Royal Mail 'Special Delivery' vs 'Guaranteed': what's the difference?

Special Delivery (standard) only offers limited compensation. Only Special Delivery Guaranteed provides true ad valorem insurance up to $2,500. Be sure to check which service you select!

What happens to my shipments to Europe post-Brexit?

Royal Mail international services, but with different and often less favorable insurance conditions. A global solution unifies UK and international terms.

How do I calculate the ROI of switching insurance?

Compare: (savings on rates + time saved on management + risk reduction) vs. the cost of the new solution. It's generally positive from 50+ parcels/month with an average value > $400.

What are the compensation limits with Claisy?

Claisy offers coverage up to $100,000 per parcel, far exceeding Royal Mail$2,500 limit. This allows you to secure high-value shipments without multiple contracts.

Royal Mail Insurance Royal Mail

As a UK e-commerce and shipping professional, Royal Mail is likely your primary logistics partner. With over 17.7 billion parcels in transit in 2024, and nearly 21 billion parcels expected in 2030, the UK parcel market is the largest in Europe alongside Germany. But when it comes to protecting your valuable shipments, their protection system reveals costly surprises.

Did you know that most Royal Mail services Royal Mail genuine parcel insurance, but simply limited "compensation"? This guide explains the real protection options available and presents you with modern alternatives.

You can also find our comparison of carriers' parcel insurance policies and the complete encyclopedia on ad valorem with an analysis of CMS offers and logistics solutions.

🎯 What you will discover:

The critical difference between "compensation" and ad valorem insurance
Detailed analysis of Royal Mail only delivery insurance service Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed)
Comparison with professional parcel insurance solutions
Practical guide to optimizing your protection in the United Kingdom

Royal Mail Claisy: Complete Analysis 2025

Detailed comparison for international trade professionals

Criteria	Royal Mail Delivery	Claisy
🛡️ Coverage & Exclusions
Coverage Limit	£2,500Non-negotiable maximum	€100,000 ~ £85,000
Luxury Jewelry & Watches	❌ Notcovered Exclusion maintained	✅ Fully covered
Metals & Precious Stones	❌ Notcovered Exclusion maintained	✅ Fully covered
Works of art & Antiques	❌ Notcovered Exclusion maintained	✅ Fully covered
High-Tech (smartphones, PCs, etc.)	⚠️Strict conditionsLowvalue limit	✅ Unconditionally covered
Reconditioned / Second-hand products	❌ NotcoveredEvidence of value difficult	✅ Fully covered
💰 Pricing & Examples
Pricing structure	Fixed bearingsExample: £3 for £1,000	0.75% proportionalWithoutminimum or deductible
Package at £300	£3(1.00% - fixed tier)	$2.25(0.75%)Savings: $0.75 (25%)
Package worth £1,000	£10(1.00% - fixed tier)	£7.50(0.75%)Savings: £2.50 (25%)
Parcel worth £2,500	£10(0.40% - max. tier)	£18.75(0.75%)Fairer rate
⚡️ Performance & Processes
Compensation period	60+ days❌Internal investigation by Royal Mail	48-72h ✅
Declaration process	Heavy and manual file❌No API for SMEs	Dashboard in less than 5 min ✅
Carrier constraint	Royal Mail ❌Special Delivery required	All carriers ✅
Cash impact	Block 2 months ❌	Solved in 3 days ✅

The Royal Mail "Compensation" Trap Royal Mail What You Need to Know

The first crucial point to understand is that most Royal Mail services do Royal Mail offer insurance, but rather limited "compensation cover."

🔍 Compensation vs. Parcel Insurance: The Difference That Costs You Money

📦 "Compensation Cover"

i
Nature:Royal Mail Limited Liability
i
Amount:Flat rate, often negligible
i
Conditions:Proven fault of Royal Mail
i
Deadlines:Long (internal investigation)

🛡️ Claisy Solution

✓
Nature:Declared value coverage
✓
Amount:Up to the insured value
✓
Conditions:Protection against loss, theft, and damage
✓
Deadlines:Fast and independent

⚠️ Warning: 1st Class, 2nd Class, and even Special Delivery (standard) services only offer limited compensation, not actual insurance!

Royal Mail Mail's Terms and Conditions Royal Mail Compensation

Royal Mail Delivery Guaranteed: The Only Real Insurance

In the Royal Mail ecosystem, only one service offers true ad valorem insurance: Special Delivery Guaranteed™.

💰 Royal Mail Ad Valorem Pricing Structure Royal Mail Coverage

Insured Value	Basic Coverage	Supplement	Total Insurance Cost
Up to £750	✓ Included	0 £	Included in the shipment
Up to £1,000	£750 included	+ 3 £	3 £
Up to £2,500	£750 included	+ 10 £	10 £

🚫 Critical Limitations

Major Constraints:

Limit : £2,500 maximum (cannot be insured beyondthis amount)
Mandatory service: You must use Special Delivery (more expensive)
Excluded products: Restrictive listmaintained
Limited geography: Primarily UK domestic

Royal Mail Complaint Process

🕐 Deadlines and Procedure

Step 1: Declaration (Day 0)

Online form via the Royal Mail website Royal Mail not very intuitive interface)

Step 2: Internal Investigation (D+1 to D+30)

Royal Mail its own investigation (judge and jury)

Step 3: Decision (D+30 to D+60)

Email notification of the decision

Step 4: Compensation (D+60+)

Transfer if accepted (additional time possible)

⚠️ Identified Points of Friction

Lack of transparency: No real-time tracking of the file
Limited communication: Email exchanges only
Long lead times: 60+ days on average (cash flow impact)
Conflict of interest: Royal Mail its own failings

Case Studies: When Royal Mail Insurance Royal Mail Your Growth

📱 Case #1: retailer

Profile: Sale of smartphones/tablets in London, average price £800

Volume: 200 packages/month

With Royal Mail Delivery Guaranteed:

Free insurance (< £750) but obligation to use the most expensive service

Problem 15% of products > $1,000 not covered by basic insurance. Additional cost: $120/month

💎 Case #2: Jeweler

Profile: Handcrafted jewelry in Manchester, 60% of pieces > £1,000

Volume: 50 packages/month

With Royal Mail

40% of products are insurable (< £2,500), but 60% are not

Risk Total loss on high-value parts, creating a major financial risk

🎨 Case #3: Art Gallery

Profile: Sale of artworks in Edinburgh, average value £3,500.

Volume: 20 packages/month.

With Royal Mail

0% of the works are insurable because they all exceed the £2 Limit 500 Limit .

Complexity Mandatory external insurance, forcing the management of two separate systems.

Complete Comparison 2026: Royal Mail Insurance Royal Mail Professional Solution

Criteria	Royal Mail Delivery	Ad Valorem Pro Solution
💰Cost	£0 to £10 (fixed increments) + premium service requirement	0.75% of the value No Carrier restrictions
Limit	£2,500 Non-negotiable	€100,000 (≈£85,000) Scalable according to needs
⚡Compensation period	60+ days Internal investigation Royal Mail	48-72 hours Independent external process
🌍Geographic Coverage	UK mainly International limited	Worldwide Same conditions everywhere
🎯Covered Products	Exclusions maintained Restrictive list	All products Luxury, tech, art included
🔧Integration	Manual only No public API	API + CMS Connectors Complete automation
📊ClaimsTracking	Emails No dedicated portal	Real-time dashboard Complete history
Carrierconstraint	Royal Mail Special Delivery required	All carriers Complete freedom

❓FAQ: Royal Mail Insurance

🤔 "Special Delivery" vs. "Guaranteed": what's the difference?

Special Delivery (standard) offers only limited compensation. Only Special Delivery Guaranteed offers true ad valorem insurance up to £2,500. Be sure to check the service you select!

📱 Are iPhones and Apple products covered by Royal Mail

Yes, with Special Delivery Guaranteed, but be aware Limit 500 Limit . iPhone Pro Max and MacBook devices often exceed this limit. In addition, you must provide proof of the new value.

💎 Can I insure antique or secondhand jewelry?

Royal Mail secondhand goods with Special Delivery Guaranteed, but you must provide a recent valuation. For items valued at over £2,500, external insurance is mandatory.

🌍 What will happen to my shipments to Europe after Brexit?

Royal Mail international services, but with different and often less favorable insurance terms. A global solution unifies UK and international terms.

⚡ How can I speed up a Royal Mail claim Royal Mail

Unfortunately, the process remains lengthy (60+ days). Royal Mail its own investigation with no possibility of expediting it. This is why many people turn to more responsive external insurance providers.

🔄 Can I use external insurance with other UK carriers?

Absolutely! It is even recommended in order to diversify your logistics options (DPD, UPS, DHL, Yodel) while maintaining uniform insurance coverage. Royal Mail then Royal Mail just one Carrier many.

💰 How to calculate the ROI of changing insurance providers?

Compare: (savings on rates + time saved on management + risk reduction) vs. cost of new solution. Generally positive for 50+ packages/month with an average value > $400.

📦 What are the Limits with Claisy?

Claisy offers coverage of up to £100,000 per parcel, well above Royal Mail £2,500. This allows you to secure high-value shipments without having to take out multiple contracts.

🔌 Is integration with Shopify or WooCommerce easy?

Yes, integration is native and takes just a few minutes using our dedicated modules. You can automate the insurance of your packages directly from your e-commerce back office.

🛡️ Does Claisy cover partial losses?

Yes, Claisy covers not only total loss, but also partial damage and partial theft (misappropriation), which is often excluded or difficult to prove with traditional carriers.

Royal Mail Alternative: Choose modernity and responsiveness

Royal Mail an excellent Carrier, but their approach to insurance reveals its limitations when faced with the demands of modern e-commerce. Limits , archaic processes, and operational constraints are holding back your growth.

👋

Collaborative tool

Declare your parcels manually or import a simple CSV file.

🔌

Free connectors

Integrate Claisy into your CMS in 1 click for 100% automated insurance.

⚙️

API & EDI

For customized needs and deep integration with your WMS or ERP.

Make an appointment

Appendices :

Practical Guide: Optimizing Your UK Parcel Insurance

Audit Your Situation

📊 Analyze over 6 months:

Total volume: Number of packages shipped
Répartition valeurs : % < 750 £, 750-2500 £, > 2500 £
Current insurance cost: Royal Mail surcharges Royal Mail
Claims: Number, amount, processing time
Management time: Hours spent on claims

Identify Your Blockages

🚫 Warning signs:

Limit : > 20% of your products are uninsurable
Carrier Cost Carrier Special Delivery requirement on all your shipments
Claim deadlines: Cash flow impact on disputes > $500
Geographic expansion: Different conditions depending on destination
Diversification: Need for other carriers

Evaluate the Alternatives

🔍 Selection criteria:

Coverage: Limit , all products, geography
Operational: Tool integration, carrier compatibility
Economical: Total cost, no constraints, scalability

Migrate Progressively

📈 Recommended approach:

Phase 1: Test on high-value products (> $3,000)
Phase 2: Extend to primary volumes
Phase 3: Optimize the carrier mix
Phase 4: Fully automate the process

UK specifics with Claisy

Post-Brexit Coverage

Identical conditions for your domestic UK and EU shipments, without any additional administrative complexity.

Invoicing in GBP possible with Claisy

Option to invoice in British pounds to simplify your UK accounting.

Supported Carriers

Compatible with all UK players: Royal Mail, DPD, Yodel,Evri, Hermes, UPS, DHL, and even specialists in luxury goods (watches, leather goods, golf equipment, etc.).

Calculate your potential savings

💹 retailer

Profile: 300 packages/month, average value £900

Cost	Royal Mail	Claisy	Economy
Insurance	£10,800 (3£ × 3600 parcels)	£2,430 (0.75%)	8 370 £
Time Management	£1,200 (24 hours a day, 365 days a year)	£200 (4 hours/year)	1 000 £
Flexibility	- (Premium service)	Open negotiation (~15% savings)	3 000 £

💰 Total estimated savings: $14,700/year

💎 Luxury Jeweler

Profile: 80 parcels/month, average value £2,800

Criteria	Royal Mail	Claisy	Advantage
Coverage	60% of products s (limit £2,500)	100% of products (up to £85,000)	Comprehensive protection
Risk	£134,400/year (not covered)	0 £	Total security
Insurance Cost	£9,600/year (on eligible parcels)	£2,016/year (0.75%)	£7,584 saved

Impacts: Unlimited growth and $7,500+ in savings per year

‍

📚 Additional Resources

Information based on Royal Mail public terms and conditions. Rates are subject to change. Claisy is not affiliated with Royal Mail. For exact terms and conditions, please refer directly to the official websites of the service providers.

Royal Mail Insurance Royal Mail : Why "Compensation" Is No Longer Enough