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Insurance & Extra Services

Add Proof of Mailing, Delivery Confirmation, & More

Protect your USPS® shipments with added insurance, signature services, and delivery confirmation. Keep proof of when you mailed your items and know when your items are delivered safely to the correct recipient. Compare cost and service of add-ons and choose the best options for your shipping records, in-transit visibility, and delivery notices. You can order or print the forms you need online.

Order Forms & Labels Extra Services Pricing & Fees

Extra & Included Insurance

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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.

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 $2.25.

Insured Mail Fees

Priority Mail Express & Priority Mail

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

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 you purchase it along 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 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

Proof of Mailing & Delivery

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USPS Tracking®

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

Notes

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

Cost

No Charge

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.

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 an 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

$3.55

Return Receipt

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

Notes

  • Purchase at a Post Office depending on the mail class.
  • Available with Priority Mail Express using only PS Form 3811 (54 KB).
  • Electronic Return Receipts are not available to APO/FPO/DPO addresses or to certain U.S. territories or possessions, or Freely Associated States.

Cost

  • $2.85 for mail receipt
  • $1.70 for email receipt

Certificate of Mailing

Show that you sent the item when you say you did. This official record shows the date your mail was presented to USPS for 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 PS Form 3817 or PS Form 3877 only.

Cost

$1.50 Form 3817 (20 KB)

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. USPS keeps a delivery record, which you may request via email, fax, or mail.

Notes

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

  • $3.15 at a Post Office
  • $2.65 paid online

USPS Premium Tracking

Purchase extended tracking history for your item and receive a Premium Tracking Statement via email upon request. Get access for up to 10 years.

Notes

  • Purchase online through USPS Tracking®.
  • Available for packages shipped via Priority Mail Express®, Priority Mail®, First-Class Package Service®, and Parcel Select® service.

Cost

Price starts at $2.10

Valuable & Fragile Items

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Registered Mail

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

Notes

  • Purchase at your Post Office or through your Rural Carrier.
  • Regardless of how you purchased the service, 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

Price starts at $12.60

Special Handling – Fragile

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

Notes

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

Special Handling Details

Cost

Price starts at $11.15

Hold For Pickup

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

Notes

  • USPS will hold packages for up to 15 days, depending on the service selected (5 days for Priority Mail Express®).
  • Customer is 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

Signature Services

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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. USPS keeps a delivery record, which you may request via email, fax, or mail.

Notes

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

  • $3.15 at a Post Office
  • $2.65 paid online

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, Collect on Delivery (COD), Insured Mail (over $500), Registered Mail, or Signature Confirmation.

Notes

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

See Acceptable IDs & Restrictions

Cost

  • Certified Mail Restricted Delivery $9.00
  • COD Restricted Delivery $5.30
  • Insured Mail Restricted Delivery $5.30
  • Registered Mail Restricted Delivery $5.30
  • Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery $7.95 (electronic) / $8.45 (retail)

Adult Signature Required

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

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

$6.65

Adult Signature Restricted Delivery

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

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

$6.90

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.

Notes

  • Purchase at a Post Office, or through your Rural Carrier, depending on the mail class. 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

$7.85

Compare Add-On Services

See which add-on services are available for all USPS mail and shipping services. Some add-ons are included with the price of the service you choose, while others are available for purchase.

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  Included Available
Standard Shipping Insurance
  • Priority Mail Express®: $1001
  • Priority Mail®: $502
  • First-Class Mail®
  • USPS Marketing Mail®
  • USPS Retail Ground® (cost extra at retail only)
  • Media Mail®
  • Library Mail
  • Parcel Select Lightweight®3
  • Bound Printed Matter
USPS Tracking®
  • Priority Mail Express
  • Priority Mail
  • First-Class Mail (packages only)
  • First-Class Package Service
  • USPS Retail Ground
  • Media Mail
  • Parcel Select Ground®
  • Parcel Select Non-presort
  • Library Mail
  • Parcel Select Lightweight
  • Bound Printed Matter
  • USPS Marketing Mail
Certified Mail®

None

  • Priority Mail
  • First-Class Mail
  • First-Class Package Service
Return Receipt

None

  • Priority Mail Express4
  • Priority Mail
  • First-Class Mail5
  • First-Class Package Service6
  • USPS Marketing Mail (packages only)6
  • USPS Retail Ground (retail only)7
  • Media Mail7
  • Parcel Select Ground7
  • Parcel Select Non-presort7
  • Library Mail7
  • Parcel Select Lightweight
  • Bound Printed Matter
Certificate of Mailing

None

  • Priority Mail
  • First-Class Mail
  • First-Class Package Service
  • USPS Retail Ground (retail only)
  • Media Mail
  • Library Mail
  • Bound Printed Matter (not at retail)
Signature Confirmation 

None

  • Priority Mail
  • First-Class Mail (packages only)
  • First-Class Package Service
  • USPS Retail Ground (retail only)
  • Media Mail (packages only)
  • Parcel Select Ground
  • Library Mail (packages only)
  • Bound Printed Matter (not at retail; packages only)
USPS Premium Tracking

None

  • Priority Mail Express
  • Priority Mail
  • First-Class Package Service
  • Parcel Select Ground
  • Parcel Select Non-presort
  • Parcel Select Lightweight
Registered Mail®

None

  • Priority Mail
  • First-Class Mail
  • First-Class Package Service (not at retail)
Special Handling

None

  • Priority Mail Express
  • Priority Mail
  • First-Class Mail
  • First-Class Package Service
  • USPS Retail Ground (retail only)
  • Media Mail
  • Parcel Select Ground
  • Parcel Select Non-presort
  • Library Mail8
  • Bound Printed Matter (not at retail)
Hold For Pickup

None

  • Priority Mail Express
  • Priority Mail
  • First-Class Package Service
  • Parcel Select Non-presort
  • Parcel Select Lightweight6
  • Bound Printed Matter7
Adult Signature Required and Adult Signature Restricted Delivery

None

  • Priority Mail Express
  • Priority Mail
  • First-Class Mail
  • First-Class Package Service
  • USPS Retail Ground
  • Media Mail
  • Parcel Select Ground
  • Parcel Select Non-presort (not at retail)
  • Library Mail
  • Parcel Select Lightweight
  • Bound Printed Matter
Collect on Delivery

None

  • Priority Mail Express
  • Priority Mail
  • First-Class Mail
  • First-Class Package Service
  • USPS Marketing Mail
  • USPS Retail Ground (retail only)
  • Media Mail
  • Parcel Select Ground
  • Parcel Select Non-presort
  • Library Mail
  • Bound Printed Matter (not at retail)

1. Restrictions apply. Back ^
2. Restrictions apply. See other Available Add-ons Tab for additional information. Back ^
3. Bulk insurance only. Back ^
4. Form 3818 by mail only. Back ^
5. When purchased at the time of mailing with Certified Mail, COD, insurance (for more than $200) or Registered Mail. Restrictions apply. Back ^
6. 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 ^
7. When purchased at the time of mailing with COD or insurance (for more than $200). Back ^
8. Contents restricted. Back ^