As a professional, e-tailer or logistics provider, every shipment is a promise to your customer. Using a world leader like DHL is a sign of confidence, but what happens when the inevitable happens? Loss, damage, theft... The question ofDHL parcel insurance becomes crucial. But is the default option really adapted to the needs of professionals in 2025?

This article is not just a guide. It's a strategic analysis designed for you, professionals, to decipher howDHL insurance works, its real rates and, above all, its limitations. We'll show you a modern, high-performance alternative designed to secure your business and your cash flow.

Understanding DHL Parcel Insurance: The Default Solution

DHL, like most carriers, offers optional insurance to cover the value of your goods over and above basic legal liability (which is very limited). This option is known as "Ad Valorem" insurance, which means "according to value".

• Principle: You declare the value of your goods at the time of shipment.
• Subscription: The option is simply added when you create your shipping label using DHL Express tools.
• How it works: In the event of proven, covered loss or damage, DHL reimburses you for the declared value.

On paper, the system is simple. But it's in the details that the constraints on a professional activity are hidden.

DHL Insurance Rates in 2025: The Detailed Calculation

For the year 2025, the calculation of the DHL insurance price, for subscriptions from France, is based on a clear but rigid structure. The cost corresponds to 1% of the value you insure, with one fundamental point: a minimum collection amount of €12.

This means that even for a low-value parcel, the additional cost of insurance will be €12. For higher-value shipments, the cost increases proportionally. This rate is generally fixed, whether your shipment is domestic or international.

Analysis: The minimum charge of €12 penalizes e-merchants with an average shopping basket of less than €1,200, making systematic insurance very costly. For a professional shipping 100 parcels at €300 per month, the cost of DHL insurance would amount to €1,200/month, a substantial budget.

The 3 Limits of DHL Insurance that Pros Need to Know

While pricing is one factor, the real challenges for a professional lie elsewhere. Our analysis, based on market feedback, highlights three major sticking points.

1. The Indemnity Period: Eternity for your cash flow

‍Inthe event of a claim, time is money. The average time it takes DHL to resolve a dispute and obtain a refund is between 2 and 3 months. During this period, you not only have to deal with your customer's dissatisfaction, but also potentially reship a product at your own expense, creating a hole in your cash flow.

2. Coverage exclusions: a laundry list

‍DHLinsurance, like many carrier insurance policies, has a long list of exclusions. If your business involves these products, you're paying insurance for coverage that may never apply.

• Jewelry, watches and clocks
• Metals and precious stones
• Works of art, collectors' items and antiques
• High-tech products (smartphones, laptops) are often subject to very restrictive conditions
• Money, securities
• Perishable goods

The burden of proof (perfect packaging, proof of irrefutable value) is also a complex administrative process which can lead to a refusal of compensation.

3. Administrative Rigidity

‍Claiminga loss involves putting together a complete file: purchase and sales invoices, proof of shipment, detailed photos of damage and packaging... A time-consuming, inflexible process that diverts your teams from their value-added missions.

L'Alternative Stratégique: Claisy, the Guarantee for Pros

Faced with these limitations, a new generation of solutions has emerged. For professionals, e-merchants and marketplaces, the most relevant is not a simple "insurance", but an intelligent tracking platform integrating a powerful commercial guarantee: Claisy.

Claisy has positioned itself as a direct competitor to Ad Valorem insurance with a radically different approach:

• Guarantee, not insurance: Claisy offers a commercial guarantee in place of insurance. The difference? Simplicity, speed and coverage tailored to the real needs of e-merchants.
• Express Dispute Handling: The case is analyzed within 48 hours and compensation is paid within 72 hours. No more 3-month wait.
• Revolutionary simplicity: The declaration is made in a few clicks from a dashboard, without having to provide an invoice. Claisy uses the declared value and its algorithms to validate the request.
• Near-universal coverage: Where DHL excludes, Claisy covers. Luxury goods, high-tech items, watches... Almost all goods are eligible, with a single rate regardless of carrier or destination.

Decisive Comparison: DHL Insurance vs. Claisy Warranty

To visualize the impact on your business, here's a direct comparison based on the criteria that matter most to a professional.

Questions about Ad Valorem DHL

Conclusion: Move from Cost Insurance to Strategic Guarantee

In 2025, defaulting toDHL insurance is like running your business on a spare tire. It may tide you over, but it's not designed for the performance, speed and security demanded by modern e-commerce.

The real question is not "How much does DHL insurance cost?", but rather "How much does each day I wait for a refund and each claim denial really cost me?".

For professionals who understand the importance of cash flow, operational efficiency and the customer experience, the decision is a strategic one. It's a question of switching from a cost center to an intelligent management tool.