Return-to-Invoice in Car Insurance

​RTI, or return-to-invoice cover in car insurance, is an add-on that ensures you get the full invoice value of your car in case of total loss or theft. Instead of receiving the depreciated market value, RTI covers the gap between your car’s current value and the original purchase price.

Reliance General Insurance’s return-to-invoice cover is ideal for new car owners. It offers protection from the financial burden of replacing a stolen or completely damaged car. This valuable add-on, combined with our comprehensive car insurance plan, ensures complete protection of your car.

Safeguard your valuable investment on the road with us with our best features:

RTI in Car Insurance Meaning

• RTI (Return-to-Invoice) Cover is an add-on that fills the gap between your car’s depreciated value and its original purchase price in case of total loss or theft.
• In case of a total loss, such as theft or irreparable damage, a standard car insurance policy will offer coverage after considering the depreciated value of your car. This means that your claim amount will be reduced.
• ​However, with RTI car insurance, you are compensated with the original invoice value of the car, which includes the vehicle's price, road tax and registration charges.
• For example, if your car was worth ₹8 lakhs at the time of purchase, you will get the original price reimbursed with the RTI cover in case of total loss. But without this cover, the depreciation rate will be considered, giving you less than the purchase price when claiming your insurance.
• It is ideal for new car owners and can save you from hefty out-of-pocket expenses by ensuring full value recovery.

How Does Return-to-Invoice Add-On Cover Work in Car Insurance?

• RTI car insurance ensures that you receive the full invoice value of your car in case of total loss or damage. Typically, when a car is damaged beyond repair or is stolen, your standard car insurance will only compensate the loss after deducting the depreciated value.
• This means that in case of a claim, the policyholder would only receive the current market value of the vehicle, which is significantly lower than the original purchase price.
• As your car ages, the gap between its original value and depreciated value increases, resulting in a lower claim amount.
• However, with the RTI cover, you will receive the full invoice for your car, including the purchase price, registration charges and tax. This eliminates the impact of depreciation and allows you to fully recover from the hefty loss.

Example of RTI in Car Insurance

To help you understand how depreciation and RTI work in car insurance, let us consider the following example. This explains a scenario where X had to claim their car insurance for a total loss of their car. Here is the difference with and without the RTI cover in car insurance:

This example shows how RTI ensures full-value recovery, making it an essential add-on for new car owners.

Benefits of Return-to-Invoice in Car Insurance

Enhanced Coverage

When you opt for RTI car insurance, you are assured of getting the amount spent on purchasing the vehicle in case of total loss or theft. This add-on is available with our comprehensive car insurance, enhancing the already extensive coverage.

Provides Special Protection in Case of Thefts

Car thefts pose a great risk to your car, especially if you own a brand-new or luxury car. This add-on cover protects your investment and provides full invoice value if you lose your car in a theft.

Benefits in Case of Total Loss

If your car undergoes severe damage in a car accident, which will cost more than 75% of the car’s original value, it is declared as a total loss. In such a case, you can claim your RTI cover in car insurance and get the car’s invoice value back.

Best for Those Living in High-Risk Areas

If you reside in a busy city or a disaster-prone area, you are more likely to incur hefty damages to your car. In such cases, our RTI cover can help you quickly recover from the loss without any interruptions.

Ideal for New Cars

If you are a new car owner, your precious car is more prone to theft or expensive damages. Losing a recent big financial investment can cause a huge financial burden. Thus, our return-to-invoice car insurance is ideal for protecting your finances and securing peace of mind.

When is Car Insurance with Return-to-Invoice Cover Applicable?

The return-to-invoice (RTI) Cover is applicable in the following scenarios:

• Total Loss Due to Accidents: If the car is damaged beyond repair, RTI ensures you receive the original invoice value instead of the depreciated market value.
• Theft of the Car: In case the car is stolen and unrecoverable, the RTI cover in car insurance helps you claim the full invoice price, including road tax and registration charges.
• Irreparable Damage Due to Natural Calamities: RTI applies in events like floods, earthquakes, or landslides where the car suffers total damage.
• Complete Loss Due to Fire or Explosion: If your car is destroyed by fire or an explosion, RTI covers the full cost of replacement based on the invoice value.
• Complete Loss Events: The RTI cover applies to policyholders who own cars less than 3-5 years old.

When is RTI Car Insurance Not Applicable?

The return-to-invoice in car insurance is not applicable under the following conditions:

• Partial Damage: The return-to-invoice in car insurance does not cover claims for repairable damages or minor accidents, such as dents or scratches.
• Cars Older than 3-5 Years: This add-on is only available for cars less than 3-5 years old, depending on the insurer. Thus, it does not cover damages to older vehicles.
• Missing Police Report: In theft cases, if the final police investigation report confirming the theft is not submitted, the RTI claim will not be settled.
• Invalid Total Loss or Theft Claim: If the total loss or theft claim is not valid according to our rules of the policy, RTI will not cover the financial difference.
• Third-party Liabilities: This is an add-on cover applicable to our own-damage and comprehensive insurance plans. Thus, it does not cover third-party damages.
• Policy Lapses: If your Reliance car insurance policy has lapsed or has not been renewed on time, the RTI cover will not be valid.

Reliance General Insurance’s Return-to-Invoice in Car Insurance- Inclusions and Exclusions

Calculation of Return-to-Invoice in Car Insurance

Here's how the claim is calculated without RTI:

• If your car is declared a total loss, we offer you reimbursement based on your policy’s coverage (IDV) and age of the vehicle.
• Thus, the claim amount you receive is after accounting for the depreciation rate.

The depreciation rates in India are as follows:

• ​So, without the RTI cover, the IDV will cover the expenses based on the above rate. As a result, you will get an amount much less than the original price.

The Return to Invoice (RTI) cover ensures you receive the full invoice value of your car, including road tax and registration fees, in case of total loss due to accidents or theft.

With RTI cover, the claim amount will be calculated in the following ways (whichever is lower):

• RTI Claim Amount = Ex-showroom price + Registration Charges + Road tax at the time of purchase
• Current replacement cost of car of the same make and model = Ex-showroom price + Registration Charges + Road tax

Cost of RTI Premium in Car Insurance

Return-to-invoice is an add-on cover that is accessible to our own-damage car insurance and comprehensive car insurance policyholders. Since it is an add-on, it increases the base policy’s price, which depends on the following factors:

• Car’s age
• Make and model of the car
• Geographical location
• Choice of plan
• Choice of other add-ons
• Insured Declared Value (IDV)

To get a precise estimate of the RTI premium in car insurance, you can use our online . It considers the same factors mentioned above and gives you an instant quote.

How to Buy RTI Add-on Car Insurance with Reliance General Insurance?

If you already own our comprehensive car insurance policy, you can opt for this add-on at the time of policy renewal. However, if you are not an existing customer, here is how to buy our online:

1. Visit the official . Navigate to our car insurance page.
2. Give us your mobile number and email address. Next, enter the registration number of your car.
3. You will receive an instant quote via your email.
4. Choose either one of our car insurance plans, own-damage or comprehensive. Select the return-to-invoice add-on and verify your choices.
5. Verify the price calculated based on your choices and complete the payment process.

How Do You Claim RTI with Reliance General Insurance?

1. Register your claim for a total loss of your vehicle within 24 hours in any of the following ways:

1. Call our paid helpline number +91-22-48903009
2. Log in to your
3. Go to our
1. Collect a stamped copy of the FIR filed at the nearest police station in case of theft.
2. If your car is severely damaged in an accident, our claim expert will inspect the extent of damage to your car.
3. Get the report from the surveyor stating that your car is beyond repair and has been declared a "total loss."
4. Submit your along with the necessary documents to us. Upon approval, you will receive the total invoice price for your car.

Difference Between RTI and IDV

RTI or Nil Depreciation?

Key Points to Remember with Return-to-Invoice Cover in Car Insurance

• Return-to-invoice cover in car insurance is only applicable in situations where your car is stolen or declared a total loss after an accident.
• RTI is available only for new cars or vehicles up to 3-5 years old. It is highly beneficial for luxury car owners to protect their hefty investments.
• This add-on cover does not extend to electrical/non-electrical accessories and imported vehicles.
• Unlike IDV-based claims, RTI does not consider depreciation, ensuring full reimbursement of your car’s invoice value.
• Without this cover, you will receive the sum assured, i.e. the IDV, based on the depreciation rate applicable to your car.
• RTI comes with an additional premium, so consider the cost versus benefits when adding it to your policy.
• This does not cover minor damages to your car; it only covers total loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

  Any add-on that you buy with our own-damage or comprehensive car insurance is valid for one year. You must add it again while renewing your policy for continued benefits.

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

  No. As discussed above, this add-on cover is only applicable to new years younger than 5 years of age. Thus, you cannot opt for this add-on for older cars.

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

  Yes. Luxury cars are at high risk of being stolen. Since you invest a huge amount while buying such an expensive car, it is ideal that you secure complete protection with our return-to-invoice add-on.

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

  No, this cover is only applicable in case of a total loss of your car.

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

  Yes, you can add more add-ons to this one to further enhance your coverage. We offer a range of 10+ add-ons that ensure overall protection for your car.

Disclaimer: *T&C apply. For more details on risk factors, terms conditions, brochure, and exclusions, please read the policy wording and CIS carefully before concluding a sale. Details mentioned here are for the product- Reliance Private Car Package Policy. UIN: IRDAN103RP0010V02100001; Reliance Private Car Policy – Bundled, UIN: IRDAN103RP0007V02201819; Reliance Private Car Policy- Standalone Own Damage UIN- IRDAN103RP0001V01201920; "A" Policy for Act Liability Insurance ( Pc /Tw/Commercial ), UIN: IRDAN103RP0003V01200102; A" Policy for Act Liability Insurance (Private Car) – 3 years, UIN: IRDAN103RP0003V01201819;

Premium: The premium mentioned for car Insurance is excluding taxes for the private car model Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 with cubic capacity of less than 1000 cc for a 1 year Own Damage Insurance policy for an IDV of ₹2,34,728. Premium used is 2,853/year as on 1 March 2023 and then converted into a per month basis, which gives us ₹238/month (2,853/12).

Network Garages: The number of garages mentioned is the total of all the garages empanelled across the country for different vehicle categories.

Claim Settlement Ratio: This is the overall claim settlement ratio for FY 2023-24 without claim outstanding at the start of the financial year as per public disclosure of Reliance General Insurance Co. Ltd.