Motor Insurance Add-ons (Zero Dep, RTI, Engine Protect & more)
Choose Add-ons That Actually Pay Off
A standard motor package policy leaves real gaps: depreciation deducted from parts, engine damage from water, consumables you pay for yourself and a total-loss payout below what you paid. Motor insurance add-ons close those gaps for a modest extra premium. But not every add-on suits every car. MILES explains what each one does, which ones matter for your vehicle’s age and city, and compares add-on terms across insurers before you renew.
Popular Add-ons Explained
Zero Depreciation
Pays the full cost of replaced plastic, rubber, fibre and metal parts without deducting depreciation, usually for newer vehicles.
Return To Invoice
On total loss or theft, pays the gap between the insured declared value and the invoice price, including road tax and registration.
Engine Protection
Covers engine and gearbox damage from water ingress or oil leakage, which the base policy treats as consequential loss.
NCB Protection
Keeps your no claim bonus intact even after a limited number of claims in the year, as allowed by the insurer.
Consumables Cover
Pays for engine oil, coolant, nuts, bolts, washers and similar items used during an accident repair.
Roadside Assistance
Towing, battery jump-start, flat tyre help, fuel delivery and on-spot minor repairs when the vehicle breaks down.
What are motor insurance add-ons?
Motor insurance add-ons are optional covers you buy with a comprehensive or own-damage motor policy to extend what it pays for. They fill specific gaps in the standard policy, such as depreciation on parts, engine damage from water or the shortfall between the insured value and the price of a new vehicle.
Add-ons cannot be bought with a third-party-only policy; they attach to the own-damage portion. They are available for cars, two-wheelers and many commercial vehicles, though choice is widest for private cars. For the basics of cover, see our motor insurance guide.
The main add-ons and what they do
| Add-on | What it adds | Most useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Zero depreciation (nil dep) | No depreciation deducted on replaced parts | New and nearly new vehicles; typically offered up to a set vehicle age |
| Return to invoice (RTI) | Pays invoice value on total loss or theft | New vehicles and areas with higher theft risk |
| Engine protection | Engine and gearbox damage from water or oil leakage | Cities with monsoon waterlogging and low-slung cars |
| NCB protection | Retains your no claim bonus after a claim | Owners with a high NCB built up |
| Consumables | Oils, nuts, bolts, coolant and similar items | Anyone who wants fewer out-of-pocket costs |
| Tyre protection | Accidental tyre and tube damage | Premium cars with expensive tyres |
| Key replacement | Cost of replacing lost or stolen keys and locks | Cars with smart or coded keys |
| Roadside assistance | Towing and breakdown help | Frequent highway drivers |
| Daily allowance | Fixed daily payment while the car is in the workshop | People who rely on the car for work |
| Personal belongings | Loss of items kept in the car | Owners who carry laptops or bags regularly |
Names and exact terms differ between insurers, so read what each add-on actually says.
Why the base policy needs help
Depreciation
Without zero depreciation, the insurer reduces the payout for replaced parts according to set depreciation rates. Plastic, rubber and fibreglass parts are depreciated heavily, so even a small accident on an older car leaves you with a noticeable bill.
Water damage to the engine
If you try to start a car that has been standing in water and the engine is damaged, the standard policy treats this as consequential damage and may reject it. Engine protection is designed for exactly this. For drivers in Gurugram, Mumbai and other cities that flood each monsoon, it is often the most valuable add-on.
Total loss shortfall
On theft or total loss, the base policy pays the insured declared value, which falls each year. Return to invoice bridges the gap to the original invoice price.
What add-ons do not cover
- Mechanical breakdown and wear and tear, except where an add-on specifically covers it.
- Damage when driving without a valid licence or under the influence.
- Claims beyond the number allowed per year for zero depreciation or NCB protection.
- Vehicles older than the insurer’s age limit for a given add-on.
- Engine damage from causes other than those named, such as normal failure or lack of maintenance.
How add-ons affect your premium
Each add-on carries its own premium, added to the own-damage premium. The cost depends on the vehicle’s make, model, age and IDV, and on your city. Your no claim bonus of 20% to 50% applies to the own-damage portion; how it interacts with add-on premiums depends on the insurer. Buying every add-on rarely makes sense. A five-year-old hatchback in a dry city may need only consumables and roadside assistance, while a new SUV in a flood-prone area may justify zero depreciation, engine protection and RTI together.
What we need for a quote
- Your current policy schedule, including add-ons and NCB.
- Vehicle registration certificate with make, model, variant and year.
- City and typical use, including highway travel.
- Claims made in the past year, if any.
How MILES helps
- We match add-ons to your vehicle’s age, value and city, rather than selling a fixed bundle.
- We compare the same add-on across insurers, including claim limits, age caps and conditions.
- We check that add-ons carry over correctly at renewal and when you switch insurers.
- We help you use the add-ons at claim time, from engine protection surveys to RTI settlements, through our claims support.
Cover, exclusions and premiums depend on the insurer’s policy wording and underwriting. MILES Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd. is an IRDAI-licensed direct broker (Life & General, Reg. No. 954); the insurance is issued by the insurer. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation.