Everything You Need to Know About Parcel Insurance 2026

Q: Concrètement, comment fonctionne l'assurance ad valorem ?

It's simple: 1) You declare the value of your shipment (e.g., €800). 2) You pay a premium based on a percentage of that value. In the event of a claim, the reimbursement is based on the declared €800, not on a paltry flat rate.

The Parcel Insurance Atlas

Your decision-making hub for navigating the Ad Valorem insurance ecosystem and building the perfect protection strategy for your business in 2025.

~1%

Packages are misrouted every day

77j

average payment period for carriers

A Dispute cost up to 15 times the value of the package

Claisy's Transparent Protection in 3 Key Points

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Express Compensation

Get your cash back in 48 hours instead of several months.

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Comprehensive Coverage

Protect all your valuables—including luxury and high-tech items—anywhere in the world.

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Seamless Integration

Automate your security without slowing down your website or changing your routine.

🧭 How to Use This Parcel Insurance Hub

Are you lost in the maze of package insurance options? This Hub is your compass to help you navigate through more than 40 analyzed solutions and find the one that perfectly matches your needs.

🎯 New to Parcel Insurance?

Welcome! Parcel insurance (or Ad Valorem) may seem complicated, but we’ll make the process simple for you:

Step 1: Understand the Basics

Startwith our essential guide to ad valorem insurance. According to FEVAD, 18 million packages are lost or damaged each year in France, representing a value of 2.4 billion euros. The right shipping insurance isn’t an option—it’s a necessity.

Step 2: Identify Your Profile

Do you ship fewer than 50 packages per month? You are a microbusiness
Between 50 and 500 packages per month? Are you a growing small business?
More than 500 packages per month? You’re retailer

Step 3: Check the Adapted Section

Section 1 (CMS): If you're looking for automatic integration
Section 2 (Coutiers Transport): Would you like to learn more about tech platforms?
Section 3 (Carriers): If you compare the basic plans
Section 4 (Comparisons): For an objective overview

⚡ Are you getting the most out of your current parcel shipping insurance?

Do you already have insurance but want to lower your costs or improve your coverage? Here’s what to do:

Analysis of Your Current Situation

Identify your current solution in Section 3 (Carriers) or Section 2 (Platforms)
Read the dedicated article to understand its specific limitations
Use our interactive comparison tool (Section 4) to view the options

Calculate Your Potential Savings

According toour analysis, retailers standard carrier insurance pay, on average, 35% too much for coverage that is often limited. A €500 package with DHL costs €15 in insurance (3%), compared to €3.75 (0.75%) with an optimized solution like Claisy.

Prioritize Your Criteria

Costs: Check out the parcel shipping insurance comparison
Timelines: Check the refund processes (77 days on average for carriers vs. 48 hours for expert solutions)
Coverage: Identify the exclusions in your current plan

🔧 Are you implementing a new solution?

Are you ready to take action? Follow this step-by-step process:

Step 1: Identify Your Tech Stack

Section 1: Find your CMS (Shopify, WooCommerce, PrestaShop, Magento...)
Read the dedicated article to learn about the specifics of integration
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Step 2: Check Your Carriers

Section 3: List your current carriers
Make sure it’s compatible with your future solution
Identify the limitations of their native insurance policies

Step 3: Compare Brokerage Platforms

Ifyou use Sendcloud, ShipStation or others (Section 2), check:

The limitations of their built-in insurance
The possibilities of "stacking" with an external solution
The impact on your existing workflow

Is Your Ad Valorem Strategy Optimal?

Now you know everything there is to know about ad valorem insurance. Protect your cash flow and ensure customer satisfaction. Discover how Claisy’s technology turns transportation risk into a competitive advantage.

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Collaborative Tool

Declare your packages manually or import a simple CSV file.

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Free Connectors

Integrate Claisy into your CMS in just one click for 100% automated insurance.

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API & EDI

For customized needs and deep integrations with your WMS or ERP.

Contact an expert

🎯 Find YOUR Solution in 3 Key Questions

Every retailer unique needs. This matrix helps you quickly identify the solution that best fits your profile.

Question 1: What is your average value per package?

Less than €200 per package

Carrier basic insurance Carrier be sufficient to get started. Be careful, though: according to FEVAD, 64% of retailers find themselves underinsured by their first year of growth.

Between €200 and €1,000 per package

You'rein that critical zone where carriers' insurance plans quickly become inadequate: between minimum fixed costs and tiered rates, now is the time to optimize.

More than €1,000 per package

Specialized parcel shipping insuranceis essential. The solutions offered by standard carriers have their limitations: coverage Limits, compensation deadlines, etc.

Question 2: What is your monthly volume?

Fewer than 100 packages per month (very small businesses): Focus on flexibility and simplicity. You don’t need complex solutions.

Question 3: Which Industries?

Fashion and Accessories

‍Be awareof exclusions! Many carriers limit coverage for:

Luxury items (>€500)
Designer leather goods
Premium shoes

Recommendation: Always review the terms and conditions, paying particular attention to the exclusions

Electronics and High Tech

High-risk sectorrequiring enhanced coverage - Specific challenges:

High-value items (smartphones, laptops, components)
Rapid obsolescence (depreciation due to delays)
Common carrier exclusions regarding used electronics

Good to know: DHL and UPS often exclude refurbished smartphones. Check our carrier comparison for details

Luxury, Jewelry, and Watches

‍Mandatory specialized ad valorem solutions. Standard carriers systematically refuse these products - Alternatives:

Specialized high-value insurance (Claisy: up to €100,000)
Premium secure transport (Malca-Amit, Brink's)
Value-based hybrid solutions

Check out our guide to safely shipping watches and luxury items

Commercial and Industrial Equipment

High valuesand specific needs - Challenges:

Medical equipment: Strict regulations, prices ranging from €20,000 to €100,000
Industrial machinery: Specialized transportation required
Spare Parts: Critical urgency and availability

Solution: Check out our guide to shipping insurance for industrial and medical equipment, which addresses these issues

❓ Parcel Insurance for Beginners

🤔 What exactly is "ad valorem" insurance?

This is "actual value" insurance. If you ship a phone worth €500, basic insurance (based on weight) will reimburse you ~€23, whereas actual value insurance is designed to reimburse you the full €500.

⚙️ In practical terms, how does it work?

It's simple: 1) You declare the value of your shipment (e.g., €800). 2) You pay a premium based on a percentage of that value. In the event of a claim, the reimbursement is based on the declared €800, not on a paltry flat rate.

💸 Is it expensive?

No, Claisy is very cost-effective. Unlike carriers' options, true ad valorem insurance is proportional. For a product worth €100, it costs only a few cents, thereby protecting your profit margin and ensuring customer satisfaction.

📋 Do I need to provide proof of the value of my shipment?

Yes, always. You must be able to provide proof of the declared value, such as a sales invoice (for new items) or proof of purchase (for used items). This is essential for receiving compensation.

🛡️ Is it like the insurance on my credit card?

No, not at all. Credit card insurance mainly covers purchases, not commercial shipments. The coverage Limits low, the deductibles Limits high, and it’s not suitable for business use.

🌐 Can I use it with any Carrier

Yes, that’s one of the major benefits of independent insurance. Whether you use Colissimo, Chronopost, UPS, or another carrier, Claisy works the same way, providing you with unified coverage and a streamlined process.

💡 Why Carrier my Carrier insurance enough?

Because it is known for its Limits (compensation based on weight), its numerous exclusions (luxury items, high-tech devices, etc.), and its slow claims processing (+60 days). Ad valorem insurance is the standard coverage for professionals.

The Parcel Insurance Hub 2026 | The Decision-Making Hub for retailers

The Parcel Insurance Atlas

Claisy's Transparent Protection in 3 Key Points

🧭 How to Use This Parcel Insurance Hub

🛒 1. Your Online Store (CMS Platforms)

🚀 2. Your Freight Brokers (Shipping Platforms)

🚚 3. Your Shipping Partners

📦 4. Expert Guides: Packing by Product

⚖️ 5. Your Decision-Making Tools (Our Comparisons)

🌐 6. Our Country-Specific Insurance Guides