International shipping insurance

Last reviewed on October 31, 2026.

"It's insured" means very different things depending on who says it. The cover on an international parcel can be modest, capped by country, or non-existent. Most courier "coverage" is not insurance at all: it is a declared value that raises the carrier's liability under its own terms. Third-party shipping insurance and your homeowner's or business policy each work differently again.

This page sets out what is included by each carrier, the upper limits, when paying extra is worth it, and what filing an international claim involves.

Included cover and maximums

Typical limits for U.S. outbound shipments, reviewed October 2026. These are planning figures, so check the current terms for your service and destination.

USPS Registered Mail changed

Older guides still recommend Registered Mail for valuables abroad. That advice is out of date. From January 1, 2026, international Registered Mail has been limited to First-Class Mail International letters containing documents. It is no longer available with First-Class Package International Service, and it is not available with Priority Mail International or Priority Mail Express International. The maximum indemnity rose to $40.20, regardless of the value you declare, and the limit is adjusted annually. It is useful as proof of handling and delivery, not as value protection.

For valuables by USPS, use insured Priority Mail International where the destination allows it. Valuables can't go by Priority Mail Express International (IMM 134).

Declared value isn't the same as insurance

Declared value sets the carrier's maximum liability under its own contract, and the terms exclude many causes of loss. It also can't exceed the real value of the goods. Payout is based on actual value or cost, up to the declared amount, so declaring more than the item is worth gains nothing. FedEx and UPS both set lower ceilings for high-risk goods such as jewelry, and UPS's terms set special conditions for international jewelry over $500 per package. Some destinations cap declared value too.

When paying extra is worth it

Add-on cover is priced by declared value, often around 1% as a rough planning figure, with a minimum fee. USPS's fee table is in Notice 123. The value depends on three things:

• Replacement cost. What it would really cost to replace, not the retail price.
• Probability of loss or damage. Higher for fragile items, long transit chains, and peak season.
• Other cover. Homeowner's or contents insurance sometimes covers items in transit, merchant policies often cover inventory, and credit-card purchase protection may cover items bought on the card. Check before assuming.

A working rule for most shippers:

1. Below $100: included cover usually suffices if the service has any. Check that it does.
2. $100 to $500: add cover if the contents are fragile, irreplaceable, or you have no other source. Otherwise you are taking a small, known risk.
3. $500 to $2,500: insure unless another policy explicitly applies.
4. Above $2,500: always insure, and check the country limit first. USPS may not be able to cover it, so a courier or a third-party policy may be required.

Carrier cover vs third-party shipping insurance

Carrier declared value is convenient: you buy it with the label and claim through the carrier. The downside is documentation, and the carrier deciding the claim is the party that lost or damaged the parcel.

Third-party shipping insurers can be cheaper at higher values or volumes, and may cover items or situations carriers exclude. Terms vary widely, so read the exclusions and destination list. High-volume sellers should compare a policy against per-shipment carrier charges.

What generally is not covered

• Underdeclared value. Declare $50, lose $500 worth of contents, and the payout is capped at about $50. Under-declaring to save duty can also be customs fraud.
• Prohibited items. USPS and the couriers won't pay on contents that shouldn't have shipped. See prohibited items.
• Poor packaging. Inadequately packed or too-fragile items are a common reason for denial.
• Customs seizure or delay. If customs seizes the parcel for restricted goods or bad paperwork, that is usually the sender's problem.
• Delay and spoilage. USPS excludes delay and spoiled perishables. Couriers' money-back terms, where offered, are separate.
• Indirect losses. Lost profits or a missed event aren't covered.
• Delivery accepted without reservation. If the recipient accepts a parcel with no sign of damage or loss, USPS may refuse a claim (IMM 933), so inspect on delivery.

How a claim actually works

1. Check the window. Each carrier sets its own deadlines, and some are short. DHL's terms, for instance, require written claims within about 30 days in many markets. Check yours as soon as a problem appears.
2. Open a claim or inquiry through the carrier's process, with the tracking number, proof of value (invoice or receipt) and proof of contents (photos, packing list).
3. Inspection. For damage, the carrier may want to see the parcel. Keep the box and all packing.
4. Decision and payout. Expect weeks rather than days. Payment normally goes to the sender. USPS will pay the addressee only if the sender waives the right in writing.

Postal claims involve both USPS and the destination's postal operator, which makes them slower. USPS generally starts with an inquiry, and IMM chapter 9 has the process.

Practical tips that actually reduce claims

• Photograph the contents and the packed box before shipping.
• Use the right packaging. Double-box fragile items with at least two inches of cushioning. The "fragile" sticker is not what saves the contents.
• Declare actual value, both for customs and for cover. See the customs forms guide.
• Keep receipts and invoices. An original invoice is the strongest proof of value. Sellers should use a proper commercial invoice.
• For high-value shipments, use signature delivery with a tracked service. It settles "delivered" disputes.

Checklist before buying cover

• What's the included amount for this specific service and destination?
• What's the country maximum? USPS's figures are in the Individual Country Listing.
• What does cover to my real value cost?
• Are the contents excluded or limited (jewelry, electronics, antiques)?
• Does my homeowner's, business or card-issuer cover already apply?
• Is theft after delivery covered if the last-mile carrier leaves it unattended?
• What's the claim deadline?

Where to go next

• Compare all four carriers: services and limits at a glance.
• International shipping rates: what cover adds to the bill.
• Customs forms: declare value accurately so a claim isn't capped.
• Prohibited items: don't ship what you can't insure.
• Glossary: declared value, indemnity and related terms.