Every year, La Poste delivers more than two billion parcels. Behind this colossal figure lie the questions that every sender, whether private or professional, asks: "Is my parcel really safe? How can I insure my parcel with La Poste? What does La Poste's insurance cover? In the face of the risks of lost, stolen, damaged or non-received parcels, Colissimo insurance seems to be the obvious answer. But do you really understand it and is it really adapted to your needs/expectations, and what are the exclusions of La Poste insurance?
In this article, we'll see that the biggest mistake is to regard La Poste's Colissimo insurance as a one-stop solution for businesses and e-tailers. It's actually a (not so) complex set of options, with its strengths, limitations and pitfalls. This guide is not a brochure on La Poste insurance: it's an analysis, enriched with data and feedback, to help you navigate this universe, make the right choice and secure what really matters to you. You can also find our 2025 carriers' parcel insurance comparison and the entire ad valorem encyclopedia, with an analysis of CMS offers and logistics solutions.
What is Colissimo Parcel Insurance? The reality behind the offer
By default, every Colissimo shipment includes basic "insurance": which in reality corresponds to the application of the CMR convention. It's a flat-rate compensation based on the weight of the parcel, up to €23 per kilogram in the event of proven fault on the part of the Carrier, i.e. La Poste.
Example: For a 200g smartphone worth €1,200, compensation would be just €4.60. This is negligible. This basic protection is designed for low-value goods. It creates a false sense of security.
For real protection, La Poste offers only two types of paid options, which unfortunately do not cover all cases, but which can meet certain needs:
- Registered Mail Option (R1, R2...): Flat-rate insurance where you choose a fixed level of reimbursement, regardless of the actual value of the item - you'll still need to justify the value of the product in the event of a transport dispute.
- The Ad Valorem Option: A true "value-based" parcel insurance policy, where you insure your property for its actual cost, but with a strict Limit .
Detailed Operation: Which Colissimo Insurance Option for Which Need?
Option 1: Registered Shipment - Acknowledgement of Receipt Insurance (Levels R1 and R2)
- Who can benefit? Individuals or professionals sending goods whose value corresponds exactly to the proposed levels.
- Levels and Rates La Poste Recommandé 2025 :
- Recommended R1: Compensation up to €50 (cost: €3.10)
- Recommended R2: Compensation up to €200 (cost: €4.70)
- Advantage: Simple to understand and includes proof of deposit, tracking and signature delivery.
- Pitfall to avoid: If your item is worth €150, option R1 (€50) is insufficient and option R2 (€200) is oversized. You're paying for cover for your shipment that you won't use in full, and you'll be asked for an invoice: you'll only be compensated for €150, even if you've paid for R2.
Option 2: Colissimo Insurance (Ad Valorem from €200 to €1,000)
- Who is it for? Anyone sending items of value over €200 and up to €1,000
- How does it work? You insure your parcel in increments of €100. The cost is progressive (see Colissimo insurance rates below). For example, insuring a parcel for €300 will cost you €5.70.
- Advantage: It's real parcel insurance, proportional to value.
- The Fundamental Limit: The Limit is set at €1,000. Impossible to insure your Colissimo containing a €1,500 item with this solution.
Exclusions and Limitations : What Colissimo Insurance does NOT cover
This is the most critical and least known point. The general conditions of La Poste's parcel insurance (same company) exclude many categories of goods, even if their value is less than €1,000.
2025 comparison: Colissimo Insurance vs Claisy
How does the Colissimo insurance offer (Ad Valorem) stack up against specialist insurers like Claisy, whose business is 100% dedicated to parcel insurance?
To compare Colissimo insurance with other carriers, such as Colissimo vs Chronopost : visit our interactive comparator.
La Poste' s model is that of a Carrier , which offers parcel insurance as an ancillary product that allows you to insure your parcels with La Poste during shipment. A specialist like Claisy reverses the logic and is therefore a good alternative to Colissimo entreprise: it offers parcel insurance to professionals as its main product, with tailor-made technology and customer service designed for maximum efficiency. The difference is not just in price or Limit, but in the overall risk management experience and speed of dispute resolution to limit the impact on your business: cash flow, customer service, etc.
Connect your CMS for free in 5 minutes: Merge Claisy with Colissimo
The real power of automation lies in native integration. Claisy connects directly to the tools (CMS or TMS) that run your business: Shopify, Prestashop, WooCommerce, etc. The result? Zero effort, zero forgetting, perfect coverage on 100% of your shipments by migrating your Colissimo insurance to Claisy: all with compensation within 1 week.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Colissimo parcel insurance is a reliable basic solution for occasional low-value shipments. But as soon as your parcel has strategic, financial or emotional importance, a more in-depth analysis is required. Understanding its limitations is the first step to making a truly informed choice, and finally shipping with total peace of mind.
Checklist before sending your parcel
- Always Estimate Actual Value: Don't underestimate your property to save a few euros on insurance.
- Read the Exclusions : Before sending an object of value, check that it is not on La Poste's list of excluded items.
- Take Photos: Photograph your item and the packaging before closing it. It's a precious proof
- Consider the alternatives: If your property is worth more than €1,000, or if it falls into one of the excluded categories, Colissimo insurance is not the right solution. Claisy is the right alternative.