Add-ons are a savior when your car is exposed to risks which are not covered in a standard car insurance policy. They simply enhance your vehicle protection by providing you extra financial aid during any mishap. Add-ons do come with an extra premium to provide your car that extra coverage. You need to go through the policy wordings to get the clarity on the value added services provided by your car insurer.
Below mentioned is the list of most common add-on covers in car insurance:
The moment a car is sold and leaves the showroom, its value depreciates. The value of the car further reduces with each passing year due to natural wear n tear. When your car faces an unimaginable mishap and is destroyed beyond repairs, insurance companies will refund the complete value/amount mentioned on the invoice if you opt for RTI add-on. However, Return-to-Invoice cover is available only for new cars that are between 3-5 years old.
Zero depreciation or Nil Depreciation or Bumper-to-Bumper Cover is a car insurance add-on for new cars which are not more than 5 years old. Every year due to natural wear n tear, the value of a car depreciates. That is where a zero-depreciation cover helps, as there are no depreciation costs charged when you make a claim, and you get the entire claim amount. Nil Depreciation or Zero Dep plan covers repair and replacement costs of rubber, plastic, and fiber components of the car. Some insurers may allow up to two zero depreciation claims while some may allow unlimited claims.
NCB enables car owners to save at least 20% to a maximum of 50% in a span of five years. But once made a claim, NCB goes back to 0%. This add-on protects your accumulated No Claim Bonus, also ensures the next NCB slab so that you can earn a significant discount on your renewal premium. Please note that the NCB cover is available only on Own Damage cover premium and not on Third Party Liability Cover premium which is decided by IRDA and cannot be altered.
When a car is getting repaired, a lot of consumables items are used like nuts & bolts, lubricants, grease, washers, engine oil, brake oil, screw, oil filter, bearing, etc. The cost of such consumable items is not usually covered under a standard car insurance policy and must be borne by the car owner. Cost of Consumables add-on helps to reimburse the expenses incurred towards consumables items used during repair of the insured car. This add-on cover is not available for cars older than 5 years.
A car can face a breakdown anytime without a warning. This may happen in the middle of the road leaving you stranded. Finding a mechanic nearby could be a task and any repair work may get delayed and quite expensive. A Roadside Assistance cover would provide the car owner with services like changing a flat tyre, minor on-site repair, car towing, fuel delivery, the arrangement of replacement car keys, battery jumpstart, etc.
The engine is one of the most important parts of a car. But any non-accidental/consequential damages to the engine of the car is not covered under a standard car insurance policy. Engine Protection cover provides protection for any loss or damages caused to the engine of the car due to water ingression, oil spill, electrical or mechanical breakdown of the engine, etc. It also provides replacement of the engine or its child parts. This cover is available only to cars that are not more than five years old.
When a car is placed at a garage for repairs, it may take some days till it is ready to use. The car owner may have to hire a car or use public transport for daily commute. This may result in unnecessary travel expenses. Garage Cash/Downtime Protection is an add-on cover that provides daily travel allowance for the period when the insured car is getting repaired at a network garage.
A major accident can cause damage to the car, injuries to the driver and the co-passengers. But the personal accident covers available under most of the regular car insurance policies do not cover the treatment expenses of the co-passengers. The Passenger cover add-on provides financial help for any medical expenses incurred for the co-passengers in case of an accident of the insured car. It covers hospitalization, treatment expenses, as well as ambulance fees. Moreover, it also provides compensation in case the accident results in the disability or death of a passenger.
The tyres are another essential component of a car. Regular usage causes a lot of damage to the tyres and. The cost of repairing or replacing the tyres must be borne by the car owner as a standard car insurance company does not pay for any damages or loss of the tyres if it is not arising out of an accident. This is where a Tyre Protect cover can come in handy. The Tyre Protect cover reimburses any expenses incurred towards the repair or replacement of the tyres of the insured car, such as puncture, in-tyre bulge, tyre cut, bursting of the tyre, etc.
Any personal belongings are lost when the car is stolen. In such a situation, insurance companies do not provide any compensation for the loss of personal items. The Loss of Personal Belongings cover is an add-on that compensates for the loss of any personal items stolen from the car or with the car. It also pays for any damages caused to the personal belongings inside the car. It covers various kinds of personal items, including electronic equipment like audio/video tapes, CDs etc.
*All savings are provided by the insurer as per the IRDAI approved insurance plan. Standard T&C Apply CIBPL/Car/WebBanner/English/Jan-22/011