With over 18,000 relay points in France and 46,000 in Europe, Mondial Relay is the undisputed leader in relay point delivery. Chosen by 85% of French e-merchants to optimize their shipping costs, this network generates over 200 million parcels a year.
As a professional, you chose Mondial Relay for one strategic reason: to optimize your shipping costs. But in your quest for savings, have you weighed the risk to your margins and cash flow? Mondial Relay parcel insurance, with its apparent simplicity, is an attractive solution. A little too much so.
This article is not simply a guide to rates. It's a strategic analysis that lifts the veil on the false sense of security provided by Mondial Relay insurance. We'll show you, with figures to back it up, why its Limit and flat-rate structure are dangerous traps for any professional who ships goods worth more than €25. 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.
Mondial Relay 's dominance is based on an undeniable economic advantage: lower delivery costs. But this price optimization hides a less favorable reality when it comes to goods protection.
How does Mondial Relay Parcel Insurance work?
Mondial Relay 's insurance is based on a lump-sum policy, which means that you are not indemnified on the actual value of your goods, but on the basis of a lump sum you choose to insure a parcel.
- Basic Coverage (included): Each shipment via Mondial Relay automatically includes a flat-rate compensation of €25 (incl. VAT) (in the event of lost or damaged parcel). It's a minimum of security, but totally disconnected from the value of most e-commerce transactions.
- Optional Levels of Indemnity: For superior protection, you can subscribe to one of 5 additional levels of parcel insurance when you create your label with Mondial Relay.
Mondial Relay Insurance Price Table and Indemnity Levels 2025
⚠️ Critical Limitation: It is impossible to insure a parcel worth more than €500 with Mondial Relay Parcel Insurance. This absolute limit makes the service viable only for low- to medium-value goods.
TheLimit de Verre" at €500 with Ad Valorem Mondial Relay
The first weakness of the Mondial Relay offer is its absolute Limit : it is impossible to insure a parcel worth more than €500. For any professional selling electronic products, leather goods, works of art or mixed baskets, this limit is prohibitive for insuring parcels.
Sectors affected by the €500 Limit
- Electronics: iPhone (€1,200), iPad Pro (€1,500), laptops (€800-2,500)
- Premium fashion: designer bags (€600-3,000), luxury shoes (€500-1,500)
- Art and decoration: Works of art, antiques, collectibles
- Compound baskets: Multiple orders easily exceeding €500
- B2B: Professional tools, medical equipment, industrial components
The €500 Limit is not a detail, it's a strategic barrier. It positions Mondial Relay's offer as a viable solution for low-value goods only. Using this service for higher-value shipments is like playing Russian roulette with your margin.
The Lump Sum vs. Actual Value Insurance Trap
The second weakness is the very structure of Mondial Relay insurance. Being "flat-rate", it exposes you to losses, even for parcels worth less than €500.
Example:
You're shipping an item worth €400. The closest shipping insurance level is Level 4 (€375) or Level 5 (€500).
- If you choose level 4 for €6.50, you underinsure your property and lose €25 in the event of a claim.
- If you choose level 5 for €8.00, you're over-insuring your property and paying for coverage you don't need.
This tiered system, unlike true "Ad Valorem" insurance (based on actual value), creates constant friction and forces you to make compromises that impact either your coverage or your profitability.
Parcel Insurance Processes and Operational Limitations
Exclusions and Restrictions Mondial Relay
According to official documentation, there are many exclusions to Mondial Relay insurance:
- Valuables: Jewellery, watches, works of art often excluded
- Fragile products: Cover in approved packaging
- Electronics: Special conditions according to equipment type
- Liquids/perishables: Standard transport exclusions
Claims process and deadlines
- Declaration: Within 3 working days of delivery
- Documents required: Proof of purchase, damage photos, label
- Processing time: 15-30 days depending on complexity of file
- Reimbursement: Package for the level purchased only
L'Alternative Stratégique pour les Professionnels : Claisy
In the face of Mondial Relay's structural limitations, modern Ad Valorem insurance offers an approach designed for demanding professionals:
Advantages of Proportional Insurance
✅ Fair value hedge
- No more increments: you insure your parcel for its exact value
- A 400€ parcel is insured for 400€, not 375€ or 500€.
- No hidden losses due to bearing approximations
✅ Professional Limits
- Up to €100,000 per parcel vs. €500 maximum MR
- Guaranteed upgradeability: Support your products' move upmarket
- Liberté Carrier : Keep MR for small values, other carriers for premium
✅ Substantial savings
- Rate 0.75% vs. 1.6-3.5% MR staff
- 50-70% savings on medium/high volumes
- Immediate ROI from the first month of use
Connect your free CMS in 5 minutes and migrate from Mondial Relay insurance to Claisy
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 Chronopost insurance to Claisy: all with compensation within 1 week.
Conclusion: Optimizing your transport + parcel insurance strategy
Mondial Relay remains an excellent choice for optimizing your transport costs, thanks to its network of 18,000 relay points and rates starting from €3.49. Its leadership in logistics is well-deserved.
However, confusing transport savings with insurance optimization is a costly strategic error. The limitations identified are structural:
- Redhibitory €500Limit for any valuable modern product
- Rigid bearings create additional costs of 137% to 367%.
- 15-30 day lead times impact cash flow and customer responsiveness
- Carrier dependency limits business scalability
💡 Recommended strategy for professionals
- Keep Mondial Relay for its undeniable transport advantage
- Optimize insurance with a modern, digital and responsive solution for real protection
- Approche hybride : Mondial Relay pour vos colis < 150€ si le taux d'assurance n'est pas excessif ET solution moderne pour valeurs supérieures
- Guaranteed ROI: Savings of 50-70%.
For a professional, shipment protection is not a cost, it's an investment in customer satisfaction, customer service availability and margin sustainability. Opting for genuine Ad Valorem insurance means regaining control. It means choosing protection that fits your business, not the other way around.