Shipping Basics
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What Additional Shipping Insurance Does and Doesn't Cover

Cargosender's own terms list specific categories no policy covers by default — worth knowing before you assume a purchase is protected.

Excluded By Default
5 categories
Over EUR 2,000
Report in writing
Exceptions
Only if confirmed

Not Every Item Is Covered by Default

Cargosender's Terms and Conditions state plainly that no insurance policy covers certain categories of item unless the carrier or insurance company has explicitly confirmed otherwise. That's a meaningfully different situation from a policy that simply pays out less — for these categories, the default position is no cover at all, regardless of what value you declare.

This is separate from the prohibited items list. Some genuinely valuable categories — jewelry, art, precious metals, antiques, cash — are prohibited from being shipped at all under the terms, not merely excluded from cover. The categories below can be shipped; they just aren't automatically insured.

What's Excluded by Default

CategoryWhat to know
Food, including liquid foodNo default cover, in addition to whatever restrictions apply to shipping food at all — check the restrictions guide for perishables.
Fragile items such as glass and porcelainNot covered by default even when packed carefully — pack to the standard in the fragile items guide regardless, since inadequate packing is also a separate reason claims fail.
High-value items generallyNo default cover for the category as a whole, separate from the specific value threshold below.
Individual items valued over EUR 5,000Not covered at all unless the carrier or insurance company explicitly confirms otherwise. Items valued above EUR 2,000 must be reported to Cargosender in writing regardless.
Items with sentimental valueExcluded by default — sentimental value isn't a figure any policy prices in, and a declared monetary value doesn't change that.

Excluded From Cover Is Not the Same as Prohibited

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Jewelry (including watches), works of art, precious metals and stones, antiques and cash are prohibited items under Cargosender's terms — they can't be shipped at all, insured or not.

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The categories in the table above can be shipped, but aren't automatically covered — that's a different problem, and one worth confirming before you rely on cover being there.

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A high declared value doesn't create cover for an excluded category. Declared value and insurance eligibility are separate questions.

Before You Assume You're Covered

Check whether your item falls into one of the five excluded categories above.
If it's valued over EUR 2,000, report it to Cargosender in writing before booking — this is a requirement, not a suggestion.
If you need an exception confirmed for a specific item, get that confirmation from the carrier or insurance company in writing before you rely on it.
Pack fragile items to a proper standard regardless of insurance status — inadequate packing is a separate, independent reason claims fail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get an exception for one of the excluded categories?

Only if the carrier or insurance company explicitly confirms it in advance. It isn't automatic, and isn't something a higher declared value alone secures.

Why aren't fragile items like glass or porcelain covered by default?

Cargosender's terms exclude this category from default cover. Packing them properly still matters regardless, since inadequate packing is a separate reason a claim can fail.

What's the point of the EUR 2,000 reporting rule?

It's a requirement in Cargosender's terms: individual items valued above EUR 2,000 must be reported in writing, separately from the EUR 5,000 threshold above which cover doesn't apply at all without explicit confirmation.

Is this the same as the prohibited items list?

No. Prohibited items — jewelry, art, precious metals, antiques, cash — can't be shipped at all. The categories here can be shipped, but aren't covered by insurance by default.

Keep Reading

Not Sure If You're Covered?

Confirm in writing before you book if your item is valuable, fragile by default, or over EUR 2,000.

Contact Support →