fee.

      The new rules have significantly increased the cost of importing foreign cars for private use, leading to price increases for imported vehicles of tens and even hundreds of thousands of rubles.

      One of the key novelties was the termination of the preferential utilization fee for cars with engines over 160 horsepower. Previously, importing a new car up to three years old required payment of only 3.4 thousand rubles, and a car older than three years cost 5.2 thousand rubles. Now, however, importing such cars will require payment of a fee that can reach hundreds of thousands or even millions of rubles.

      For example, for cars with an engine displacement of 1–2 liters and power from 160 to 190 hp the utilization fee will be 750 thousand rubles, and for cars with power over 500 hp — up to 2.6 million rubles. The higher the displacement and power, the higher the rate.

      The increase in the utilization fee in December is part of an overall indexing strategy. It is expected that from January 2026 tariffs will rise another 15–20%. According to the authorities' plans, the increase in rates will continue until 2030. These changes are aimed at encouraging the use of domestic cars and reducing imports of new foreign cars.

      Originally it was planned that the new tariffs would take effect on November 1, but at the instruction of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Manturov the date was postponed by a month. This decision was made with consideration for the interests of citizens who had already ordered cars with power over 160 horsepower.

      A separate problem has been cases in which the Federal Customs Service demands additional payment of the utilization fee for cars imported from Kazakhstan, Armenia or Kyrgyzstan. As explained by the vice‑president of the National Automobile Union, Yan Khaitseer, in an interview with 360.ru, this is related to a provision adopted in April 2023 according to which the benefits do not apply to cars from Customs Union countries.

      He said responsibility for calculating the utilization fee lies with the owner or importer of the car, and customs officers can check this calculation within three years. At the same time, many cars were brought in not by the citizens themselves but by intermediaries, which has caused confusion and misunderstanding.

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