DHL Insurance

How DHL parcel insurance actually works

DHL doesn't automatically insure your parcel for what's inside it. Every shipment comes with DHL's standard liability, but that cover is limited. It's usually worked out by weight, not by what your goods are actually worth. So a 2kg parcel with a £3,000 watch in it is treated like any other 2kg parcel, not as £3,000 of cover.

If you want protection that reflects the real value, DHL sells optional insurance. It costs £12 for parcels valued up to £800, then 1.5% of the value above that, so a £2,000 parcel costs £30. You'll find it at Ryman and DHL-owned Service Centres, and through DHLitNow and DHL by Phone.

There's a catch beyond the price. DHL simply won't carry the things people most want to protect: watches and jewellery over £4,000, collectibles and coins over £1,800, and fine art or antiques over £5,000, with electronics capped at two devices per shipment. And because its standard liability is weight-based, not tied to what's inside, even what it does cover rarely matches the real value. That gap is exactly what a standalone policy fills, and it's where Secursus comes in. 

Why Secursus Parcel Insurance works better

Secursus has a dedicated claims team whose only job is to get you paid fast. Once your file is complete, valid claims are settled within 72 hours, where a DHL claim can drag on for weeks or even months.

Our shipping insurance for high value items covers up to £90,000 and, as previously mentioned, includes many items excluded from DHL's complementary insurance, such as watches, high-tech devices, and second-hand items.

Once your parcel is insured with Secursus, you will receive an email stating shipping instructions and information about the rules and the path to follow if something goes wrong with your parcel during transit.

What DHL covers for free (standard liability)

Every DHL shipment includes standard liability at no extra cost, but it is smaller than most people expect. DHL pays the lesser of the goods' value or a fixed amount per kilogram, worked out by the parcel's weight, not by what's inside.

Here is roughly what that free cover is worth. By road, on most UK and EU parcels, it is 8.33 SDR per kg, about £9 per kg. By air, on most long-haul, it is 26 SDR per kg, about £27 per kg. SDR is the IMF unit, so the pound figure shifts a little with exchange rates. In practice, a 2kg parcel with a £3,000 watch inside, shipped by air, is covered for roughly £55, not £3,000. If the value matters, DHL's free liability will not be enough, and you need its paid insurance or a standalone policy.

What DHL insurance covers, and what it doesn't

DHL insurance in 30 seconds

• Free cover is tiny: standard liability only, capped by weight (about £9 per kg by road, £27 per kg by air).
• Optional insurance: £12 up to £800, then 1.5% of the declared value. A £2,000 parcel costs £30.
• Documents: Extended Liability, £4.50 for a fixed £400.
• DHL will not carry watches or jewellery over £4,000, collectibles over £1,800, or art over £5,000.
• Claims: in writing within 30 days, one claim per shipment.
• Secursus: 1% (from £1.50), valuables up to £90,000, claims paid within 72 hours.

DHL vs Secursus, by what's in the box

How to make a claim with DHL

Is DHL a good carrier to ship with?

None of this is a knock on DHL. For speed and reach it's hard to beat, and it's one of the clear leaders in worldwide express delivery.

With guaranteed delivery windows and 24 to 48 hour express options, it's a strong choice whether you're shipping across the UK or abroad.

It also delivers with an electronic signature, which is exactly what our cover relies on. So send your parcel however suits you best, straight from DHL or through a shipping comparator for a sharper rate, then insure it separately with us.

And if you're shipping high-value items with other carriers, such as Royal Mail, be sure to check their specific policies. For high value parcel insurance Royal Mail offers, Secursus can provide more comprehensive coverage for your valuable parcels.