With more than 2 billion parcels delivered every year, Colissimo is the logistics partner of choice for French e-tailers and SMEs. Proximity to the network, competitive rates, delivery to relay points: the advantages are numerous. But when it comes to effectively protecting your goods, is Ad Valorem Colissimo insurance really up to the business challenges of 2025?
Market reality: According to industry statistics, around 0.8% of parcels suffer an incident (loss, theft, damage). For a company shipping 500 parcels per month, this represents 4 potential claims per month. The question is not "if" but "how" to protect your business.
This strategic guide objectively analyzes the Ad Valorem Colissimo offer for professionals: 2025 rates, Limits, procedures, strengths and limitations. We then present an overview of modern alternatives to help you choose the optimal solution for your business profile.
💡 Additional resources: see our 2025 carrier insurance comparison and Ad Valorem insurance atlas.
Colissimo Ad Valorem Insurance: How it works
Standard liability (Included)
By default, all Colissimo shipments benefit from basic coverage based on weight, at €23 per kilogram.
Example: A 500g parcel containing a cosmetic product costing €80 would only be compensated for €11.50 (0.5 kg × €23) in the event of loss, i.e. 14% of the actual value.
This basic protection is clearly insufficient for any business shipment over €50 in value.
Ad Valorem option: Real Protection
Ad Valorem insurance covers the actual commercial value of your goods, declared at the time of shipment.
Key features :
- Declaration by increments: From €300 to €5,000 (Limit professionals or declared value)
- Progressive calculation: each 100€ has a cost
- Mandatory subscription: Must be activated when label is created.
- Supporting documents required: Commercial invoice in the event of a claim
Colissimo 2025 Insurance Price List: Complete Grid
Official Ad Valorem Colissimo scale
Here is the official Colissimo tariff structure for professionals in 2025:
Top brackets ProfessionalsLimits CoverageLimits )
For business accounts with a Colissimo Entreprise contract, higher bands are available:
Source : Colissimo Entreprise - France Offer
📊 Analysis: The effective rate decreases with value, making insurance more competitive for shipments >€1,000. However, for parcels between 300-600€ (average French e-commerce basket), the rate remains high (1.5-1.9%).
Colissimo Insurance strengths
✅ Recognized advantages
1. Native network integration
- Direct subscription at time of mailing
- No separate insurance contract
- Unified transport + protection management
2. Exceptional territorial coverage
- 17,000 drop-off and pick-up points in France
- Coverage of rural areas and French overseas departments and territories
- Saturday delivery included on certain offers
3. End-customer familiarity
- A recognized, reassuring brand
- Consumer tracking application
- Relay points accessible everywhere
4. Competitive transport rates
- Often cheaper than DHL/UPS within France
- Volume discounts
- No wide-area overload
5. Limit Professional High
- Up to €5,000 for business accounts and Declared Value
- Suitable for 95% of B2C e-commerce shipments
- Far exceeds national competitorsMondial Relay 500€)
Critical Limits and Constraints of Parcel Insurance
⚠️ Points of Vigilance
1. Indemnity period: Impact on cash flow
According to our customer feedback and industry sources :
- Declaration: D+0 (as soon as the observation is made)
- La Poste investigation : Approximately one month
- File validation: 30 to 60 days
- Compensation transfer: 7 to 15 days
- AVERAGE TOTAL: 67-82 days
Sources: Claisy + customer feedback Sendcloud - Claims guide
Business impact: For 4 monthly claims of €500, this represents €2,000 tied up for 2.5 months, i.e. a significant cash outflow.
2. Exclusions from Coverage
Ad Valorem Colissimo insurance excludes or restricts certain categories:
Totally excluded :
- Cash, cheques, credit cards
- Securities
- Precious metal ingots
- Gemstones not set
- Collector's works of art
- Irreplaceable manuscripts
Severely restricted :
- Jewelry and fine jewelry: Secure packaging mandatory
- Valuable watches: strict packaging requirements
- Electronics: Proof of reinforced packaging required
- Fragile items: Wedging in compliance with La Poste standards
Source : CGV Colissimo 2025
3. Burden of proof
In the event of a claim, you must provide :
- ✅ Original commercial invoice
- ✅ Proof of purchase of the product shipped
- ✅ Photos of packaging before closing (recommended)
- ✅ Photos of damage (if damaged)
- ✅ Colissimo dispatch note
📊 Statistics: According to e-merchant forums, around 20-25% of claims are rejected for non-conforming packaging or insufficient proof.
4. Geographical limitation Europe
Ad Valorem Colissimo insurance works well for :
- ✅ Metropolitan France
- ✅ DOM-TOM (with conditions)
- ✅ European Union (selected countries)
But for shipments outside Europe, unlike international solutions, it is limited or non-existent.
Claims Procedure: How to Use Colissimo Insurance or Declared Value Insurance from La Poste
Timeline and Deadlines
- Damaged parcel (visible) : Within 48 hours of delivery
- Damaged (hidden) parcel: 7 days after delivery
- Lost parcel : from D+15 after dispatch
- Maximum lead time: 6 months after dispatch
Claim steps
Phase 1: Declaration (D+0)
- Log on to laposte.fr > Customer Area
- My claims" section
- Fill in the online form
- Upload supporting documents
- Obtaining a file number
Phase 2: Investigation (D+1 to D+45)
- Survey of the sorting platform concerned
- Verification of declared value and supporting documents
- Packaging analysis (compliance with standards)
- Any requests for further information
Phase 3: Decision (D+45 to D+70)
- Notification by post or e-mail
- If accepted: Proposal for compensation
- If refused: detailed reason given
- Recourse to the La Poste Mediation officer
Phase 4: Compensation (D+70 to D+77)
- Bank transfer or credit on customer account
- Closing the file
⏰ Total average observed lead time: 60-77 days
National competitive benchmark: Which parcel insurance should I choose?
Colissimo insurance vs Chronopost Mondial Relay Claisy
Ad Valorem Alternatives on the Market 2025
Solutions overview
In addition to Carrier insurance, several options are available to optimize your protection:
1. Modern E-commerce solutions (+Focus Claisy)
Actors : Claisy, Route, Shipsurance
- Average rate : 0.5%-1%.
- Claims processing time: 48-72 hours
- Integration: CMS API (Shopify, WooCommerce, PrestaShop, etc.)
- Multi-carrier : ✅ Compatible with all carriers
Focus Claisy
Value proposition :
- Compensation within 48 hours of validation
- High-value product coverage included
- Declaration in 3 clicks, no supporting documents required
- Compatible with Colissimo + all other carriers
📊 Full comparison: Claisy vs Route vs Shipsurance analysis
2. Transport brokers with parcel insurance
Players: Boxtal, Sendcloud, Packlink
These platforms combine several carriers (including Colissimo) and offer their own insurance.
Advantages :
- A single platform for multiple carriers
- Negotiated rates for large volumes
- Insurance often included or optional
Disadvantages :
- Limits limited Limits (€1,000-5,000)
- Variable compensation periods (depending on insurance partner)
- Complexity: 3 players (Carrier)
💡 Detailed analyses:
- Sendcloud Insurance - Comprehensive Analysis
- Upela Insurance - Comprehensive Analysis
- Boxtal Insurance - Comprehensive Analysis
Decision Matrix
To compare Colissimo insurance with other carriers, such as Colissimo vs Chronopost : visit our interactive comparator.
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: Choose according to your activity
Ad Valorem Colissimo insurance is a solid, proven solution, particularly suited to professionals who :
- Mainly shipped to mainland France
- Manage standard products (not excluded)
- Have a cash flow that can withstand 60-77 days' waiting
- Prefer the simplicity of an all-in-one solution
Its main assets:
- Native transport integration
- Professional Limit €5,000 (higher than competitors)
- Incomparable national network
Its structural limits :
- Long compensation periods (60-77 days)
- High effective rate for medium-sized baskets (1.5-2%)
- Value exclusions
In 2025, the strategic question will no longer be "Should I insure?" but "What solution optimizes my protection/cost/agility ratio?"
Our Recommendation
Pragmatic approach :
- Analyze your claims experience over 6-12 months (number of claims, average values)
- Calculate the annual cost of Colissimo vs. alternatives
- Evaluate the cash impact of 77-day lead times
- Test an alternative in parallel for 2-3 months
- Decide with data: which solution really protects your growth
Insurance is not a cost item, but an investment in operational peace of mind and customer satisfaction. Choose the one that protects not only your parcels, but also your margin and reputation.
Parcel insurance appendices
Use Cases by Profile
Profile 1: Artisan Designer (Fashion Jewelry)
Features :
- Average basket: €150
- Volume: 50 parcels/month
- Products: Non-precious jewelry, accessories
Recommended solution : Modern e-commerce solution
Justification:
- Colissimo: €5.70 × 50 = €285/month
- Modern solution: ~€1 × 50 = €50/month (82% savings)
- Rapid compensation crucial (craftsmen = small cash flow)
- Costume jewelry sometimes excluded by Colissimo
Profile 2: SME B2B Parts
Features :
- Average basket: €500
- Volume: 100 parcels/month
- Products : Industrial parts, professional equipment
Recommended solution : Colissimo Ad Valorem
Justification:
- Standard products (not excluded)
- Sufficient cash flow to meet deadlines
- Colissimo: €7.70 × 100 = €770/month (acceptable)
- Point relay network for B2B customers
Profile 3: Premium e-merchant (>€1,000/package)
Features :
- Average basket: €1,800
- Volume: 80 parcels/month
- Products: Electronics, high-end equipment
Recommended solution : Hybrid (Colissimo 5K + Modern Backup)
Justification:
- Colissimo 5000€ for most shipments
- Modern solution for >€5,000 or excluded products
- Double safety = maximum peace of mind
Sources and Resources
Official documentation :
Practical guides :
Related articles:
Article written by the Claisy team updated in September 2025 - Expertise in e-commerce transport insurance