Insurance

Values up to $100

OCS provides automatic insurance coverage free of charge for all non-document shipments valued up to $100, excluding only certain restricted countries*. This coverage is for theft, loss, or damage of contents. You don't have to do anything extra to receive this coverage, but the value must be verifiable from the commercial invoice that you originally attached to the shipment.

Values exceeding $100

For non-document shipments in excess of $100, (excluding those to the restricted countries), OCS will provide insurance at a rate of $1.00 per hundred dollars of value, calculated at your declared value for insurance on the Courier Waybill plus freight charges. The rate is formulated as 1.0% x $value, for example: 1.00% (.01) x $2000 value = $20.00.

Notes:

• There is a $15.00 minimum charge for insurance.
• For personal effects, the rate is $4.00 per $100 value ($60.00 minimum, $500.00 deductible).
• Your declared value for insurance, as shown on the Courier Waybill, may not exceed the declared value for customs on the Waybill, or the value declared on the commercial invoice.
• Above rates cover all modes of transport (except mail/parcel post)
• Above rates cover all insurable destinations

All you need to do to order this insurance is check the 'Yes' box for Insurance on the OCS courier waybill, and indicate the contents and insured value in the spaces provided.

Values exceeding $3,000

For non-document shipments in excess of $3,000 value, rates and conditions may vary, and prior approval by OCS is necessary. Please contact your local OCS office prior to shipping.

Coverage for Document Shipments

Please note that OCS liability for document packages is limited to $100. This coverage is automatic, at no additional charge, and applies to any destination OCS ships to. Documents (including air tickets) may not be insured for more than $100, unless OCS has specifically pre-arranged extra coverage prior to accepting the package for shipment.

Notes and Restrictions

• The following countries are excluded from normal coverages described above. Please call your local OCS station prior to shipping to any of these destinations.
  • Cuba
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Libya
  • Nicaragua
  • Nigeria
  • North Korea
  • Syria
  • Togo

  Insurance for shipments to former Soviet republics valid to point of entry only.

• The following commodities are partially restricted, and rates and conditions vary, so please call OCS at 1-877-2222-OCS prior to shipping.
  • Chinaware, glassware, crystal, porcelain, ceramic, glass
  • Gems, precious/semi-precious stones, jewelry, gold, silver, watches
  • Fine art, antiques
  • Costume jewelry (maximum insurable value of $100)
  • Used merchandise, used computer equipment
  • Steel (wire, pipe, plate, sheet, coils), tin plate, cast iron pipe
  • Sanitary goods, lavatory equipment
  • Household goods, personal effects (no coverage for marring, denting, chipping, scratching; valued, itemized inventory to accompany each shipment)

  'Household goods, personal effects' are shipments including items for personal or household use, and not for business or commercial purposes; e.g. used clothing, personal belongings, furniture, items in a household move, such as appliances, audio-visual equipment, etc.

  There are additional restrictions/exclusions for ocean freight shipments; please contact our Ocean Shipping Dept. at OCS Los Angeles, tel. (310) 322-0950, (310) 364-1046 (Customs Broker).

• Compensation for insurance shall be determined by the contents' replacement or reconstitution cost based on intrinsic material value, but without reference to its commercial utility or to consequential loss, or to production cost of replicable recorded media.
• For shipments valued over $100, OCS will provide automatic coverage up to $100, even if you choose not to purchase any insurance. In this case, $100 compensation would attend a successful claim of total loss, regardless of the actual value. For a successful claim of partial loss or damage, however, the policy apportions compensation based on the coverage of $100 as a percentage of the actual value.