Free shipping tool
Shipping insurance claim checker
Lost, damaged, or late package? Pick your carrier and ship date to check whether it still qualifies for a carrier refund or insurance claim, see the estimated filing deadline, and learn exactly what evidence you need before you submit. No signup required.
Note: This is a simplified checker; always confirm carrier-specific claim windows and required documentation.
Shipping claim FAQ
- What is the difference between a lost-package claim and a damaged-package claim?
- A lost claim applies when tracking stalls and the carrier cannot locate the parcel — you typically have to wait a few business days past the expected delivery date before the carrier will open an investigation, and you recover the declared value. A damaged claim applies when the package arrives but the contents are broken or crushed; here the carrier wants photos of the item, the box, and the packaging before it will pay. Lost claims hinge on tracking history, damaged claims hinge on photographic proof, so the evidence you gather is different.
- How long do I have to file a shipping claim before the deadline closes?
- Each carrier sets its own window, and it runs from the ship date, not from when you noticed the problem. USPS, UPS, and FedEx generally allow roughly 60 days for domestic claims, but concealed-damage and international windows can be much shorter — sometimes 15 to 21 days. Enter your carrier and ship date above and the checker estimates the deadline so you do not let an otherwise valid claim expire. Always confirm the exact window with the carrier, because missing it by a day usually means a flat denial.
- How does declared value affect what I can recover?
- The declared value is the cap on your payout. Most carriers include a small amount of automatic coverage (often around $100 for ground), and anything above that must be declared and paid for at ship time. If you shipped a $600 item but only declared $100, the carrier will reimburse at most $100 even if the package is destroyed. To recover the full value of high-worth shipments, declare the correct value up front and keep the invoice or receipt — claims are paid against documented cost, not retail markup.
- Can I get a refund for a late or guaranteed-service delivery?
- Sometimes. Express and guaranteed services (UPS Next Day Air, FedEx Priority Overnight, USPS Priority Express) carry a money-back service guarantee, so if the package misses its committed delivery time you can request a refund of the shipping charge — separate from any lost or damaged claim. These late refunds usually have a tight filing window (often 15 days) and are voided by weather, holidays, or address issues. Ground and economy services rarely carry a guarantee, so a late ground delivery typically does not qualify for a shipping-cost refund.
Stop chasing claims by hand.
ShipWave flags eligible lost, damaged, and late shipments and files the paperwork for you — so refunds land without the deadline scramble.