For any e-business or professional in Belgium, BPost is an essential logistics partner. But when it comes to the security of your shipments, are the insurance options on offer really up to the job? Between basic "Guarantee" and "Customized Insurance", complexity and hidden costs can quickly become a trap for your profitability and customer experience.
This 2025 strategy guide goes beyond the sales brochure. We'll dissect exactly how BPost insurance actually works, revealing its pricing structure, strict Limits and claims process. Finally, we'll put it up against a specialized alternative like Claisy, to arm you with the information you need for seamless protection.
How BPost insurance works: a two-tier system
BPost offers not one, but two distinct protection options, with radically different rules and costs. Understanding this distinction is the first step in avoiding unpleasant surprises.
Option 1: The optional "Basic Warranty" at €1.50
Presented as a simple solution, this guarantee is in fact very limited:
- Cost: €1.50 per shipment (in addition to the cost of the parcel)
- Availability: Only for national shipments in Belgium. International shipments are not eligible.
- Limit : Covers up to €500 for loss or damage. For documents, this Limit collapses to just €15
This is basic protection, useful for low-value local shipments, but unsuitable for international business use.
Option 2: Customized insurance up to €7,500
This option, more robust in appearance, is linked to registered mail (the most expensive service) and reveals a very aggressive cost structure:
- Base rate: €15 to cover the first €250 of value
- Progressive rate: €1 extra for every €25 insured over the basic €250.
- Real cost: This equates to a rate of 4% on the excess value, which is extremely high in the transport insurance market.
Subscription is digital, but the flat-rate structure makes calculating the real cost not very transparent for an uninformed user.
Rates, Limits and the true cost of BPost protection
Cost is the crux of the matter. The BPost system can quickly become prohibitively expensive.
A concrete example of "tailor-made insurance": You ship a parcel worth €2,000.
- Base cost: €15 (for the first €250)
- Remaining value to be insured: €2,000 - €250 = €1,750
- Number of €25 increments: 1,750 / 25 = 70 increments
- Additional cost: 70 slices x €1 = €70
- Total cost of insurance: €15 + €70 = €85
The cost of insuring a €2,000 parcel is €85, or an effective rate of 4.25%. That's 5 to 10 times more expensive than standard specialist insurance.
Exclusions and the compensation route: 30 days, "at best".
BPost protection is governed by strict rules that you need to be aware of.
Excluded goods
The list of exclusions is long and penalizing for many e-tailers. It includes (but is not limited to) - similar to products refused under BPost's transport rules :
- Jewelry and precious objects
- Passports and official documents
- Works of art and collectibles
- Tobacco
- Medicines
- ...
Claims and compensation deadlines
In the event of visible damage, you have 7 days to make a claim. BPost advertises a 30-day refund period. However, this target is described as "best effort". In reality, this period often begins after the conclusion of their internal investigation, which can considerably lengthen the period during which your cash flow is impacted.
BPost vs. Claisy: simplicity versus complexity
Putting the integrated offering of a postal giant face to face with the solution of an insurance specialist reveals fundamental strategic differences.
Case studies: what impact for your business?
Let's take a look at some case studies to see the impact of these differences on your operations and profitability.
❓ FAQ : BPost parcel insurance
Conclusion: BPost, a limited and costly solution for professionals
BPost's insurance offer turns out to be a labyrinth of conditions, Limits and hidden costs. While the €1.50 "Guarantee" may help with very low-value domestic shipments, it is useless for anything else.
Tailor-made insurance, on the other hand, is an obstacle to serious professional activity:
- An exorbitant cost of over 4%, which takes a heavy toll on your margins
- A €7,500Limit , too low for many sectors (luxury, high-tech, B2B)
- Uncertain repayment terms put pressure on your cash flow
- Numerous exclusions on high value-added products
Faced with this complexity, a specialized, digital and independent insurance company like Claisy is the choice of reason and performance. With transparent, ultra-competitive pricing, a €100,000 Limit , broad coverage and a promise of reimbursement within a few days, it transforms a constraint into a competitive advantage.