Between September and December 2024, 3.72 million parcels were officially reported lost in Europe, representing an average loss of €145 per shipment according to Metapack. In France, the cost of damaged parcels reached €5.1 billion according to DS Smith — and 22% of French people received a damaged product in 2024, at an average cost of €76.50 per item (Decision-Achats, January 2026).
These figures would already be alarming if carriers reimbursed quickly and in full. This is not the case.
The CMR convention, which governs road transport in Europe, caps compensation at 8.33 SDR/kg, or approximately €23 per kilogram. For a 500 g package containing a watch worth €2 ,000, the Carrier legally required to reimburse €11.50. The rest of the loss is your responsibility—unless you have taken out appropriate ad valorem insurance.
Even if you have taken out insurance with your Carrier, the average processing time ranges from 60 to 90 days before a refund is offered. During this period, your cash flow bears the loss, your customer waits for a solution, and your after-sales service absorbs the administrative cost of the dispute.
In 2026, the French market delivered 1.7 billion parcels (ARCEP, 2024). Of this volume, even a loss ratio of 0.3% represents 5 million incidents. The issue is no longer marginal: it is structural, and choosing your insurance solution has become a financial decision in its own right.
This guide analyzes the limitations of insurance offered by Colissimo, Chronopost, DHL, UPS, and FedEx, and presents modern solutions that have transformed logistics risk management for retailers .
Comparison Table: Delivery Insurance vs. Modern Alternative
Source: Carrier parcel insurance comparison
Why Look for an Alternative to Ad Valorem Carrier Insurance Carrier
The Structural Limitations of Traditional Parcel Insurance
All carriers offer optional Ad Valorem insurance, but these solutions present significant constraints for professionals:
1. Rates that impact profitability
The carriers' pricing structure is based on minimum charges that penalize shipments of average value. With minimums ranging from €5 to €12 per package (whereas Claisy has no minimum), systematic insurance quickly becomes expensive. For a retailer 200 parcels worth €400 per month, the monthly cost can reach €2,400 to €3,000.
2. Limits for high-value goods
Limits vary between €40,000 and €50,000 depending on the carrier, which may seem sufficient. However, certain sectors (watchmaking, jewelry, art) regularly handle items of greater value, creating a significant financial shortfall. See our guide to insuring high-value parcels for more details.
3. Repayment terms incompatible with cash flow
The average claim processing time ranges from 60 to 90 days for most carriers. During this period, the company must manage customer dissatisfaction, potentially reship a product, and bear a net loss in its cash flow. For an SME, several simultaneous claims can create significant financial strain.
4. Exclusions that create risk areas
Jewelry, luxury watches, art objects, certain electronic products: the list of exclusions or conditional coverage is long. Many companies discover these limitations when a claim arises, when it is too late to take action.
The Special Case of Colissimo Alternative Insurance
Colissimo, a service provided by La Poste, remains the Carrier for many retailers in the domestic market. However, its insurance offering has some restrictive features:
- Price: €1 per €100 of declared value
- Limit : €5,000 for shipments within France and Europe
- Deductible: 10% of the declared amount, with a minimum of €26
- Numerous exclusions: luxury goods, high-tech items, jewelry often excluded
This 10% deductible represents a major obstacle: on a package worth €2,000, the professional systematically loses €200 even in the event of reimbursement. Our comprehensive analysis of Colissimo insurance details these mechanisms.
Overview of Ad Valorem Insurance in 2026
Colissimo and Chronopost La Poste Solutions
La Poste offers two services with separate insurance policies tailored to different needs.
Colissimo targets standard shipments with insurance capped at €5,000 and a 10% deductible. This solution is suitable for products of moderate value but becomes problematic as soon as the amounts increase or the volumes require protection without a deductible.
Chronopost offers coverage of up to €30,000 with rates that vary depending on the service chosen. Although superior to Colissimo, this offer still falls short of the needs of specialized sectors that regularly handle exceptional goods.
DHL: The International Premium Option
DHL structures its insurance with a rate of 1% of the declared value and a minimum charge of €12. The Limit €50,000, which places DHL among the best carrier offers. However, the average reimbursement time of 60 to 90 days and restrictions on certain luxury categories limit its appeal. Our comprehensive DHL insurance guide analyzes these constraints in detail.
UPS: The Accessible Middleman
UPS applies a rate of 1.05% with a minimum of €12.05 and a maximum of €40,000. The average reimbursement time is 77 days after the claim has been validated. Like DHL, UPS can technically cover certain luxury goods, but this coverage is subject to restrictive conditions that significantly complicate the procedures. See our detailed UPS insurance analysis to understand these mechanisms.
FedEx: The Contrasted Solution
FedEx offers a system of $1.50 per $100 of value with a mandatory deductible of $100. If the Limit reaches €45,000, the standard offer drastically limits coverage for jewelry and watches to only €920 ($1,000). This limitation makes FedEx unsuitable for many premium e-commerce sectors. Our guide to understanding FedEx insurance details these specifics.
The Modern Alternative: Automated Parcel Insurance
A Paradigm Shift
Faced with the limitations of carrier insurance, a new generation of solutions has emerged: automated parcel insurance. This approach does more than just improve rates or Limits; it completely rethinks the model.
Operating principle
Automated insurance integrates directly with your e-commerce platform (Shopify, PrestaShop, WooCommerce) and activates according to your predefined settings. Each shipment is automatically covered according to the declared value, without manual intervention.
Structural advantages
- Transparent pricing: single rate of 0.75% with no minimum charge
- Limits : coverage up to €100,000 per package
- Zero deductible: full reimbursement of the declared value
- Speed of execution: processing within 48 hours vs. 60-90 days
- Universal coverage: no exclusions on luxury or high-tech products
Financial Impact: Case Studies
Example 1: Fashion e-commerce (average basket value €350)
Volume: 300 packages/month
- DHL: 300 × $12 (minimum) = $3,600/month
- Automated alternative: 300 × $350 × 0.75% = $787.50/month
- Annual savings: €33,750
Example 2: Jewelry (average value €8,000)
Volume: 50 pieces/month
- UPS: 50 × $8,000 × 1.05% = $4,200/month
- Automated alternative: 50 × $8,000 × 0.75% = $3,000/month
- Annual savings: €14,400 + full coverage guaranteed
How to Choose the Best Ad Valorem Insurance Alternative?
The Decisive Criteria
1. Analyze your shipping profile
Calculate your average basket size and monthly volumes. If you ship many packages of average value (€300-€1,500), the carriers' minimum collection fees will have a significant impact on your profitability.
2. Identify your at-risk products
If you sell jewelry, watches, art, or high-end electronics, make sure your solution actually covers these categories without any impossible conditions.
3. Assess the cash flow impact
A reimbursement period of 77 days for several simultaneous claims can create significant financial strain. Speed of processing becomes a strategic criterion.
4. Measure the administrative burden
The time spent compiling claim files, tracking disputes, and following up with carriers represents a significant hidden cost. Automation eliminates this burden.
Questions to Ask Your Future Insurer
- What is the actual cost for my average basket? (including minimum charges)
- Are my specific products covered without restriction?
- What is the average repayment period observed?
- What is the administrative burden involved in filing a claim?
- Is technical integration compatible with my current stack?
- Can I change the settings as I grow?
Transition Period Management
During the migration phase, some shipments may be covered by the old system (Carrier) and others by the new solution. This temporary coexistence poses no technical problems and allows for a gradual transition without any interruption in service.
Conclusion: Parcel Insurance, from Constraint to Strategic Lever
The figures speak for themselves. €5.1 billion worth of damaged parcels in France (DS Smith). 3.72 million parcels lost in the last quarter of 2024 alone in Europe (Metapack). A CMR convention that caps compensation at €23/kg—a regulatory relic from the 1950s that was never designed to protect smartwatches, jewelry, or high-end electronics.
Faced with this reality, the insurance policies offered by carriers remain products designed to limit their exposure, not to cover your actual risk. Deductibles of 10%, Limits to premium sectors, reimbursement times incompatible with the cash flow requirements of an SME that handles 200 disputes per year: this model belongs to a time when e-commerce accounted for less than 5% of retail trade. It now accounts for 12.5% (FEVAD).
The 6.2% increase in global cargo insurance premiums in 2025 (Companeo) reflects a collective realization: logistics risk is underestimated, and those who have continued to rely on default carrier coverage have paid the price.
The transition to independent ad valorem insurance is not a matter of convenience—it is a risk management decision. A single rate with no high minimum premium, Limit €100,000, universal coverage regardless of product category, and compensation within 48-72 hours rather than 77 days: this is not a marginal improvement. It is a paradigm shift.
For retailers more than 50 packages per month, the calculation is consistently positive from the very first month. For those operating in the luxury, high-tech, or jewelry sectors, the question is no longer "Is it profitable?" but "Why didn't we do this sooner?"
Discover the Automated Alternative
Claisy supports retailers professionals in protecting their shipments with a modern solution: a flat rate of 0.75%, Limit of €100,000, reimbursement within 48 hours, and universal coverage with no exclusions.
