Whether you ship one package per day or a hundred, every international and domestic shipment reaching its destination is paramount to your customer happiness and business growth. Generally, you can rely on your carrier to transport your goods without issue. Still, accidents happen. And that’s where shipping insurance comes in.
Shipping insurance is your protection against the unknown and your countermeasure for when packages go missing, arrive damaged, or suffer any mishap that would harm your customer experience.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) processed 44% of the world’s mail in 2022 and, as such, is one of the premier shipping services in the nation. To understand their insurance policies, we’ll provide a full breakdown of USPS coverage, claims, and benefits in this article.
What is USPS Insurance?
USPS shipping insurance is an optional layer of protection you can apply to your packages to recover costs in case of damages, missing shipments, and accidents in transit.
In some cases, packages sent with USPS include an amount of free coverage, but generally, insurance fees depend on the value you declare for the item.
Additionally, USPS may offer advanced delivery measures for your insured packages, such as signature confirmation, return receipts, and proof of ID from the recipient upon delivery. These supplementary steps can help ensure a successful, verifiable delivery to protect against stolen or missing goods.
Why is USPS Shipping Insurance Important?
While accidents are rare, they do happen. USPS shipping insurance provides peace of mind and financial protection in case your package is lost, damaged, or stolen during transit.
Here are some scenarios where USPS insurance can be a lifesaver:
- Lost Package: If your package goes missing and is never found, USPS insurance will reimburse you for the declared value of the contents.
- Damaged Package: If your package arrives damaged, USPS insurance will cover the cost of repairs or replacements.
- Stolen Package: In case of theft, USPS insurance can help recoup your losses.
Even if the financial loss is minimal, dealing with lost or damaged packages can be a hassle. USPS insurance streamlines the process and minimizes disruptions to your business.
USPS Insurance Cost
Depending on your USPS shipping method, your package may automatically come with up to $100 worth of free insurance coverage. Additional coverage may be available for purchase upon request.
USPS shipping insurance only covers the actual value of the package’s contents. The limit for indemnity coverage is $5,000. For coverage for more valuable goods, use Registered Mail to insure items of value up to $50,000 at any USPS location.
- Standard Mail – Insurance fees start at $2.70 for up to $50.00 worth of merchandise. The topmost range of coverage ($600.01 – $5,000) is priced at $12.15 plus $1.85 per $100.00 or a fraction thereof over $600 in declared value. Remember that additional services, like signature confirmation, cost an additional fee.
- Priority Mail Express & Priority Mail – Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express include up to $100 of insurance coverage for free. Additional insurance is available for purchase in increments up to $5,000 of coverage. Purchase additional coverage at your local Post Office or online.
- USPS Ground Advantage – Similar to Priority Mail, shipping with Ground Advantage comes with up to $100 of coverage for free. You may purchase incremental coverage up to $5,000 at your local post office.
- Private insurance options – Shippers with many packages requiring insurance should also consider private parcel insurance options. Lojistic has developed partnerships with some of the industry's leaders, so please contact us if you need help finding a best-in-class provider.
Coverage Details
Insuring your mail with the USPS provides you with a mailing receipt as proof of your insurance, but the USPS doesn’t keep a record of insured mail at their offices. While the USPS keeps insured mail delivery records for a period, keeping your mailing receipt for additional security is recommended.
Not all packages are eligible for USPS insurance. Items too fragile to withstand regular handling are ineligible for coverage. Similarly, the USPS only covers items adequately packed enough to withstand normal handling in the mail, so proper packing is still required.
To ensure your valuable items are protected during shipping, consider exploring small parcel insurance options available through the USPS or third-party providers.
International USPS Insurance
Shipping internationally comes with its own set of challenges, and protecting your shipments is paramount. Understanding USPS guidelines for international shipments and available additional insurance coverage is crucial.
While domestic shipments often come with standard insurance options, international shipment insurance can vary significantly. Factors like the destination country, the value of the item, and the chosen shipping service will determine the available coverage and costs.
Always check the specific USPS guidelines for the country you're shipping to. Some countries have limitations on insured values or specific item restrictions.
If your package is lost, damaged, or stolen during international transit, you'll need to understand the insurance claim process. While similar to domestic claims, there might be additional complexities due to international regulations and coordination between postal services.
How to Purchase USPS Insurance
To purchase additional insurance on your packages in person, visit your nearest USPS office and confirm the coverage you need with a mail handler.
Purchasing coverage online is easy, too. Select your coverage amount when creating shipping labels through your preferred online postage solution, such as PC Postage, Click-N-Ship, or eBay.
There are no extra forms needed to buy insurance online. Online labels come with USPS Tracking by default, so you can still check delivery status online. Insurance fees are the same whether you pay in person or online.
Understanding the USPS Insurance Claims Process
If you’re considering purchasing USPS insurance, ensure you understand the claims process to retrieve your compensation swiftly and hassle-free.
To file a claim:
- Visit the USPS Claims site. You can file immediately if your item arrived damaged or without its contents. If your item is lost and hasn’t arrived, you must wait several days after the mailing date to file a claim. For example, Priority Mail shippers must wait seven days after the mailing date to file. In both cases, file before 60 days from the mailing date.
- Gather your documents, including your tracking number, evidence of insurance purchased (such as the original mailing receipt), and proof of the value of the items when they were mailed, such as a sales receipt. If your items were damaged, you’ll also need evidence of damage, such as photos of the packaging, damaged items, and packing materials.
- File your claim. Keep track of your claim in your Claim History in your USPS.com account and make an appeal if necessary. Claim decisions are usually processed within 5-7 days.
Benefits of USPS Insurance
Not only does USPS insurance help to mitigate losses financially, but purchasing coverage can also provide peace of mind so you can focus on other aspects of your business.
USPS insurance offers optional enhancements to control your delivery by requesting a return receipt or requiring signature confirmation. If your delivery needs that extra care and documentation, a USPS insurance option could be just what you need.
Lojistic: Smart Solutions for Reliable, Cost-Effective Deliveries
USPS package insurance ensures the security of your shipments and protects your business from the unpredictable effects of loss, theft, and accidents. With different incremental levels to match the values of your shipments and a simple claims process, USPS insurance is easy to navigate for all individuals and businesses.
If you ship goods regularly with USPS, UPS, FedEx, or a combination of carriers, Lojistic is the one-stop-shop platform for managing all of your logistical needs. Designed to cut your costs and save you time by leveraging innovative automated technology, Lojistic’s high-tech suite of features optimizes your business so you can focus on the big picture.
Create a free account today and enjoy immediate benefits like a comprehensive shipping history of all your carriers and modes, automated shipping invoice audit, custom reporting and more.
Sources:
USPS. Size and Scope. https://facts.usps.com/size-and-scope/
Author
Bryan Van Suchtelen
Bryan Van Suchtelen
Corporate Director of Parcel Rate Services
Prior to joining Lojistic in 2015, Bryan enjoyed a 26-year career with UPS where his roles included Pricing, Field Sales and Director-level Sales Management of some of UPS’s largest customers.
At Lojistic, Bryan leverages his wealth of experience/expertise to identify and execute supply chain cost management solutions for parcel shippers of all sizes. Bryan has helped his customers reduce their shipping spend by tens of millions of dollars.