U-PIC has been insuring packages since 1989. What we have learned is that this business comes down to two main things: rates and claims. U-PIC not only offers the most competitive rates in the industry, but our claims experience will not be beat. U-PIC has the most efficient, technologically driven, claims process in the industry. Our staff of licensed claim representatives will give you a VIP experience through-out the entire process.

U-PIC combines over 26 years of expertise with industry-leading technology to cut costs that we pass directly onto our clients. U-PIC's focus is on insurance, where the carriers priority is on their transportation business and have little desire to create an insurance solution that is competitive.

We have two primary ways to obtain shipping insurance:

• Use our BUY NOW feature if you are a small merchant or an individual who wants to buy shipping insurance on a single package as needed.
• Or, larger merchants can APPLY NOW for a higher volume account and obtain lower, customized rates.

See more about how shipping insurance works here here.

Objectively, yes, adding additional layers of protection to your package as it moves through the postal service is a good idea. Each day, billions of shipments are injected into the postal stream, and each day, more and more of those shipments are lost or damaged. Merchants should weigh the risk vs. reward of adding shipping insurance to their packages, and consider services that third party insurance solutions provide, such as fast claims processing.

See more about why shipping insurance is a good idea here.

Shipping insurance protects both buyers and sellers from the risks associated with shipping packages through the postal system. Shipping insurance is an optional paid service added to a package, designed to compensate the buyer or seller in the event that the contents of a parcel are damaged, lost, or stolen while in transit.

When some form of loss takes place during transit, a claim may be filed with the insurer, and the claimant may be indemnified by the insurer up to the declared value that was insured.

Shipping insurance may be bought and paid for by a buyer (of products), or a seller. The party who purchases the insurance is the insured, and is also the party who will be indemnified once the claim has been adjusted.

Shipping insurance is calculated in $100 increments, called "Declared Value Units" or "DVU’s" for short. One DVU is equal to $100 worth of insurance coverage. To calculate how much your shipping insurance would cost, multiply the rate of insurance per DVU (or per $100) of coverage needed for the shipment. For example, an item that you are looking to insure for $300 would be insured for 3 DVU’s. If you were to pay $0.45 per DVU, shipping insurance on a $300 package, would cost $1.35. Keep in mind that a DVU is based on a whole unit of measurement, so a package valued at $250 would count as three DVU’s.

Calculate your own rates using our rate calculator here.

A "DVU" is a "Declared Value Unit". One DVU is equal to $100 worth of insurance coverage. To calculate how much your shipping insurance would cost, multiply the rate of insurance per DVU (or per $100) of coverage needed for the shipment. For example, an item that you are looking to insure for $300 would be insured for 3 DVU’s. If you were to pay $0.45 per DVU, shipping insurance on a $300 package, would cost $1.35. Keep in mind that a DVU is based on a whole unit of measurement, so a package valued at $250 would count as three DVU’s.

Our standard list of exclusions include: Accounts, bills, bullion, currency, deeds, evidence of debt, furs, original/fine art, computer chips, money, notes, securities, perishable cargo, precious/semi-precious stones, televisions, tickets, laptop computers, cellphones, personal goods, or similar property unless endorsed in writing.

*These exclusions may be different based on the details of your policy with U-PIC.

As long as a package originates within the U.S. or Canada, it can be insured to any country, with the exception of the countries listed on our restricted countries list *, and a few zip codes where coins and jewelry cannot be mailed *.

*See corresponding questions and answers below.

This list of excluded countries is specifically for clients that hold direct volume policies with U-PIC, or any of its vendors. Packages sent to these countries can not be insured.

• Afghanistan
• Angola
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Cote d'ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• Cuba
• Iran
• Jordan
• Libya
• Montenegro
• Nigeria
• Paraguay
• Russia
• Sierra Leone
• Sri Lanka
• Syria
• Yemen
• Algeria
• Belarus
• Burundi
• Croatia
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Iraq
• Liberia
• Moldova
• Myanmar (Burma)
• North Korea
• Republic of the Congo
• Serbia
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Togo
• Zimbabwe

The following are the countries covered in our 'Buy Now' or web client programs. Any country not listed here is excluded from coverage.

• AFO / DPO / FPO Military Mail
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Chile
• Costa Rica
• Czech Republic
• Dominican Republic
• Egypt
• Finland
• Germany
• Guatemala
• Hong Kong
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Morocco
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Portugal
• Samoa
• South Korea
• Sweden
• Taiwan
• Turkey
• United Kingdom
• Venezuela
• Argentina
• Austria
• Bangladesh
• Belgium
• Canada
• China
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• Ecuador
• Estonia
• France
• Greenland
• Guyana
• Hungary
• India
• Israel
• Jamaica
• Luxembourg
• Mauritius
• Moldova
• Namibia
• New Zealand
• Poland
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Ukraine
• United States

Yes. For coins and jewelry, U-PIC will not insure shipments to or from the following zip codes:

• 10017
• 10036
• 94102
• 94108

Yes. If you include your shipping costs in your declared value when you purchase your insurance, they can be reimbursed in the event of a claim.

Packages are required to meet carriers standards. Every carrier has information on best practices when shipping your packages through them. For information on where this can be found please feel free to contact us.

No. Every shipper has a unique set of circumstances that we custom build programs to meet.

No. U-PIC can integrate with many different shipping software platforms. Just let us know what platform you use and we can work with you.

U-PIC is always looking for more ways to bring our insurance solution to as many people as possible. If you have a label printing platform or ecommerce solution we would love to talk about adding more value to your current offering.

The following are the countries covered in our 'Buy Now' or web client programs. Any country not listed here is excluded from coverage.

• AFO / DPO / FPO Military Mail
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Chile
• Costa Rica
• Czech Republic
• Dominican Republic
• Egypt
• Finland
• Germany
• Guatemala
• Hong Kong
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Morocco
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Portugal
• Samoa
• South Korea
• Sweden
• Taiwan
• Turkey
• United Kingdom
• Venezuela
• Argentina
• Austria
• Bangladesh
• Belgium
• Canada
• China
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• Ecuador
• Estonia
• France
• Greenland
• Guyana
• Hungary
• India
• Israel
• Jamaica
• Luxembourg
• Mauritius
• Moldova
• Namibia
• New Zealand
• Poland
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Ukraine
• United States

Clients who hold a direct account or web account, with U-PIC can log in to file a claim.

After filing, a claim number will be provided, along with the ability to upload any of additional required documents and an option to send the recipient an electronic affidavit. For detailed instructions on what is required when filing a claim, please see the provided claims instructions.

The consignee is the buyer or intended recipient of the package.

Damage:

• There is no waiting period for damaged parcels. You can file as soon as you are notified that a package arrived damaged. Please be sure to get photos and a description of the damage from the recipient.

Loss:

• For lost domestic shipments, there is a 21 day waiting period from the ship date of the package that you must wait before you can file a claim for loss.
• For lost international shipments, there is a 45 day waiting period from the ship date of the package that you must wait before you can file a claim for loss.
• For lost international shipments to Italy, there is 60 day waiting period from the ship date of the package that you must wait before you can file a claim for loss.

*These requirements may be different based on the details of your policy with U-PIC.

All claims must be filed before 90 days from the date of shipment to be honored.

*This requirement may be different based on the details of your policy with U-PIC.

The standard requirements to complete a claim are as follows:

• A copy of the invoice between the seller and the buyer for the merchandise in the shipment.
• A statement from the consignee confirming the loss or damage of the shipment. If the shipment is lost, the statement from the consignee must be dated after the waiting period for the package.
• And pictures of the damaged package and product if the package arrived damaged.

*These requirements may be different based on the details of your policy with U-PIC.

All claims are paid out via check. Claims are always paid out to the shipper/policy holder unless otherwise requested in writing by the shipper/policyholder.

Yes. If you include your shipping costs in your declared value when you purchase your insurance, they can be reimbursed in the event of a claim.

You can cancel your claim by clicking the cancel button under the claim status page for the corresponding claim at anytime. Or you can contact claims@u-pic.com and we can cancel your claim for you.

Clients who hold a direct account or web account with U-PIC can log in to their account to see all of their claims.

Clients who do not hold a direct account or web account with U-PIC will have to look up their claims individually by tracking number.

If you forgot your account details, you can reach out to U-PIC support.

U-PIC has many different options for reporting insured shipments. We are integrated into several shipping software applications, and can provide export options if you are using carrier software.

We will work with you to find the best reporting method for you.

Clients who hold a direct account or web account with U-PIC can log in to their account to file a claim.

Clients who do not hold a direct account or web account with U-PIC will have to file their claims individually by tracking number.

Clients who hold a direct account or web account with U-PIC can log in to their account to see all of their claims.

Clients who do not hold a direct account or web account with U-PIC will have to look up their claims individually by tracking number.

Clients who hold a direct account or web account with U-PIC can log in to their account to see all of their orders.

Clients who do not hold a direct account or web account with U-PIC will have to keep track of their orders personally.