New rules for calculating the utilization fee came into effect in Russia in May 2025, which, according to auto experts, will lead to a noticeable increase in car prices. According to auto lawyer Lev Voropaev, who spoke to the Prime agency, the innovation is aimed at suppressing schemes for understating payments and may lead to an increase in the cost of cars by 20–30%.
The previous calculation formula, which took into account VAT and various correction factors, was canceled on May 1. Instead, the Ministry of Industry and Trade introduced a new scheme. Now, when calculating the utilization fee, the average market value of the vehicle, recorded in a special handbook of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will be used.
The formula is as follows: utilization fee = UFbase + (MV – CC) × 0.5. In this expression, UFbase is the base rate of the utilization fee, MV is the average cost of the car according to the handbook, and CC is the buyer's costs for purchasing the car before paying the fee in Russia.
Previously, when importing cars through the EAEU countries, such as Kyrgyzstan, it was possible to significantly underestimate the price of the car at the border, which made it possible to reduce the amount of the fee. Now, if a car was bought in Kyrgyzstan for 2 thousand euros, and its average price in the Ministry of Industry and Trade handbook is 12 thousand euros, the difference (10 thousand euros) will be taken into account when calculating. This amount is multiplied by a coefficient of 0.5, and the current utilization fee rate is added to the result — for example, 5,200 rubles. However, the buyer will need to provide documents confirming the purchase price abroad, such as a sales contract.
According to the expert, the new formula will make the market more transparent, but will also significantly increase the financial burden on consumers, especially those who are counting on cheap cars from the EAEU countries.
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