Upela is a shipping comparison site that aggregates rates from major carriers (DHL, UPS, FedEx, Chronopost, Colissimo, Mondial Relay, DPD) and offers optional ad valorem insurance at the time of order. For an retailer or a regular shipper, it’s a convenient starting point. However, the insurance offered through a shipping comparison site doesn’t follow the same principles as dedicated cargo insurance, and this distinction matters as the value of shipments increases.
This article describes how Upela insurance actually works, based on its official documentation, rate schedule, exclusions, and legal basis, and then lists the points to check before insuring valuable goods. It is not intended to discredit Upela—whose role as a comparison service is useful—but to help readers make an informed decision.
What Is Upela's Ad Valorem Insurance?
Upela defines Ad Valorem insurance as coverage up to the value declared at the time the shipping order is placed, in the event of loss or damage. To purchase this coverage, select the “With Insurance” pricing option when choosing the Carrier. According to Upela’s documentation, compensation is based on the actual declared value, which is generally the sale price of the goods.
This is insurance tied to the shipping process on the platform: it is activated on a shipment-by-shipment basis when the shipment is ordered. This model is simple, but it involves two features that the Upela documentation clearly outlines and that are worth noting.
Two conditions set by Upela himself
First, Upela states that if the Carrier is not liable for the causes of the loss, no compensation will be paid. This is a fundamental point. It means that coverage remains tied to the liability of the Carrier : where the latter is exempt from liability, compensation may not be paid. A standalone property insurance policy works differently, providing compensation for property damage based on the insured value without the need to establish the liability of the Carrier.
Second, Upela makes acceptance contingent upon the submission of specific, written reservations at the time of delivery, emphasizing that vague reservations—such as “subject to unpacking”—are insufficient, and that in the absence of such reservations, the package may be considered delivered in good condition. This is a common-sense rule throughout the industry, but one that relies entirely on the recipient’s vigilance at the time of delivery.
These two conditions are not criticisms: they are the terms published by Upela. They simply define the actual scope of the warranty.
The fee schedule, as published by Upela
The pricing structure combines a flat fee for small amounts and a percentage for amounts above that threshold.
These figures are taken from the official Upela website. They require a careful reading of the effective rate. For an individual, above €200, a 2% rate means €40 in insurance for a package worth €2,000. For a business, a 1% rate reduces this cost to €20 for the same value. The pricing structure is therefore significantly more favorable for business accounts, which makes sense for a platform whose primary target is the regular shipper.
The Announced Exclusions
Upela includes the exclusions from the Ad Valorem warranty in its list of prohibited goods within its transportation network. The page specifically lists: fresh, frozen, or perishable goods; hazardous, explosive, flammable, corrosive, or radioactive materials; products containing compressed air; weapons; cash; and counterfeit goods.
Two useful points. First, this list is that of a transportation network, not a property insurance policy: it covers shipping prohibitions rather than just insurance exclusions. Second, the page does not detail the handling of sensitive categories commonly found in high-value e-commerce, such as jewelry, watches, art, or fine wines. Yet these are precisely the categories where conditions vary the most from one carrier to another. Their absence from the public page is not an omission, but it is a point to verify directly in the contract before shipping this type of item.
The legal basis cited by Upela: a sign of change to watch for
The Upela website rightly points out that compensation is still governed by international conventions. However, the figures it cites are outdated, and this is something a knowledgeable shipper should be aware of.
Upela writes that the CMR Convention, for land transport, specifies “8.33 SDR per kilogram, or approximately €11.72 per kilogram in January 2012.” The SDR limit is correct; it is indeed 8.33 SDR per kilogram (Article 23 of the CMR). However, the euro equivalent is based on January 2012: since the SDR is an IMF unit of account with a floating value, this equivalent has changed and currently stands at around €10 per kilogram. Only the value in SDRs is authoritative.
Most notably, with regard to air transport, the page cites the Warsaw Convention and “16.5837 SDR per kilogram, or approximately €23.33 per kilogram in January 2012.” However, the applicable air transport regime today is the Montreal Convention, whose cargo limit was raised to 26 SDRs per kilogram as of December 28, 2024, during the quinquennial inflation adjustment. The reference to the Warsaw Convention, with figures from 2012, indicates that the page has not been updated for over a decade.
This observation does not call into question the usefulness of the transportation comparison tool. However, when it comes to insurance, it calls for a simple precaution: check that the terms and conditions actually applied are up to date, and do not rely on the euro equivalents displayed.
What the Upela page doesn't specify, and what you need to check
A reader who wants to send a valuable package needs three pieces of information that the public page does not specify. Rather than citing unverifiable figures, here are the questions to ask before signing up:
Limit on compensation per package. This is crucial information for valuable items. What is the maximum amount covered per shipment, and is there a specific, lower Limit for sensitive categories such as jewelry, art, or watches?
The timeframe for compensation. Does the platform commit to a specific timeframe, or does it depend on the investigation by the carrier? The answer to this question determines the impact of a claim on your cash flow.
The claims handling process. Who reviews the claim, who decides on the compensation, and through which channel is the claim tracked? By its very nature, a comparison site acts as an intermediary between the sender, the insurer, and the Carrier ; it is reasonable to ask who makes the final decision.
These three questions are not criticisms: they are the provisions that determine the actual level of protection, and they can be found in the contract—not on a promotional page—regardless of the service provider.
How to Choose an Independent Professional Liability Insurance Policy
Whereas insurance provided by a comparison site is tied to the act of transport and often linked to the liability of the Carrier, independent cargo insurance is based on a different principle: it covers the goods based on their insured value, regardless of the Carrier, and provides coverage even when the latter is not liable. This is the principle ofad valorem insurance, which we detail in a dedicated guide.
In practical terms, this changes three things for a shipper of valuable goods. The coverage is not capped at the same level as a comparison site’s option, which matters as soon as shipments exceed a few thousand euros. The decision on compensation does not depend on the investigation by the “ Carrier ” that delivered the package. And the coverage is independent of the chosen carrier, which allows you to continue using a price comparison tool like Upela while purchasing insurance elsewhere.
Regarding pricing, a dedicated freight insurance policy is tailored to the shipper’s profile: the rate depends on the volume shipped and the nature of the goods. For regular shipments—excluding cash and excluded categories—it is generally lower than the standard rates for one-time options. Moreover, a proper comparison isn’t simply a matter of percentages, but rather a combination of the rate, the Limit, the turnaround time, and the actual scope of coverage.
This approach is compatible with Upela: there's nothing stopping you from comparing and booking shipping on the platform by selecting the option without insurance, and then insuring the shipment through a dedicated solution—either manually or via integration with your CMS.
Sources
- Upela, official "Ad Valorem Insurance" page (rates, terms and conditions, exclusions, cited legal basis): https://www.upela.com/fr/assurance-ad-valorem-871.html
- Montreal Convention, revision of limits as of December 28, 2024, ICAO: https://www.icao.int/news/international-air-travel-liability-limits-set-increase-enhancing-customer-compensation-0
- CMR Convention, Article 23