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Return to Invoice in Car Insurance

Return to Invoice (RTI) is a special add-on cover for your car insurance. When you buy a new car, you pay the full price shown on the bill. But as years pass, your car's value goes down due to wear and tear. This is called depreciation.

RTI is very important because regular car insurance only pays you the current market value of your car if it gets stolen or completely damaged. This means you get much less money than what you originally paid. RTI fills this gap by giving you the full amount you paid when you bought the car.

Imagine you bought a car for ₹10 lakhs three years ago. Today, its market value is only ₹6 lakhs. If your car gets stolen without RTI cover, you'll only get ₹6 lakhs. But with RTI, you get the full ₹10 lakhs you originally paid.

IndusInd General Insurance (formerly Reliance General Insurance) offers an RTI cover to protect your investment. We understand that losing a car is already stressful, and getting less money makes it worse. Our RTI cover ensures you don't face financial loss. With us, you get trusted protection backed by 5 crore+ happy customers*, 11,000+ network garages* and instant claim processing with the Self-i app. We make sure you're never left helpless when you need us most.

How Does RTI Work in Car Insurance?

RTI works like a financial shield that protects you from losing money on your car investment. Think of it as insurance for your insurance. When you buy a new car, you not only pay for the vehicle but also for registration fees, road tax and other charges. All these costs are mentioned in your car's invoice. With so many expenses, having an RTI becomes crucial because it ensures that if something bad happens to your car, you get back every penny you spent.

The working process of an RTI insurance is quite simple to understand. First, you buy RTI as an add-on with your main car insurance policy by paying a small extra premium for this protection. Then, when your car faces total loss due to theft, a major accident, fire or natural disasters like floods, RTI kicks in to help you. Instead of getting the reduced market value that regular insurance offers, you receive the full invoice amount without any deductions.

Now, when it comes to RTI premium calculation, it depends on multiple factors that insurance companies carefully consider. Your car's age plays the biggest role because newer cars have higher premiums since their invoice value is higher. Along with this, the make and model matter significantly - for example, a Maruti Alto will have a different premium than a BMW due to their different values. Your location is equally important in this calculation because if you live in a city with high crime rates or natural disaster risks, you'll naturally pay more for coverage.

When your car is stolen or completely damaged, we pay these two amounts:

1. Original invoice amount (car price + registration + road tax)
2. Current replacement cost of the same car model

This means if your car's invoice value was ₹8 lakhs but the same new car now costs ₹9 lakhs, you'll get ₹8 lakhs. But if the new car now costs ₹7 lakhs, you'll get ₹7 lakhs.

The best part is that there's no depreciation deduction. You get the full amount without any cuts for your car's age or condition.

Benefits of IndusInd RTI Add-On Cover

Return to invoice makes sure you receive complete reimbursement of your car's original purchase price, without any depreciation deductions. This means no financial loss when your car gets stolen or damaged beyond repair.

Car thefts are common, particularly in urban areas, for new and expensive vehicles. RTI provides complete financial security by covering the full invoice value, making it easy for you to replace your stolen car.

When accident damage costs more than 75% of your car's value, it's declared a total loss. RTI covers this situation perfectly, which provides you with the funds to purchase a brand-new replacement vehicle immediately.

If you live in flood-prone areas or busy cities with high accident rates, the return to invoice add-on cover offers extra protection. Your car is fully protected and covered against natural and man-made disasters.

New car buyers invest significant money and need maximum protection for their valuable purchase. RTI is perfect for protecting this big investment and avoiding huge out-of-pocket expenses during emergencies.

Who Should Buy an RTI Cover?

New Car Owners

Brand-new cars should definitely consider RTI cover, as their investment is the highest and needs maximum protection against total loss.

Luxury Car Owners

Owners of expensive cars like BMW, Mercedes or Audi should buy RTI since these vehicles are theft targets and replacement costs are very high.

High-Risk Area Residents

People living in cities with high crime rates or natural disaster zones should opt for RTI to protect against theft and disaster damage.

First-Time Car Owners

Those buying their first car often invest their life savings and cannot afford to lose money due to depreciation in case of accidents.

RTI Cover: Inclusions & Exclusions

When is RTI Applicable?

Complete Reimbursement Coverage: RTI provides full reimbursement for road tax, applicable insurance cost, vehicle purchase price as per invoice and current replacement price if the same model is available.

First-Time Registration and Transit: RTI includes first-time registration charges and covers damage caused during transit from the dealer to your location, ensuring complete financial protection from day one.

Total Loss Due to Accidents: RTI applies when your car is damaged beyond repair in accidents and repair costs exceed 75% of the vehicle's value, making it economically unviable.

Natural Disaster Coverage: RTI covers total damage from floods, earthquakes, landslides, cyclones and other natural calamities that destroy your car beyond any possibility of repair or restoration.

Man-Made Disasters Protection: RTI covers total loss from riots, strikes, terrorist attacks and vandalism where your car suffers irreparable damage requiring complete replacement with a new vehicle.

Fire and Explosion Damage: RTI covers complete destruction from fire, explosions or electrical short circuits, ensuring you receive the full original purchase amount for immediate vehicle replacement.

Vehicle Theft Cases: When your car gets stolen and remains unrecovered after police investigation, RTI covers the full invoice value, including registration charges and road tax payments.

When is RTI Not Applicable?

Aftermarket Accessories: Non-built-in electrical, electronic and non-electrical accessories added after purchase are excluded from RTI coverage as they weren't part of the original invoice value.

Imported Vehicles: Cars imported from other countries are not eligible for RTI coverage due to different valuation methods and replacement cost calculation complexities in insurance.

Coverage Area Limitations: Loss incurred outside the designated coverage area, normal wear and tear damage and depreciated value calculations are not covered under RTI protection schemes.

Minor Damages and Exclusions: Minor damage, scratches, war damages, nuclear risks and partial repairs are excluded since RTI only applies to total loss scenarios requiring complete replacement.

Disclaimer: For the complete list of Inclusions and Exclusions, please refer to the policy wording here

How to Buy RTI Add-On With Car Insurance?

On top of this page, enter your car registration number and mobile number. You can also use our calculator below to check your car insurance premiums.

If your car is new click, "Bought a New Car" and then "View Price". Next, select your car make/model and enter your registration and previous policy details if available.

Enter your mobile number and then the OTP you receive. Next select your policy type and choose your car's IDV from the given range.

Select the RTI add-on on the next page and any other add-ons you require, then review the policy details and final price.

Pay online using your preferred mode (Card/UPI/Net Banking) and complete the CKYC with your PAN details to receive your policy.

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How to Claim Under the RTI Cover?

Steps to File a Total Loss Claim Under Car Insurance

Step 1: Inform Us

Contact us within 24 hours through helpline +91 22 48903009, website or Self-i app to register your total loss claim quickly.

Step 2: File an FIR

Visit the police station to file an FIR for theft cases and collect a stamped copy for claim documentation purposes.

Step 3: Go to a Network Garage

Use the widget below to find the nearest network garage. Our experts will inspect your severely damaged car to assess if it qualifies for a total loss declaration.

Step 4: Get Surveyor Report

Get an official surveyor report confirming your car is beyond repair and has been declared a total loss by experts.

Step 5: Send Documents & Get Reimbursed

Provide all required documents, including the surveyor report, to us and receive the full invoice value upon claim approval.

Disclaimer: For precise claim-related information, please refer to our policy documents or get in touch with our customer helpline.

RTI vs IDV vs Nil Depreciation

Parameters	RTI	IDV	Nil Dep
Definition	An add-on cover that pays the difference between IDV and invoice price in case of total loss/theft	The current market value of the vehicle as declared in the policy	An add-on cover that waives depreciation deduction during claim settlement
Coverage	Covers gap between IDV and original invoice price only for total loss/theft scenarios	Covers vehicle's depreciated market value as standard coverage in comprehensive policy	Covers parts without depreciation deduction for partial damage like rubber, plastic and metal parts
Depreciation Considerations	Depreciation is factored into IDV, RTI covers the gap	Full depreciation applied as per vehicle age	Zero depreciation applied on covered parts during claims
Eligibility	Available for new vehicles usually up to 5 years with valid comprehensive cover	Available for all vehicles irrespective of age as a mandatory component of motor insurance	Available for new vehicles, usually up to 7 years with a good claim history preferred
Premium	Moderate additional cost of 1-3% of IDV as one-time add-on premium	No additional cost as part of base comprehensive premium is calculated on IDV amount	Higher additional cost of 10-15% of base premium, being the most expensive add-on requiring annual renewal
Best For	Premium starting atNew car owners concerned about total loss scenarios and vehicles in high-theft area	All vehicle owners seeking standard protection, especially budget-conscious buyers	New car owners, frequent city drivers wanting maximum claim benefits for minor damages

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Reliance’s online set up helps ease the process of purchasing a health plan.

Features	Features	Features	Features
Premium starting at	Premium starting at	Premium starting at	Premium starting at

Key Takeaways

Buying a car is one of life's biggest investments. You work hard, save money and finally get your dream car. But what happens if it gets stolen or damaged? Without proper protection, you could lose thousands of rupees due to depreciation.

This is exactly why RTI cover matters so much. It's not just another insurance add-on - it's your financial safety net. When the worst happens, RTI ensures you don't have to dig into your savings again to buy a replacement car.

At IndusInd General Insurance (formerly Reliance General Insurance), we know how important your car is to you and your family. That's why our RTI cover is designed to give you complete protection. With over 5 crore satisfied customers trusting us, we've built our reputation on keeping promises when it matters most.

Our extensive network of 11,000+ garages* across India means help is always nearby. Plus, with our user-friendly Self-i app, claiming your RTI benefits is quick and hassle-free.

Don't let depreciation eat into your hard-earned money. Choose IndusInd General Insurance RTI cover today and drive with confidence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is return to invoice really needed?

Yes, RTI is essential for new car owners. Without it, you lose money due to depreciation if your car gets stolen or damaged completely. For a ₹10 lakh car, you might only get ₹6 lakhs after three years without RTI protection.

How to check the IDV value of a car?

Check your car insurance policy document for IDV value. You can also visit the insurer's website, enter your car details like make, model, year and variant. The system will show the current market value as IDV automatically.

Is the return to invoice cover worth it?

RTI is worth it for new car owners and expensive vehicles. It costs only 1-3% extra premium but saves thousands during a total loss. For cars over 5 years old, the benefit reduces significantly, making it less valuable.

What is the validity of return-to-invoice cover?

RTI coverage lasts for twelve months, just like your main car insurance policy. You need to purchase this add-on fresh every year during policy renewal. It won't automatically extend, so remember to include it when buying next year's insurance.

Can I buy the RTI cover for a car older than 5 years of age?

RTI is only offered for vehicles under 5 years old. If your car crosses this age limit, insurance companies won't sell you this add-on. The older your car gets, the less valuable RTI becomes anyway.

Is it ideal to buy this add-on for my new BMW Z4?

Definitely yes for your BMW Z4. Premium cars face higher theft risks and replacement costs are massive. RTI guarantees you recover your full purchase amount, which could be several lakhs for such luxury vehicles.

Does the RTI add-on cover minor damage to my car?

RTI doesn't help with small damages, dents or repair work. This add-on activates only during total loss scenarios, like theft or when repair costs exceed your car's market value significantly.

Can I opt for more add-ons along with the RTI cover?

You can definitely combine RTI with multiple other add-ons. Options include zero depreciation, consumables cover, engine protection and roadside assistance. Mix different add-ons to create comprehensive protection for your vehicle.