For many professionals, GLS is a reliable logistics partner for domestic and European shipments. However, when a package is lost, stolen, or damaged, the issue of compensation can quickly become an obstacle course. Does the insurance offered by GLS provide real protection or does it simply comply with legal minimums?
This 2025 strategic guide does more than just skim over the general terms and conditions. It delves into the heart of the GLS compensation system to reveal how it really works, the Limits low Limits , the strict deadlines, and the claims process. By comparing it with a specialized, independent solution such as Claisy, we give you the keys to making an informed decision and effectively protecting your business. You can also find our comparison of 2025 carrier parcel insurance policies and the entire encyclopedia on ad valorem with analysis of CMS offers and logistics solutions.
How GLS "protection" works: no insurance, just simple legal compensation
This is the key point to understand: GLS does not offer optional integrated Ad Valorem insurance. The only "protection" included in their services is the basic flat-rate compensation required by law.
This is therefore not insurance on the actual value of your goods, but rather the minimum level of legal liability that GLS agrees to cover in the event of proven fault on their part.
- For domestic shipments: Liability is limited to €23 per kilogram of missing or damaged gross weight, with a Limit of €690 per package.
- For international shipments: Liability is governed by the CMR Convention, i.e. , 8.33 SDR (approximately €10) per kilogram.
For a lightweight, high-value item (such as a smartphone, jewelry, or luxury goods), this weight-based compensation is therefore dramatically insufficient.
Limits conditions: virtually non-existent protection for professionals
The GLS compensation model is a major risk for any company shipping goods worth more than a few dozen euros.
Concrete example:
You ship a new smartphone weighing 200g and worth €1,200 to France. The package is lost by GLS.
- Calculation of compensation: €23 x 0.2 kg = €4.60
- Your net loss: €1,195.40
This system makes shipping any valuable item without external insurance extremely risky.
The claims process: a strict procedure and uncertain deadlines
Obtaining compensation from GLS requires following a rigorous procedure that is not 100% integrated (in all countries).
- The Claims Process: Claims must be made by the sender (the GLS account holder) via their customer account or by registered letter. There is no modern, transparent tracking portal for dispute resolution.
- Strict Deadlines: You must meet very tight deadlines for your application to be accepted. Any failure to do so will result in automatic rejection.
- Compensation Timeframe: The reimbursement timeframe is not guaranteed. It depends on the duration of the internal investigation conducted by GLS to establish its own liability. In practice, this process can take anywhere from several weeks to several months. GLS is both judge and jury in this matter.
GLS vs. Claisy comparison: the legal minimum versus maximum protection
Putting GLS's compensation model into perspective with genuine Ad Valorem insurance such as Claisy reveals a world of difference.
GLS's Ad Valorem Offers... What a Maze
GLS Insurance Rates, Limits Conditions by Country: The Unprecedented Comparison
This is where the maze begins. GLS insurance offerings vary dramatically from country to country.
The fragmentation of GLS insurance pricing is a major operational risk for retailer in Europe. The need to manage different insurance rules for each market creates administrative complexity that costs time and money. This is a perfect example of friction that hinders growth.
GLS Claims Procedure: A Variable Geometry Process
Reporting a claim to GLS also depends on your country of shipment.
- In Italy, the process is relatively integrated and digitized, with clear options to subscribe to when shipping using the declared value on GLS.
- In France, taking out Ad Valorem insurance is a manual process. It must be negotiated in advance in your professional contract, and each valuable shipment must often be subject to a specific declaration. There is no "one-click" option in the back office, and it remains a declared value model.
- In Belgium and the Netherlands, the procedure generally follows the German model, with a more accessible Ad Valorem option but Limits that are Limits lower than in Italy.
In all cases, you must provide a complete file: proof of deposit, purchase invoice proving the value, photos of the packaging and damage.
💡 Key Learning About GLS Insurance
The same claim with GLS may cost:
- Italy: 20 days + €2,500 max → "Acceptable" experience
- France: 70 days + €23/kg → "Frustrating" experience
- Belgium: 45 days + €750 max → "Limited" experience
- Germany: 55 days + protests → "Rigid" experience
With unified insurance like Claisy:
- ⚡ All countries: 48 hours + €100,000 max
- 🌍 Same process in France, Italy, Belgium, and Germany
- 🎯 Complete independence from national GLS processes
Alternative to GLS insurance: Connect Claisy in less than 5 minutes
The true power of automation lies in native integration. Claisy presents itself as a real alternative to GLS insurance and connects directly to the tools that drive your business: Shopify, Prestashop, WooCommerce, etc. The result? Zero effort, zero oversights, perfect coverage for 100% of your shipments, and successful coverage with Claisy without changing your GLS habits.
Conclusion: From Complexity to Clarity, Choose Efficiency
The Uncompromising Assessment
Navigating the GLS insurance system in 2025 means accepting a fragmented reality that directly penalizes your profitability:
- 🇮🇹 In Italy: 20-day wait to recover a maximum of €2,500
- 🇫🇷 In France: 70 days to earn €23/kg (i.e., €69 for a 3kg package worth €800)
- 🇧🇪 In Belgium: 45 days with a Limit of €750
- 🇩🇪 In Germany: 55 days and systematic protests
Our three real-life cases prove it:
- The retailer : €630 total cost for €27 compensation
- The Italian jeweler: €2,800 in losses + €1,200 in legal fees despite Safe Plus
- Industrial distributor: €1,350 loss with total refusal by GLS
Why This Complexity Exists
GLS is first and foremost a Carrier, not an insurer. Their priority is to deliver parcels, not to compensate for claims. The insurance offers are:
- Fragmented because managed by autonomous national subsidiaries
- Limited because they are designed to comply with the legal minimum
- Defensive because GLS is both judge and jury in the evaluation
It's not malice, it's a structural incompatibility between the Carrier business Carrier that of the insurer.
The Solution: Separate Transportation and Insurance
The best retailers have understood:
- They use GLS for what it does well: transporting goods.
- They use specialized insurance for what GLS cannot do: protect the actual value.
With Claisy, you can find your way out of the maze:
- ✅ A single contract for all of Europe (France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, etc.)
- ✅ A single declaration process, regardless of origin/destination
- ✅ One deadline: guaranteed 48-hour processing time
- ✅ Single Limit: €100,000 (vs. €750 - €2,500 in GLS public offerings)
- ✅ Single interface: Unified multilingual dashboard
Concrete result:
- The retailer would have saved €630 and retained its customer.
- The jeweler would have recovered his €2,800 within 48 hours without a legal battle.
- The industrial distributor would have avoided the $500 customer penalty.
You Continue to Ship with GLS, But Safely
What you keep:
- GLS shipping rates (often competitive)
- Your account and history on GLS
- Your existing technical integrations
- The European GLS network
What you optimize:
- Real protection for your goods
- Compensation times reduced by a factor of 10
- Radical administrative simplicity
- Complete peace of mind