What Full-Value Insurance Adds to a Carrier Label
Carriers move billions of parcels, and their standard liability is built for ordinary goods. For high-value items it often falls short: many carriers apply special limits or exclusions to jewelry, precious metals, artwork and other items of extraordinary value, and their basic liability is usually a small fraction of what such a shipment is worth.
Declaring a value on a label is not the same as being insured. A declared value states what you say the shipment is worth, but the carrier's own limit can still decide what is paid. Full-value insurance is a separate layer of protection that covers the declared value of the shipment, up to $150,000 with Unival.
| Question | Standard carrier label | Unival full-value insurance |
|---|---|---|
| What is paid if something goes wrong | Often capped far below the real value | The declared value, up to $150,000 |
| Jewelry, metals and art | Often restricted or excluded | Insured when declared and documented |
| Tracking | Scan-based, varies by service | Tracked from pickup to signature |
| Proof of delivery | Varies by service | Signed delivery, stored with your record |
Insurance is only part of the answer. Recorded handling and a signed delivery show exactly what was sent and who received it, which makes any claim easier to resolve.
Why Shippers Choose Unival
Unival has shipped high-value goods for more than 15 years and has handled more than 500,000 shipments. Support is available around the clock, and there is a person to call while your shipment moves.
The company is headquartered in the Los Angeles Jewelry District, in the middle of one of the largest jewelry trades in the country. Every shipment follows a documented process, and our secure transportation keeps the chain of custody clear from pickup to delivery.
Where We Ship From
Unival insures and tracks shipments from the major trade centers across the United States. Collection from your location is arranged when you request a quote. Choose your city for local detail:
- Insured shipping in Los Angeles
- Insured shipping in New York
- Insured shipping in Miami
- Insured shipping in Chicago
- Insured shipping in Dallas
- Insured shipping in Houston
- Insured shipping in Philadelphia
- Insured shipping in Atlanta
- Insured shipping in Las Vegas
- Insured shipping in San Francisco
- Insured shipping in Boston
- Insured shipping in Newark and Northern New Jersey
If your city is not listed, request a quote with your pickup address and we will confirm whether we can collect from it.
Shipping Internationally
Insurance only helps if the shipment can reach the buyer on the other end. We ship valuables from the United States to international destinations, using major carrier networks combined with Unival's own coverage and secure handling.
For international shipments, accurate customs paperwork, including a commercial invoice with the correct value and description, prevents delays and supports any later insurance claim. Some destinations are restricted under US export and sanctions rules, so tell us the destination when you request a quote.
What Affects the Cost of Insured High-Value Shipping?
The price has two parts: the shipping itself and the insurance on the declared value. These factors change the total:
- Declared value: the higher the value, the more coverage is needed.
- Destination and speed: local, domestic and international deliveries are priced differently.
- Size and weight: carriers price by dimensions as well as weight.
- Handling requirements: signature rules, packaging and pickup arrangements are part of the service.
Because every shipment is different, we quote it before it moves. Get a quote with your item type, value and destination.
How to Prepare a High-Value Shipment
Good preparation prevents most disputes. Before you ship, check the following:
- Keep the invoice, appraisal or other proof of value for the item.
- Photograph the item and record serial numbers, weights, certificates or grading reports where they exist.
- Declare the full, accurate value. Under-declaring can reduce what is paid out in a claim.
- Use plain, sealed packaging with no mention of the contents on the outside.
- Make sure the recipient is available to sign for the delivery.
