By VIRA Advisory Team · August 2026 · 6 min read
Every motor insurance renewal comes with a list of add-ons and a salesperson recommending most of them. Some genuinely earn their premium. Others rarely pay off for most drivers. Here's a straight assessment of the common ones.
Without this add-on, claim payouts on replaced parts are reduced by depreciation — sometimes significantly, since plastic and fibre parts depreciate fast under standard schedules. For a car under 5 years old, Zero Dep is usually worth the extra premium. For an older vehicle with a lower overall claim likelihood on expensive parts, the math gets less clear-cut — worth comparing the actual cost against your specific vehicle's depreciation schedule.
Standard comprehensive policies typically exclude consequential engine damage from water ingress (hydrostatic lock) — a common and expensive claim during Ahmedabad's monsoon flooding. If you drive through waterlogged roads even occasionally during monsoon season, this add-on is worth having. It's one of the few add-ons we'd call close to essential for local driving conditions rather than optional.
In a total loss or theft claim, standard cover pays the IDV (Insured Declared Value), which depreciates every year. RTI pays the original invoice price instead — the gap between IDV and invoice price is largest in a vehicle's first couple of years, which is exactly when RTI matters most. For a vehicle older than 3-4 years, the gap narrows and RTI becomes less valuable relative to its cost.
NCB discounts can reach up to 50% after several claim-free years. Without protection, a single claim resets this. If you've built up several years of NCB, this add-on preserves it even after a claim — genuinely useful for long-term policyholders who don't want one incident to undo years of accumulated discount.
Low-cost, and genuinely useful for breakdowns, flat tyres, and towing — particularly for anyone doing regular highway driving. This is one of the few add-ons where the cost-benefit is straightforward for almost everyone.
Standard policies exclude items like engine oil, nuts, bolts, and washers during a claim — a small but real out-of-pocket gap. This add-on is inexpensive and closes it, worth considering particularly alongside Zero Dep.
Some insurers push add-ons like tyre protection or key replacement cover that address genuinely low-probability, low-cost scenarios. These aren't harmful, but for most drivers, the premium spent on them would be better allocated toward Engine Protect or Zero Dep, which address more consequential risks.
For a newer vehicle: Zero Dep, Engine Protect, and RTI form a strong combination. For an older vehicle: Engine Protect and Roadside Assistance matter more, while Zero Dep and RTI deliver less relative value. It genuinely depends on your specific vehicle's age and how you drive — which is exactly the kind of comparison worth having a real conversation about rather than accepting a default add-on package.
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