UPS insurance vs Secursus: what you pay and what you recover
Declared value charges set against real, all-risk cover.
UPS Insurance
- $100 of liability included per package
- Recovery capped at $1,000 without the signed high-value form
- Real insurance costs extra via UPS Capital InsureShield
- Payouts reduced by depreciation and audits
- No cover once the parcel is scanned delivered
Secursus Insurance
- Full cover up to $120,000 per shipment
- Jewelry, watches and electronics included
- Full agreed value, with no depreciation
- Theft after delivery is covered
- Valid claims paid in about 3 days
| Package Value | UPS Price | Secursus Price |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $17.00 | $10.00 |
| $2,000 | $34.00 | $20.00 |
| $3,000 | $51.00 | $30.00 |
| $5,000 | $85.00 | $50.00 |
| $10,000 | $170.00 | $100.00 |
Costs based on UPS declared value charges, 2026 (effective December 22, 2025). Secursus figures are estimates at about 1% of declared value.
Insure your UPS package in 3 steps
Ship your UPS package as usual and insure it in a few clicks on Secursus.
UPS makes it easy to add a declared value to any package, which is exactly why so many shippers assume they are insured. They are not. Declared value is a cap on what UPS might pay, wrapped in conditions that can quietly reduce your recovery to $100. Here is how UPS coverage really works in 2026, and where Secursus does more for less.
Key takeaways for 2026: UPS includes $100 of liability free, then charges $1.70 per $100 with a $5.11 minimum. Anything over $1,000 needs a signed high-value form at pickup or your recovery is capped at $1,000. Payouts are reduced for depreciation, theft after delivery is not covered, and real insurance means paying extra for InsureShield. Secursus covers the same parcels up to $120,000 at full value, in about 3 days.
How much does UPS insurance cost in 2026?
UPS coverage starts with $100 of liability included on every package. Above that you pay a declared value charge of $1.70 per $100, with a $5.11 minimum. The real catch appears above $1,000, where a signature at pickup becomes mandatory.
| Declared value | UPS charge |
| First $100 | Included, no charge |
| Each $100 above $100 | $1.70 (minimum $5.11) |
| Over $1,000 | Signed high-value form required at pickup |
| Maximum | $50,000 per package ($70,000 enhanced) |
Declared value vs real insurance: the difference that matters
Declared value looks like insurance on the label, but it behaves like a liability cap. To be paid, you must prove the item's value with an original invoice and show that UPS was at fault. Even then, UPS pays proven, and often depreciated, value.
Secursus insures the declared value directly and pays the full agreed amount, without the fault test.
The $1,000 rule: the trap that voids your extra cover
This is the detail that catches high-value shippers. For any package worth more than $1,000 tendered to a driver or a UPS center, you must obtain a high-value shipment summary signed at pickup. Miss it, and UPS will not pay more than $1,000, even if you declared and paid for far more.
| Situation | What UPS will pay |
| High-value form signed at pickup | Up to your declared value |
| Form missing on a $1,000+ parcel | Capped at $1,000 |
What UPS covers, and what it excludes
UPS coverage has clear limits. Sets and pairs are a common surprise: UPS pays only for the damaged piece, never the value of the whole.
| Scenario | Covered by UPS? | The catch |
| Lost in transit | Yes | Prove value with an original invoice |
| Damaged in transit | Yes | Keep the original packaging for inspection |
| Missing part of a set | Partly | UPS pays only for the lost piece, not the set |
| Theft after Delivered scan | No | Liability ends at the delivery scan |
Does UPS cover porch piracy?
No. UPS liability ends at the delivered scan, so a package taken from a porch is not covered. Secursus covers theft after delivery when a signature was requested.
UPS Capital InsureShield: the paid upgrade
If you want cover that behaves like insurance, UPS points you to UPS Capital InsureShield, a separate paid product. It pays without the fault test and can cover porch theft, but it costs extra and cannot be stacked with declared value on the same package. Secursus offers the same all-risk protection in a single step.
How to file a UPS claim, step by step
Filing is structured but slow, and the deadlines are firm.
| Step | What to do | Watch out |
| 1. Notify UPS | Report loss or damage online or by phone | Within 60 days of delivery |
| 2. Gather proof | Original invoice, photos, proof you paid the charges | Keep the original packaging |
| 3. File the claim | Submit at ups.com | Within 9 months of delivery |
| 4. Inspection | UPS may inspect the item and box | Do not discard packaging |
| 5. Resolution | UPS pays, offers, or declines | Up to 120 days |
Real-world case studies
The pattern behind most switches is the same: a technicality caps the payout, or the wait for cash is simply too long.
| Scenario | The UPS reality | The Secursus advantage |
| A $5,000 laptop batch dropped at a center | Capped at $1,000 if the high-value form is missed | Full $5,000 cover, paid in about 3 days |
| A $2,000 collectible set, one piece broken | UPS pays only for the broken piece | Full set value covered |
| A $10,000 shipment stolen from a porch | Not covered after the delivered scan | Theft after delivery covered with signature |
Shipping internationally with UPS
Sending UPS across borders adds its own limits on top of the domestic rules.
Abroad, UPS keeps the $100 free liability and the $50,000 ceiling, but jewelry is tightly restricted and the claim window shrinks to 60 days. Secursus keeps one $120,000 limit on every route.
Category coverage: UPS vs Secursus
| Category | UPS | Secursus |
| Watches and jewelry | Tightly restricted, low caps | Up to $120,000 |
| Electronics | Covered but depreciated, packaging disputes | Full agreed value |
| Collectibles and antiques | Hard to prove, sets underpaid | Specialist cover |
| Used and second-hand goods | Depreciated, invoice required | Full agreed value |
| Claim speed | Up to 120 days | About 3 days |
Why choose Secursus for your UPS insurance?
We cover the items that UPS won't, from pick-up to delivery.
Claims Paid Within 30 Days Maximum
Our dedicated claims team handles everything for you:
- Report your claim; we guide you through every step
- We assist you with the process with UPS
- Receive compensation within 30 days of confirmation of the loss or damage by UPS
Full Coverage up to $120,000
Our insurance covers most goods that are typically excluded:
- Watches and jewellery
- High-tech devices and mobile phones
- Vintage items and collectibles
- Second-hand goods
Shipping Tips & Prevention
Before shipping and insuring your package, you receive:
- Our shipping guidelines to protect your package
- Advice on packing and preparing goods for shipment
- Clear instructions to follow in the event of a problem
UPS insurance: your questions answered
The declared value questions shippers ask us most.
Is UPS declared value the same as insurance?
No. Declared value is a liability limit, not insurance. UPS pays only if you prove the value and that UPS was at fault. UPS Capital InsureShield is the paid product that adds real cover.
How much does UPS charge to insure a $1,000 package?
UPS charges $1.70 per $100 of declared value, with a $5.11 minimum, so about $17 for $1,000. Secursus covers the same parcel from around $10, at full value.
What is the UPS $1,000 rule?
For a package worth more than $1,000 handed to a driver or center, you must get a signed high-value shipment summary at pickup. Without it, your maximum recovery drops to $1,000 no matter what you declared.
How long do I have to file a UPS claim?
You must notify UPS within 60 days of delivery and file within 9 months. UPS can take up to 120 days to resolve a claim.
Does UPS cover theft after delivery?
No. Once tracking shows delivered, UPS liability ends. Secursus covers porch theft after delivery when a signature was requested.
What is UPS Capital InsureShield?
It is separate cargo insurance sold by UPS Capital that pays without proving UPS was at fault and can cover theft after delivery. It cannot be combined with declared value on the same package.
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