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Insurance & Extra Services

We’ve updated several of our extra service forms. Please make sure you’re using the most current one.

Order Forms Learn More about Extra and Additional Services

 

  1. Available Add-Ons

    Ship with Care

    Standard Shipping Insurance

    You can purchase insurance coverage for your mailpieces for up to $5,000 in indemnity to protect against loss or damage. Insurance fees are based on the item’s declared value. There are limitations for insuring some products and certain items. Priority Mail Express® and Priority Mail® may include insurance in the price of service.

    Show Details about Standard Insurance

    Mail Insured for more than $500

    The recipient may be required to show an acceptable primary ID before USPS will deliver the mailpiece.
    See Acceptable IDs & Restrictions

    Important Links

    About Insured Mail
    Insurance Exceptions
    Nonpayable Claims

    Pricing

    Insurance coverage only covers the actual value of mail contents. You may purchase up to $5,000 indemnity coverage in person at a Post Office or online.

    The Price is based on declared value starting at $2.10.

    Insured Mail Fees

    Priority Mail Express & Priority Mail

    With some exceptions, Priority Mail Express shipments include up to $100 of insurance and Priority Mail shipments may include up to $50. For more valuable shipments, additional coverage is usually available.

    Show Details about Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail

    Qualifications

    Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail domestic shipments must have an applicable USPS® tracking barcode to qualify for included insurance. Priority Mail insurance is not included when service is combined with certain extra services.

    Priority Mail Express Insurance Details
    Priority Mail Insurance Details

    Priority Mail Express Delivery

    The recipient may be required to show an acceptable primary ID before USPS will deliver the mailpiece.

    See Acceptable IDs & Restrictions

    Claims

    Keep your postmarked mailing receipt and proof of value of your shipment in case you need to file a claim. When your mail item is lost, you should file a claim in no later than 60 days from the date of mailing. If your item is damaged or missing contents, you should file a claim immediately, but not later than 60 days from the date of mailing.

    Payable Claims
    Nonpayable Claims
    Proof of Value
    General Filing Instructions
    Priority Mail Express Claims

    Protect Your Shipments

    Registered Mail

    Get maximum security for your valuable items. Registered Mail items can be insured for up to $50,000 at your Post Office™.

    Show Details about Protect Your Shipments

    Notes

    • Purchase at your Post Office or through your Rural Carrier.
    • Regardless of how purchased, present Registered Mail items for mailing to a Postal employee.
    • Receive a mailing receipt, and upon request, electronic verification that an article was delivered or that a delivery attempt was made.
    • The recipient may be required to show an acceptable primary ID before USPS will deliver the mailpiece.

    See Acceptable IDs & Restrictions

    Cost

    Prices begin at $12.40

     

    Hold For Pickup

    Customers can pick up valuable and perishable merchandise at a designated Post Office.

    Show Detailsabout Hold For Pickup

    Notes

    • Packages can be picked up within 15 days depending on service selected (5 days for Priority Mail Express®).
    • Customer notified by email that a package is available for pickup.
    • The addressee must show an acceptable primary ID with a clear photo.

    See Acceptable IDs & Restrictions

    Cost

    No charge

     

    Special Handling – Fragile

    Get preferential handling if you’re sending unusual shipments that are fragile or for other mailable content that needs extra care.

    Show Details about Special Handling

    Notes

    • Purchase at a Post Office™
    • Content restrictions for some mail classes

    Special Handling Details

    Cost

    $10.95

    Keep Shipping Records

    USPS Tracking®

    Provides tracking updates as an item travels to its destination, including the date and time of delivery or attempted delivery.

    Show Detailsabout Keep Shipping Records

    Notes

    • Available online or at your Post Office depending on the mail class chosen.

    Cost

    No charge

     

    Certificate of Mailing

    Have evidence that you send the item when you say you did. This official record shows the date your mail was presented to USPS for mailing.

    Show Detailsabout Certificate of Mailing

    Notes

    • Only available at your Post Office.
    • Available only at the time of mailing.
    • Don’t lose your certificate. The Postal Service® does not keep a copy.
    • Use Form 3817 or Form 3877 only.

    Cost

    $1.45 (Form 3817)

     

    Return Receipt for Merchandise

    Get proof that you sent an item and proof it was delivered. You’ll get a mailing receipt (Form 3804), and postcard (Form 3811) showing the recipient’s signature. Special Handling – Fragile is offered with this service.

    Show Detailsabout Return Receipt for Merchandise

    Notes

    • Purchase at a Post Office depending on the mail class chosen.
    • Present Return Receipt for Merchandise articles for mailing to a Postal employee if a postmarked sender’s receipt is requested.
    • Contents must be merchandise.
    • Available only at the time of mailing.

    Cost

    $4.20

     

    Certified Mail®

    Prove you sent it. See when it was delivered or that a delivery attempt was made, and get the signature of the person who accepts the mailing when combined with Return Receipt.

    Show Detailsabout Certified Mail

    Notes

    • Purchase at your Post Office.
    • Present for mailing to a Postal employee if a postmarked sender’s receipt is requested.
    • Combine with Return Receipt to get electronic or physical delivery record showing the recipient’s signature.
    • The recipient may be required to show an acceptable primary ID before USPS will deliver the mailpiece.

    See Acceptable IDs & Restrictions

    Cost

    $3.50

     

    Signature Confirmation™

    Find out information about the date and time an item was delivered, or when a delivery attempt was made. Add security by requiring a signature. A delivery record is kept by USPS and available electronically or by email, upon request.

    Show Detailsabout Signature Confirmation

    Notes

    • Purchase online or at your Post Office depending on the mail class chosen.
    • Limited availability to APO/FPO/DPO locations and certain Freely Associated States.
    • Use with any service except USPS Marketing Mail™ and Adult Signature Services.
    • Before delivery, the recipient must show an acceptable primary ID with a clear photo.

    See Acceptable IDs & Restrictions

    Cost

    $3.05 at a Post Office
    $2.60 paid online

     

    Return Receipt

    Get an electronic or hardcopy delivery record showing the recipient’s signature.

    Show Detailsabout Return Receipt

    Notes

    • Purchase at a Post Office depending on the mail class chosen.
    • Available with Priority Mail Express (PS Form 3811 only).
    • Electronic Return Receipts are not available to APO/FPO/DPO addresses or to certain U.S. territories or possessions, or Freely Associated States.

    Cost

    $2.80 for mail receipt
    $1.60 for email receipt

    Ensure Secure Deliveries

    Signature Confirmation

    Find out information about the date and time an item was delivered, or when a delivery attempt was made. Add security by requiring a signature. A delivery record is kept by USPS and available electronically or by email, upon request.

    Show Detailsabout Ensure Secure Deliveries

    Notes

    • Purchase online or at your Post Office depending on the mail class chosen.
    • Limited availability to APO/FPO/DPO locations and certain Freely Associated States.
    • Use with any service except USPS Marketing Mail™ and Adult Signature Services.
    • Before delivery, the recipient must show an acceptable primary ID with a clear photo.

    See Acceptable IDs & Restrictions

    Cost

    $3.05 at a Post Office
    $2.60 paid online

     

    Collect on Delivery (COD)

    Let your customers pay for merchandise and shipping when they receive the package. You also get insurance coverage up to $1,000 based on amount to be collected or amount of insurance coverage desired, whichever is higher.

    Show Detailsabout Collect on Delivery

    Notes

    • Purchase at a Post Office, or through your Rural Carrier, depending on the mail class chosen. Present COD for mailing to a Postal employee.
    • COD service provides the mailer with a mailing receipt.
    • Not available for international shipments, APO/FPO/DPO locations, and certain Freely Associated States.
    • The recipient may pay the COD charges via cash, personal check, or money order payable to the mailer (accepted by the USPS employee after the recipient presents an acceptable primary ID with a clear photo).

    See Acceptable IDs & Restrictions

    Cost

    $7.75

     

    Adult Signature Restricted Delivery

    With this service, your item is delivered only after the addressee or their authorized agent verifies their identity, shows that they’re 21 years of age or older, and signs for it.

    Show DetailsAdult Signature Restricted Delivery Details

    Notes

    • Add this service to your qualifying online label purchase.
    • Not available for purchase at Post Office locations.
    • Before delivery, the recipient must show an acceptable primary ID with a clear photo.

    See Acceptable IDs & Restrictions

    Adult Signature Restricted Delivery Details

    Cost

    $6.66

     

    Restricted Delivery

    Specify the person who can sign for and receive your item. Must be purchased in combination with another extra service as follows: Certified Mail, COD, Insured Mail (over $500), Registered Mail, or Signature Confirmation.

    Show Detailsabout Restricted Delivery

    Notes

    • Purchase at a Post Office depending on the mail class chosen.
    • Primary ID with a clear photo may be requested for the addressee or the person authorized to sign for and receive your item.

    See Acceptable IDs & Restrictions

    Cost

    Certified Mail Restricted Delivery $8.80
    COD Restricted Delivery $5.20
    Insured Mail Restricted Delivery $5.20
    Registered Mail Restricted Delivery $5.20
    Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery $7.80 (electronic) / $8.25 (retail)

     

    Adult Signature Required

    This service requires the signature of an adult—someone 21 years of age or older—at the recipient’s address. You’ll get delivery information, as well as the recipient’s signature and name.

    Show Detailsabout Adult Signature Required

    Notes

    • Add this service to your qualifying online label purchase.
    • Not available for purchase at Post Office locations.
    • Before delivery, the recipient must show an acceptable primary ID with a clear photo.

    See Acceptable IDs & Restrictions

    Adult Signature Required Details

    Cost

    $6.40
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    Insurance Registered Mail™ USPS Tracking® Signature Confirmation™ Certificate of Mailing Certified Mail® Hold For Pickup Return Receipt Return Receipt for Merchandise COD Special Handling Adult Signature Required Adult Signature Restricted Delivery
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    Disclaimers

    1. Restrictions apply.

      Back to legal disclaimer 1

    2. Form 3818 by mail only.

      Back to legal disclaimer 2

    3. Restrictions apply. See other Available Add-ons Tab for additional information.

      Back to legal disclaimer 3

    4. When purchased at the time of mailing with Certified Mail, COD, insurance (for more than $200) or Registered Mail. Restrictions apply.

      Back to legal disclaimer 4

    5. Available with USPS Marketing Mail packages or Parcel Select Lightweight packages when bulk insurance (for more than $200) is purchased at the time of mailing.

      Back to legal disclaimer 5

    6. When purchased at the time of mailing with COD or insurance (for more than $200).

      Back to legal disclaimer 6

    7. For USPS Marketing Mail machinable and irregular packages.

      Back to legal disclaimer 7

    8. Contents restricted.

      Back to legal disclaimer 8

    9. Bulk insurance only.

      Back to legal disclaimer 9