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Zero depreciation is an optional add-on available with a comprehensive car insurance policy. Under this coverage, the insurance company does not deduct the depreciation amount of the car parts when settling an accidental claim. In standard car insurance claims, insurers subtract the loss in value of the car parts due to wear and tear over time.
However, with the zero depreciation car insurance, the insurer pays the full cost of the repair or replacement of the damaged car parts, which reduces your out-of-pocket expenses at the time of claim. Typically, the zero dep cover is available for cars up to 5 to 10 years old. The number of claims you can raise under this add-on varies from one insurer to another.
Listed below are the advantages of buying bumper-to-bumper protection with your car insurance policy:
The vehicle deprecation rates in India are as per guidelines set by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) every year. Here are tables showcasing the depreciation rates of cars and different car components:
| Car Components | Rate of Depreciation |
|---|---|
| For all rubber/nylon/plastic parts, tyres & tubes, batteries, air bags, paintwork | 50% |
| For fibre glass parts | 30% |
| For glass parts | Nil |
| Vehicle Age | >% of Depreciation |
|---|---|
| Below 6 months | 5 |
| 6 months to 1 year | 15 |
| 1 year to 2 years | 20 |
| 2 years to 3 years | 30 |
| 3 years to 4 years | 40 |
| 4 years to 5 years | 50 |
| Above 5 years | Mutually decided between the insurer and car owner |
Accidental Damages
The zero depreciation add on offers coverage for damages to your car from a road accident or collision.
Natural or Man-Made Disasters
If your car gets damaged due to an earthquake, flood, landslide, or in a terrorist attack, riots, or vandalism, the zero dep add-on will help you.
Any In-transit Damages
The zero depreciation car insurance also covers damages to your car when in transit from one location to another.
Total Loss or Theft
In case of a total loss or theft of your insured vehicle, your insurer will settle the claim based on your vehicle's IDV(Insured Declared Value), which would involve depreciation.
Regular Wear and Tear
Any damage caused to your insured car by its usual wear and tear or electrical/mechanical failure is not covered under a zero dep add on.
Negligent Driving
Claims under your zero depreciation car insurance will be rejected if the driver is found to be driving without a valid licence or under the influence of alcohol or toxic substances.
Vehicle Used for Purposes Other Than Intended
Damages sustained by your private vehicle when used for commercial purposes are also not covered under zero depreciation car insurance.
While comprehensive car insurance is a standard policy, zero depreciation is an optional add-on that you can purchase with your comprehensive plan to receive 100% compensation for repairs. Here is a table stating the basic differences between zero depreciation add-on and a comprehensive car insurance policy:
| Features | Zero Depreciation Add-on | Comprehensive Car Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | A zero dep cover is an add-on in car insurance under which the insurer doesn't charge the policyholder for the depreciation during claims. | A comprehensive car insurance policy offers coverage for both own damage and third party liabilities. |
| Coverage | Comprehensive coverage + nil deduction on vehicle or its parts | Third-party liabilities + own-damages |
| Premium | Higher premium costs than a standard comprehensive policy | Lower premium compared to a zero-dep add-on |
| Age of the Car | Can only be purchased for vehicles aged 10 years or less | Can be purchased for vehicles aged up to 15 years |
| Claim Settlement | 100% Claim Amount | Lesser claim amounts as depreciation is considered |
These are the key factors taken into consideration while calculating premium for a zero dep car insurance policy:
Your car's age is an important factor that impacts policy pricing. The older your vehicle, the higher its depreciation; consequently, your zero dep car insurance premium is also higher.
The make and model of a vehicle also affect the car insurance premium. A car with a larger cubic capacity and expensive parts will incur higher insurance costs.
The cost of the zero depreciation car insurance premium is higher in metropolitan cities compared to other tier-2 cities.
If you have installed any separate accessories in your vehicle, you will have to pay additional charges for your zero dep car insurance policy.
Cited below are the number of times policyholders can raise zero dep (ZD) and non zero-dep claims against their four-wheeler insurance policy based on different insurers:
| Insurer | No. of ZD Claims | No. of Non-ZD claims |
|---|---|---|
| Private Insurers | ||
| ICICI Lombard Car Insurance | 2 | Unlimited |
| TATA AIG Car Insurance | 2 | Unlimited |
| Bajaj Car Insurance (formerly known as Bajaj Allianz) | 2 | Unlimited |
| Go Digit Car Insurance | 1 or 2 (mentioned in policy pdf) | Unlimited |
| Chola MS Car Insurance | 2 | Unlimited |
| SBI Car Insurance | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Reliance General Insurance | 2 | Unlimited |
| Iffco Tokio Car Insurance | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Shriram Car Insurance | 2 | 3 |
| HDFC Car Insurance | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Royal Sundaram Car Insurance | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Universal Sompo Car Insurance | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Magma car insurance | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Future Generali Car Insurance | 2 | Unlimited |
| Liberty Car Insurance | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Zurich Kotak Car Insurance (formerly known as Kotak Mahindra) | 2 | Unlimited |
| Zuno Car Insurance | 2 | Unlimited |
| Public Insurers | ||
| New India Car Insurance | 2 | Unlimited |
| United Car Insurance | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| National Car Insurance | 2 | Unlimited |
| Oriental Car Insurance | 2 | Unlimited |

As mentioned above, if you don't have a zero dep add-on, you need to pay 50% depreciation on nylon, plastic, and rubber parts, including batteries, 30% on fibreglass components, and 5-10% on wooden parts.
However, if you have zero depreciation car insurance, you are not required to pay anything to the insurer. As a result, you will receive the full claim amount without deducting the depreciation sustained by your car. However, you should note that while filing a zero depreciation claim, you will lose your No Claim Bonus (NCB), unless you have the NCB protector add-on cover.

Car Insurance Companies
#Rs 2094/- per annum is the price for third-party motor insurance for private cars (non-commercial) of not more than 1000cc
*Savings are based on the comparison between the highest and the lowest premium for own damage cover (excluding add-on covers) provided by different insurance companies for the same vehicle with the same IDV and same NCB. Actual time for transaction may vary subject to additional data requirements and operational processes.
+Savings are based on the maximum discount on own damage premium as offered by our insurer partners.
^Lowest Price Guaranteed is based on certifications shared by insurers with us. Policybazaar will facilitate price matching subject to the terms and conditions of select insurers.
##Claim Assurance Program: Pick-up and drop facility available in 1400+ select network garages. On-ground workshop team available in select workshops. Repair warranty on parts at the sole discretion of insurance companies. Dedicated Claims Manager. 24x7 Claim Assistance.