Lawyer Vadim Volodarsky explains that the amendments to the traffic law did not affect the Civil Code, so the essence and functions of the power of attorney remain the same. Those who have already issued a power of attorney for performing actions or transactions need not worry — it continues to be valid. Owners of cars purchased under a power of attorney lose nothing, but they also gain no new rights.
The main change concerns only the set of documents that a driver is obliged to show to a police officer. Now it is enough to have a driver's license of the required category and the vehicle registration document, and the surnames in them may not match.
More details about these and other innovations in road legislation are in the article by lawyer Vadim Volodarsky «Cancellation of technical inspection and other innovations: what awaits drivers?».