Courier Insurance: What You Need to Know Before Sending

Default cover is not always enough

Many courier services include a base level of goods-in-transit cover. High-value electronics, jewellery samples or specialist equipment may need declared value uplift. Always ask for the limit in writing before you book. Get a courier quote or see Help centre.

Cover limits vary widely between providers, and they are sometimes per-parcel rather than per-consignment. If you are sending three boxes worth £2,000 each under a £1,000 limit, you are materially under-insured even though “insurance was included”.

The other common gap is consequential loss. Standard cover compensates the value of the goods, not the contract you lost because they arrived broken. For truly business-critical shipments, the answer is prevention — better service levels — rather than a bigger claim.

Common exclusions to watch

Claims can be reduced or refused if packing was inadequate, prohibited items were shipped, or the declared value does not match the goods. Keep packing photos and invoices for higher-value shipments.

Also check who is responsible for packing standards. Many policies require goods to be packed “to a professional standard”, which is where self-packed claims often come unstuck. If in doubt, ask the courier what packing they expect for your item type.

Time limits catch people out as well. Damage claims often need to be lodged within days, with photos and evidence, so inspect deliveries promptly rather than leaving boxes unopened in a stockroom for a fortnight.

Documents that make claims painless

Keep the booking confirmation, photos of the item and its packaging, proof of value such as an invoice or receipt, and the delivery POD. Together these four items answer almost every question a claims team will ask.

Report problems immediately — ideally the same day — and be specific. “Box crushed on one corner, screen cracked” moves a claim forward; “it arrived damaged” starts a slow exchange of follow-up questions.

Store this evidence somewhere central if several people handle shipping. A claim that depends on photos sitting on a colleague’s phone is a claim that stalls.

Insurance is the last line, not the first

The cheapest claim is the one you never make. Good packing, accurate declarations, sensible service levels and a careful courier prevent nearly every loss — insurance exists for the small remainder.

Treat cover as a safety net that lets you ship with confidence, not as a substitute for doing the basics well. That mindset keeps both your premiums and your blood pressure low.

Sending with AGS Traders

AGS Traders ships with insurance in transit. Tell us the approximate value when you request a quote so cover matches the job — especially for urgent same-day business deliveries.

If you are sending something unusual — trade samples, exhibition equipment, instruments — describe it before booking rather than after. We can then confirm the right cover and any packing requirements up front, so there are no surprises if you ever need to claim.

For regular shippers, we can also discuss goods-in-transit arrangements that match your typical order values, which is usually cheaper and simpler than declaring value job by job.

Frequently asked questions