Why Standard Carrier Coverage Is Not Enough for Valuables
Standard carrier liability is designed for ordinary parcels. For high-value items it often falls short: carriers commonly apply special limits or exclusions to jewelry, watches, artwork and other items of extraordinary value, and their basic liability is usually a small fraction of what such a shipment is worth.
Declared value is also not the same as insurance. Declaring a value tells the carrier what you say the shipment is worth, but it does not guarantee that the full amount is paid if something goes wrong. Full-value insurance is a separate layer of protection that covers the declared value of the shipment, up to $150,000 with Unival.
That gap is why Bay Area technology companies, dealers and collectors ship valuables with a provider that treats insurance and secure handling as one service.
Insured Shipping for the Bay Area's High-Value Trades
Silicon Valley spreads across dozens of cities, from San Francisco down the Peninsula to the South Bay, and is home to semiconductor, hardware and electronics companies of every size. South San Francisco is one of the largest biotech clusters in the world, and Union Square adds luxury retail and art galleries, with major museums such as SFMOMA nearby.
The table shows what typically matters most for each type of shipment leaving San Francisco.
| Shipment | Typical San Francisco sender | What matters most |
|---|---|---|
| High-value electronics | Technology companies, distributors | Serial numbers, careful packing, end-to-end tracking |
| Prototypes and pre-production units | Hardware startups, engineering teams | Photos, itemized list, insured declared value |
| Instruments and medical equipment | Life sciences and device companies | Documented handling, delivery on a set date |
| Jewelry and watches | Jewelers, luxury retailers, dealers | Accurate declared value, signature at delivery |
| Fine art and collectibles | Galleries, collectors, dealers | Condition records, careful packing |
Every shipment is insured for its declared value, up to $150,000. Learn how full-value insurance works before you ship.
Shipping From San Francisco Along the West Coast and Beyond
Insurance only helps if the shipment can reach the customer, dealer or lab on the other end. From San Francisco we ship valuables along the West Coast, across the United States and internationally, using major carrier networks combined with Unival's own coverage and secure handling.
Unival is headquartered in the Los Angeles Jewelry District and insures and tracks shipments in both directions between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Read more about our secure transportation or see our overview of insured shipping in Los Angeles.
For international shipments, accurate customs paperwork, including a commercial invoice with the correct value and description, prevents delays and supports any later insurance claim.
What Affects the Cost of Insured Shipping From San Francisco?
The price has two parts: the shipping itself and the insurance on the declared value. The declared value, the size and weight, the destination, the delivery speed and the handling requirements all change the total.
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, 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.
