Owners of foreign cars are switching to buying damaged vehicles for parts.

      Prices for auto parts in Russia continue to rise, despite the stabilization of the ruble. According to open sources, over the past year, basic components—brake pads, oil filters, shock absorbers, and suspension elements—have increased in price by 20–40%. Experts predict a further increase of 15–30% by autumn 2026. Among the reasons cited are the rise in freight rates on alternative routes due to the conflict in the Middle East, risks in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as an increase in VAT to 22% starting January 1, 2026, which has added several percentage points to the price of parts and auto service services.

      Parallel imports, through which 40–60% of original parts for foreign cars enter Russia, are experiencing a crisis. In this situation, car owners are finding an alternative way to save: buying a whole donor car at online auctions instead of individual parts. A car is purchased that insurance companies deem economically unfeasible for restoration (the "Total" segment), but most of its components are still usable. The buyer dismantles the car and takes the necessary parts—engine, transmission, optics, electronics, body elements. As market participants note, replacing the engine or transmission on a Kia K5 or BMW 3 Series can cost 200–300 thousand rubles just for the parts, while for a similar amount, a damaged car of the same model can be purchased.

      Specialists from the online auction MIGTORG analyzed the demand structure for cars with total damage for the first half of 2026. The sample included data on more than 1,800 cars sold at auction. According to the statistics, the leaders in "donorship" are Chinese cars—34.7% of the total with an average price of 913 thousand rubles. In second place are German cars—27.8% (average price 711 thousand rubles), and in third place are Russian cars—19.2% (average price 221 thousand rubles). South Korean cars accounted for 8.9% with an average price of 400 thousand rubles. At the same time, Chinese cars stand out with the largest number of intact body elements.

      The platform's press service added that interest in such lots is confirmed by auction statistics: in the last five minutes of the auction, the competition for donor cars is 25% higher in terms of bids compared to regular lots. Analysts estimate that interest in this repair strategy will only grow.