Short answer: Shipping insurance is optional and costs $3 for every $100 of declared value, up to $5,000 per shipment. It's provided by a third-party insurer, EasyPost, Inc. Without insurance, major carriers cover up to $100, excluding the shipping cost.
How insurance works
You can add insurance at checkout when you create your shipment. The coverage comes from EasyPost, Inc., a third-party insurer. ForwardMe acts as the intermediary: we help you file a claim and coordinate it with the insurer, but the insurer reviews the claim and decides the outcome.
The full conditions are in Article VIII of our terms: https://www.forwardme.com/terms#article-8
What it costs
| Declared value | Insurance cost |
|---|---|
| $100 | $3 |
| $500 | $15 |
| $1,000 | $30 |
| $5,000 (maximum) | $150 |
The price is $3 for every $100 of the total declared value of your shipment. There's no free first $100, and the maximum coverage is $5,000 per shipment.
Pack it well. Poor packing is an exclusion, so make sure items can't move inside the box, pad them properly and avoid reusing an old shipping box.
Tip: declare the real value of your items. Insurance is based on the declared value, and misdeclaration is one of the reasons a claim can be refused.
What isn't covered
Some items can't be insured, and some situations aren't covered even when the item is.
| Items that aren't covered | Situations that aren't covered |
|---|---|
| Coins, bullion, jewelry and precious stones | Insufficient or incorrect packing by the sender |
| Currency, negotiable instruments and securities | Cosmetic damage to the packaging when the merchandise is undamaged |
| Perishables | Packages signed for by the recipient |
| Shipments to OFAC-sanctioned countries | Seizure or destruction by customs |
| Lottery and event tickets | Delay or deterioration |
| Consignment goods | Misdeclaration |
| Loose diamonds, stones and rock slabs | Parcels with no carrier acceptance scan |
| A package that's refused or abandoned because duties weren't paid or customs paperwork wasn't provided |
What insurance covers
Insurance covers a shipment that is lost, damaged or stolen after it enters the carrier's network:
- Lost: the package started tracking but never got a delivery scan.
- Damaged: it was delivered, but the contents are damaged.
- Stolen: there is a delivery scan, but the recipient never received the package. A claim of this kind needs proof of theft, such as a police report.
Each kind has its own filing deadline and evidence. See "Lost or damaged shipment: how to file a claim".
If you don't add insurance
Without insurance, major carriers (FedEx, UPS and DHL) cover loss or damage up to $100, excluding the shipping cost. Any case is reported through the carrier. Our own liability for an uninsured shipment is limited too — see our Terms. So if your items are worth more than the carrier's limit, insurance is the way to protect their full value.
If something goes wrong
If an insured shipment arrives damaged or goes missing, you need to act quickly and provide detailed evidence. See "Lost or damaged shipment: how to file a claim" for the steps and the documents you'll need.
Common questions
Is the first $100 covered for free? Not by insurance. Insurance costs $3 for every $100 of declared value, starting from the first dollar. Without insurance, major carriers cover up to $100, excluding shipping.
Who pays out my claim, ForwardMe or the insurer? The insurer, EasyPost, Inc., reviews and decides claims. We coordinate the claim for you as the intermediary.
Can I insure jewelry? No. Jewelry, precious stones, coins and bullion are excluded from coverage.
Is the packaging covered if it's dented but the items are fine? No. Cosmetic damage to the packaging is not covered when the merchandise itself is undamaged.
What's the most I can insure? Up to $5,000 per shipment.
Still need help?
Our support team is available on weekdays from 09:00 to 17:00 ET at [email protected].