Zero Depreciation Car Insurance

In automobile insurance, depreciation can have significant implications for car owners. As vehicles age, their value decreases, potentially leading to financial losses in case of accidents or damages. However, Zero Depreciation Car cover in Car Insurance provides a solution to this. A zero depreciation cover ignores the depreciation that occurs over time, allowing it to cover the full cost of repairs or replacement for your vehicle. This guide will explore the A-Z of this policy and how it can safeguard your vehicle's value.

What is Depreciation in Car Insurance?

Before we get into zero depreciation, let’s first understand what depreciation is in car insurance.

Depreciation in car insurance refers to the decrease in the value of your car over time. Standard car insurance policies take depreciation into account when settling claims.

Insured Declared Value (IDV) represents the maximum amount that an insurance company will compensate you in case of total loss or theft of your vehicle. The IDV serves as the basis for determining the premium of your car insurance policy and plays an important role in claim settlements. IDV takes depreciation into account when determining the maximum compensation you can receive in case of total loss or theft of your car.

It is determined using the following formula:

IDV = (Manufacturer's Listed Selling Price - Depreciation) + (Cost of Vehicle Accessories - Depreciation)

The depreciated amount of the car will not be covered by the insurance company, and this has to be borne by the policyholder. As declared by the IRDAI, said depreciation rates are as follows -

Vehicle Part

Depreciation Rate

Rubber/ Nylon / Plastic Parts, Tyres And Tubes, Batteries And Air Bags

50%

Fibreglass Components

30%

All Parts Made of Glass

Nil

For all other parts, including wooden parts, depreciation rates are as follows -

Age of Vehicle

Depreciation Rate

< 6 months 

Nil

6 months - 1 year

5%

1 year - 2 years

10%

2 years - 3 years

15%

3 years - 4 years

25%

4 years - 5 years

35%

5 years - 10 years

40%

10 years <

50%

The depreciation rate of the car itself is as follows -

Age of Vehicle

Depreciation Rate

< 6 months 

5%

6 months - 1 year

15%

1 year - 2 years

20%

2 years - 3 years

30%

3 years - 4 years

40%

4 years - 5 years

50%

5 years <

TBD by Insurer and Policyholder

Now that we’ve understood the meaning of depreciation, let’s see how we can work around this with zero dep insurance.

What is Zero Depreciation Car Insurance Cover?

Zero Dep Car Insurance Cover, or Nil Depreciation or Bumper-to-Bumper Insurance, is like a protective shield for your car's value. Unlike regular car insurance, which considers depreciation when settling claims, Zero Dep Car Insurance covers the full cost of repairing or replacing damaged car parts without factoring in depreciation. This means you won't have to bear the financial burden of the depreciation value when making a claim. 

Here is an example that demonstrates how much an individual can save under a nil depreciation car insurance - 

Assume the car is 1.5 years old.

Car Part

Cost of Damage Repair

Cost of Depreciation

Claimable Amount After Factoring Depreciation

Windscreen*

2,000

(0%*2,000) = 0

2,000

Fibreglass*

4,000

(30%*4,000) = 1,200

2,800

Plastic Part*

18,000

(50%*18,000) = 9,000

9,000

Metal Part*

14,000

(10%*14,000) = 1,400

12,600

Labour Cost*

5,000

0

5,000

Total Cost

43,000

11,600

31,400

*Note: The values above are all assumed costs and are not based on any actual values.

Premium and Claim Cost

With Zero Dep Cover

Without Zero Dep Cover

Standard Plan Premium*

15,000

15,000

Zero Depreciation Add-on*

2,000

0

Total Premium

(15,000+2,000) = 17,000

15,000

Deductible Per Claim**

1,000

1,000

Cost of Repairing

43,000

43,000

Amount Payable by Policyholder

0

11,600

Total Expense

(17,000+1,000) = 18,000

(15,000+1,000+11,600) = 27,600

Amount Payable by Insurance Company

43,000

31,400

Amount Saved

(43,000-18,000) = 25,000

(43,000-27,600) = 15,400

**Note: The mandatory deductible for private cars with engine capacity below 1500cc is Rs.1000, and Rs.2,000 otherwise.  

*Note: The values above are all assumed costs and are not based on any actual values.

The zero dep add-on provides better coverage and peace of mind, ensuring your car's value remains protected even after an accident or damage. At the time of settlement, your claim amount will be higher owing to the fact that depreciation costs are not deducted. This can be opted for as an add-on when purchasing car insurance for a new vehicle or during the renewal of your car insurance policy. It is only applicable to a comprehensive policy and not a third-party policy but must be separately purchased. 

In the event of a claim settlement, it is important to be aware of the depreciation applicable to your car parts, as mentioned in the policy wording. However, you enjoy a significant advantage if you have zero depreciation car insurance. With this coverage, you are not required to pay any of the damage cost. As a result, when you make a claim, you will receive the full claim amount without any deduction for the depreciation suffered by your car.

In contrast, standard car insurance plans without zero depreciation coverage follow a different approach. In such cases, the insurer will only reimburse the loss after deducting the depreciation value of the replaced parts. This highlights the distinct advantage of having a zero depreciation car insurance policy, as it ensures that you receive full compensation for repairs or replacements without any deduction for depreciation.

Factors that Determine the Zero Depreciation Coverage

Zero depreciation car coverage is determined by several factors, including - 

  • Location 

Cars in tier 1 cities will have higher premium costs compared to those in tier 2 cities.

  • IDV or Sum Insured

The premium calculation takes into account the current market value of the insured vehicle. A vehicle with a higher IDV will have a higher premium cost for zero dep coverage.

  • Engine Type

Engines with lower cubic capacities will have lower premiums than those with higher cubic capacities.

  • Accessories Installed

Separate calculations are made for car accessories and additional features when determining the premiums.

  • Car Age

The age of your car is taken into consideration when deciding the premium for this insurance coverage.

  • Type of Coverage

Comprehensive insurance coverage usually has a higher premium than third-party insurance.

  • Fuel Type

Premiums vary based on the type of fuel used - diesel, petrol, CNG, or electric vehicles.

  • Add-on Covers

The inclusion of additional covers like personal belongings cover, zero depreciation cover, roadside assistance, etc., can impact the overall premium amount.

Zero Depreciation Insurance - What is Included and What is Not?

The following table clarifies what this type of insurance add-on includes and excludes -

What is Included

What is Not Included

Metal parts

Engine damage due to oil leakage

Fibreglass parts

Mechanical breakdown

Plastic Parts

Driving without a Driving Licence

Rubber Parts

Driving under the influence of alcohol/intoxicating substances

Nylon Parts

Consumables cost

 

Compulsory deductibles

When Should You Opt for Zero Depreciation Insurance?

Here are some situations wherein it's beneficial to consider zero dep insurance:

  • New Car - Protect your brand new car from depreciation deductions during repairs or replacement.
  • Expensive or Luxury Cars - Safeguard against high costs of spare parts for luxury vehicles.
  • City Driving - Cover repair expenses for minor accidents or scratches in congested city areas.
  • New or Inexperienced Drivers - Reduce the financial burden of repairs for new or young drivers.

Benefits of a Zero Dep Car Insurance

Comprehensive Coverage

Zero Dep Car Insurance provides comprehensive coverage by eliminating the depreciation factor. It ensures that the insurance company covers the full cost of repairing or replacing damaged car parts, without considering the age or depreciation value of the vehicle.

Higher Claim Payouts

Zero Depreciation Insurance ensures that customers' out-of-pocket expenses are reduced as insurers pay the claim without deducting the depreciation component from the value of car parts, resulting in higher claim payouts compared to standard car insurance policies. 

Budget-Friendly

Zero dep cover provides cost-effective coverage in the long run. While the premium for this policy may be slightly higher than regular insurance, the savings on repair costs, especially for expensive car parts, can outweigh the additional premium.

Enhanced Resale Value

By preserving your car's value through comprehensive coverage, Zero Dep Insurance can contribute to maintaining a higher resale value for your vehicle. This can be advantageous if you plan to sell or exchange your car in the future.

Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying a Zero Dep Insurance

This add-on will affect three components of car insurance:

  • Coverage - Your car insurance policy will have a higher coverage
  • Claim Amount - The claim amount will be higher as depreciation will not be deducted
  • Premium  - The premium will be higher as the coverage is higher in a standard comprehensive policy

Also, 

  • In most cases, a zero dep insurance cover can only be purchased for cars under 5 years. This may differ from policy to policy.
  • Some policies have a limit of the number of zero depreciation claims you can make, this add on cover policy will not be valid once you have claimed for the specified number of times, as mentioned.
  • A zero depreciation cover differs from a comprehensive cover, it is a policy add-on.
  • A zero depreciation car insurance add-on cover can be transferred to the new owner of a second-hand car.
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