Insurance & Extra Services
Add Proof of Mailing & Delivery, Signature Services, & More
- Protect valuable shipments and get peace of mind with additional insurance, signature-required delivery, and other add-ons.
- Keep proof of when you mailed your items and know when your items are delivered safely to the correct recipient.
- In some cases, you can order or print the extra service forms you need online.
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.
Important Links
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 $2.50.
Priority Mail Express & Priority Mail
Priority Mail Express ® and Priority Mail ® services include up to $100 of insurance in the price. 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 Delivery
The recipient may be required to show an acceptable primary ID before USPS will deliver the mailpiece.
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.
USPS Ground Advantage
USPS Ground Advantage ® service includes up to $100 insurance in the price. For more valuable shipments, additional coverage is usually available.
Qualifications
USPS Ground Advantage domestic shipments must have an applicable USPS Tracking ® barcode to qualify for included insurance.
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.
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
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.
Cost
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
- $4.10 for mail receipt
- $2.62 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
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.
Cost
- $4.55 at a Post Office
- $3.70 paid online
USPS Tracking Plus ®
Purchase extended tracking history for your item and receive a USPS Tracking Plus Statement via email upon request. Get access for up to 10 years.
Notes
- Purchase online through USPS Tracking ® .
- Available for: Priority Mail Express ® , Priority Mail ® , USPS Ground Advantage ® , Parcel Select ® Non-presort, Library Mail, Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail ® , First-Class Mail ® (letters and flats)*, USPS Marketing Mail ® parcels*, and USPS Marketing Mail Nonprofit parcels*
*With purchase of a trackable extra service
Cost
Price starts at $0.99
Valuable 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.
Cost
Price starts at $18.60
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.
Cost
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.
Cost
- $4.55 at a Post Office
- $3.70 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.
Cost
- Certified Mail Restricted Delivery $12.75
- COD Restricted Delivery $7.70
- Insured Mail Restricted Delivery $7.70
- Registered Mail Restricted Delivery $7.70
- Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery $11.40 (electronic) / $12.25 (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.
Cost
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.
Cost
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).
Cost
Price starts at $12.10
Other Services
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USPS Label Delivery Service
Request USPS Label Delivery service to get physical outbound labels delivered for a fee. Businesses can also request physical labels for their customers.
Notes
- Available through enhanced Click-N-Ship ® service to USPS.com personal and business account holders.
- Also, available to business account holders through USPS Web Tools ® APIs.
- Available for Priority Mail Express ® , Priority Mail ® , and USPS Ground Advantage ® services. For businesses, Priority Mail Express Return, Priority Mail Return ® , USPS Ground Advantage Return, Parcel Select ® , and Parcel Return services are also available.
Cost
Compare Add-On Services
Use the below chart to see whether an add-on is already included in the price of your chosen mail/shipping service or if it's available for a fee.
*With purchase of a trackable extra service like Certified Mail or Registered Mail
- Priority Mail Express 2
- Priority Mail
- First-Class Mail 3
- USPS Marketing Mail (packages only) 4
- Media Mail 5
- Parcel Select Non-presort 5
- Library Mail 5
- Bound Printed Matter
- Priority Mail
- First-Class Mail
- Media Mail
- Library Mail
- Bound Printed Matter (not at retail)
- Priority Mail
- USPS Ground Advantage
- Media Mail (packages only)
- Library Mail (packages only)
- Bound Printed Matter (not at retail; packages only)
- Priority Mail Express
- Priority Mail
- USPS Ground Advantage
- Parcel Select Non-presort
- Library Mail
- Bound Printed Matter
- Media Mail
- First-Class Mail (letters and flats)*
- USPS Marketing Mail parcels*
- USPS Marketing Mail Nonprofit parcels*
*With purchase of a trackable extra service like Certified Mail or Registered Mail
- Priority Mail Express
- Priority Mail
- USPS Ground Advantage
- Parcel Select Non-presort
- Bound Printed Matter 5
- Priority Mail Express
- Priority Mail
- USPS Ground Advantage
- First-Class Mail
- Media Mail
- Parcel Select Non-presort (not at retail)
- Library Mail
- Bound Printed Matter
- Priority Mail Express
- Priority Mail
- USPS Ground Advantage
- First-Class Mail
- USPS Marketing Mail
- Media Mail
- Parcel Select Non-presort
- Library Mail
- Bound Printed Matter (not at retail)
- Priority Mail Express
- Priority Mail
- USPS Ground Advantage
- Parcel Select (with business account)
- Priority Mail Express Return (with business account)
- Priority Mail Return (with business account)
- USPS Ground Advantage Return (with business account)
- Parcel Return (with business account)
1. Insurance coverage is provided against lost, damage, or missing contents and is limited to a maximum liability of $100 when the pieces bear an Intelligent Mail package barcode (IMpb) or USPS retail tracking barcode and the mailer pays retail or commercial prices. For more details, see the Domestic Mail Manual Section 503.4. Back ^
2. Form 3818 by mail only. Back ^
3. When purchased at the time of mailing with Certified Mail, COD, insurance (for more than $200), or Registered Mail. Restrictions apply. Back ^
4. Available with USPS Marketing Mail packages when bulk insurance (for more than $200) is purchased at the time of mailing. Back ^
5. When purchased at the time of mailing with COD or insurance (for more than $200). Back ^
