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Daily conveyance and downtime allowance: covering life without your vehicle
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Introduction
Daily Conveyance Benefit pays you a fixed daily amount for each day your car sits in the garage for an approved repair, so the cost of getting around without it does not fall entirely on you while the workshop finishes the job.
In this blog, we are going to cover what this cover is called and what all the names mean, exactly what it pays and when it is triggered, how long the daily benefit runs, who benefits most from holding it, who can skip it, and what it does not include.
Keep in mind
Daily Conveyance Benefit pays a fixed daily amount, not a replacement car, for each day of an approved Own Damage repair
It only applies alongside an approved claim, never for routine maintenance or self-arranged delays
Most plans set a maximum number of payable days per claim and per policy year
The compulsory deductible still applies separately and is not offset by this benefit
The benefit amount and day limit are set out in your policy document, and vary by plan
What this cover is called, and what all the names mean
This optional cover appears under several names across policy documents, comparison platforms, and insurer websites. All refer to the same product.
Daily Conveyance Benefit Cover
Pays a fixed daily amount towards alternative transport while the car is being repaired after a covered event.
Downtime Allowance
Refers to the daily benefit paid while the car is unavailable for use.
Transport Allowance Cover
Highlights that the benefit is intended to help with alternative transport costs such as cabs or buses.
Loss of Use Cover
Refers to the loss of access to the car while it is being repaired.
Always check the policy wording for the exact benefit, limits and conditions.
What daily conveyance benefit cover actually does
Daily conveyance benefit cover pays a fixed daily amount while your car is in the garage for an approved Own Damage claim repair. The amount is set when you buy the policy, typically around ₹500-₹1,000 per day, depending on the insurer and plan.
It is a fixed benefit, not reimbursement, so you do not need to submit taxi or bus receipts. If the benefit is ₹750 per day, you receive ₹750 regardless of whether you spend ₹300 or ₹1,200 on transport.
The cover generally applies when:
- An OD claim for a covered event has been approved.
- The car is at a garage for the approved repair.
- The car is unavailable for use during the repair.
Payment is made for the eligible repair period, up to the maximum number of days specified in the policy.
What triggers the cover, and what does not
Daily conveyance benefit cover is linked specifically to an approved OD claim repair. It does not pay for every period the car is unavailable.
What triggers the cover:
- The car is in a garage for repair following an approved Own Damage claim, accident damage, fire damage, flood damage, or another covered OD event
- The repair is ongoing, the car has not yet been returned to the owner
What does not trigger the cover:
Routine servicing
If the car is in for a scheduled service, an oil change, a filter replacement, a general inspection, the daily conveyance benefit does not apply. The cover is linked to an OD claim repair, not to planned maintenance.
Mechanical breakdown unrelated to a covered event
If the car breaks down due to a mechanical failure, a seized engine, a failed gearbox, and the breakdown is not the result of a covered OD event, the conveyance benefit does not pay. The breakdown must be covered under the OD policy to trigger the daily benefit.
Voluntary garage stays
If the car is left at the garage voluntarily, for cosmetic work, for a non-urgent repair, without an OD claim being raised, the daily benefit does not apply.
Standby periods waiting for parts
This is a nuanced area. Some plans count waiting days, days the car is at the garage but repair has not started because parts have not arrived, within the covered period. Others count only active repair days. Check your policy document for how waiting days are treated on your specific plan.
The practical point: the daily benefit starts on the day the car enters the garage for an approved OD claim repair and ends when the car is ready for collection, up to the plan's maximum duration.
How long the daily benefit runs and what the limits are
Daily conveyance benefit usually comes with three main limits:
Daily benefit
The fixed amount paid for each eligible day, typically ₹500-₹1,000 depending on the insurer and plan.
Maximum days per claim
The benefit is paid only for a set number of days, commonly 15-30 days. For example, if repairs take 10 days, you receive the benefit for 10 days. If they take 40 days and the limit is 30 days, payment stops at 30 days.
Maximum benefit per claim
This is the total amount you can receive for one claim. For example, ₹750 per day × 30 days = ₹22,500 maximum benefit.
Number of claims
Some plans may allow the benefit for multiple qualifying OD claims during the policy year, while others may have an annual claim limit. Check your policy wording for the specific limit.
GST at 18% applies to the premium charged for this optional cover.
Who benefits most from daily conveyance benefit cover
Daily conveyance benefits can be useful when you rely heavily on your car and would face high transport costs while it is being repaired.
Consider it if you:
Depend on your car for daily commuting
If you use your car every day and have limited public transport options, the fixed daily benefit can offset cab, auto or other transport costs.
Have a single-car household
If your family depends on one car for work, school and daily errands, the benefit can help cover alternative transport costs.
Expect longer repair times
Cars with complex electronics, premium models, customised finishes or parts that may need to be ordered can spend longer in the garage.
Live in a city with high commuting costs
If replacing your daily car commute with cabs is expensive, a fixed daily benefit can cover part of the cost.
You may not need it if you:
Have another car available
A second vehicle can cover your transport needs while one car is being repaired.
Work from home and rarely use the car
If you mainly use your car for occasional trips, your alternative transport costs may be low.
Rarely raise OD claims
Since the benefit is linked to an eligible OD repair claim, you may not use it often enough to offset the additional premium.
Already have employer transport or a commute allowance
Existing transport support may reduce the need for this cover.
What daily conveyance cover does not include
Daily conveyance benefit cover is a fixed daily payment for a specific trigger. It does not extend to other costs or other situations.
Actual transport expenses above the daily benefit
The daily amount is a fixed benefit, it is not a reimbursement of actual costs. If your transport costs on a given day exceed the daily benefit, the additional amount is out of pocket. The cover does not adjust to actual spend.
Fuel costs for another vehicle
If you use a friend's or family member's car while yours is in the garage, the daily benefit is still paid, but it does not specifically reimburse fuel costs for that vehicle. The benefit is a general daily allowance, not a fuel reimbursement.
The repair bill itself
The daily conveyance benefit does not pay any part of the repair bill. The standard OD policy handles the repair cost. The daily benefit is a separate, additional payment for the transport inconvenience during the repair, not a contribution toward fixing the car.
Days the car is parked at the garage but not being repaired
If the car is dropped at the garage on Monday but repair does not begin until Wednesday, the days between drop-off and repair start may or may not be counted depending on the plan. Check your policy document for how pre-repair waiting days are treated.
Servicing and non-OD related garage stays
The cover is linked exclusively to an approved OD claim repair. Servicing, inspections, and non-claim repairs are not covered.
What Kiwi Insurance does differently
When your car is being repaired after an OD claim, you need to keep track of both the repair progress and the claim settlement. Kiwi Insurance provides a dedicated point of contact to help with both.
Dedicated Claims Specialist
Once you register your claim, Kiwi assigns a Claims Specialist who explains what the approved claim covers, how the daily conveyance benefit applies and what to expect during the repair and settlement process.
One point of contact
Your Claims Specialist remains reachable through the Kiwi app, so you have one person familiar with your claim for updates and questions.
Support from registration to settlement
The specialist guides you through the claim process until final settlement, including queries about the repair period and eligible benefits.
Conclusion
Daily conveyance benefit cover pays a fixed daily amount for every day the car is in the garage for an approved OD claim repair. It is not an expense reimbursement, it is a fixed benefit that provides a predictable daily sum toward alternative transport costs during the repair period. The cover is most useful for daily commuters and single-car households where the car's absence creates a real transport cost.
With Kiwi Insurance, a dedicated Claims Specialist is assigned once you register a claim to explain what your covers pay and track the repair period alongside you from start to finish.
Is your car in for repair and your daily commute costing you more than expected?
Head to Kiwi Insurance to add daily conveyance benefit cover to your car insurance at the next renewal.
Frequently asked questions
Daily Conveyance Benefit is an optional cover that pays a fixed daily amount for each day your car is at the garage for an approved Own Damage claim repair. It is a cash payout meant to offset the cost of alternate transport, not a substitute vehicle provided in place of your own car.