What is a Motor add-ons (engine protect, RSA, RTI, consumables)?
Motor add-ons extend a comprehensive car policy for extra premium. Common ones: engine protect (damage to engine/gearbox, e.g. from water ingress), roadside assistance (towing, jump-start, help on the road), return-to-invoice (pays the invoice price, not just IDV, on total loss/theft), and consumables (oils, nuts, bolts normally excluded).
What each add-on does
Engine protect covers consequential damage to the engine and gearbox — notably hydrostatic lock from driving through water — which a standard own-damage policy often excludes. Roadside assistance provides on-road help like towing, fuel, jump-start and lockout support.
Return-to-invoice bridges the gap between IDV and your original invoice price on theft or total loss, so you are made closer to whole. Consumables cover pays for small items — engine oil, nuts, bolts, lubricants — that are otherwise deducted from a claim.
Example
During heavy monsoon flooding, a car's engine is damaged by water ingress. A standard policy may decline the engine repair, but an engine-protect add-on covers it.
Common mistakes
- Driving through flood water assuming a basic policy covers engine damage — engine protect is usually needed.
- Skipping return-to-invoice on a new car, then receiving only the depreciated IDV after a theft or total loss.
- Adding every add-on regardless of relevance instead of matching them to your risks.
Frequently asked questions
Which motor add-ons are most useful?
It depends on your risk: zero-dep and engine protect for newer cars and flood-prone areas, return-to-invoice for new vehicles, and roadside assistance for long-distance or older-car drivers.
Does engine protect cover normal engine wear?
No. It covers sudden, accidental engine/gearbox damage (like water ingress or leakage-related damage), not routine wear, servicing or mechanical breakdown.