Art Shipping Insurance: What's Actually Covered?

The Insurance Gap

Most galleries assume that declaring a value on a shipping label provides insurance coverage. This is partially true — but the coverage is often inadequate for fine art.

Here's what most galleries don't know: standard carrier liability typically caps at $100 per package unless you purchase additional coverage. And even with declared value coverage, there are significant exclusions.

Standard Carrier Coverage

UPS Declared Value

• Maximum declared value: $50,000 per package
• Covers loss and damage during transit
• Excludes: inherent defect, inadequate packaging, acts of God
• Requires: proof of value (invoice, appraisal, or COA)

FedEx Declared Value

• Maximum: $50,000 per package (domestic), $25,000 (international)
• Similar exclusions to UPS
• Additional exclusion: "items of extraordinary value" — including original artwork over $1,000

DHL Declared Value

• Maximum varies by country
• Important: DHL's standard terms exclude "works of art" from declared value coverage entirely in many countries

The Documentation Connection

Here's where proper documentation becomes critical for insurance: To file a successful claim, you need:

Commercial invoice showing the declared value

Certificate of authenticity proving the work is genuine

Condition report (pre-shipment photographs)

Proof of proper packaging (packing list with materials)

Original bill of lading or airway bill

Without items 1–4, most claims are denied or significantly reduced.

Specialty Art Insurance

For works above $10,000, specialty art insurance is strongly recommended:

Provider

Coverage

Premium Range

AXA Art	Wall-to-wall, all risks	0.15–0.5% of value
Hiscox Fine Art	Transit + storage	0.2–0.6% of value
Berkley Asset Protection	Transit only	0.1–0.3% of value

"Wall-to-wall" coverage means the policy covers from the moment the work leaves the sender to arrival at the destination — including packing, transit, and unpacking.

Best Practices

Always purchase specialty coverage for works over $10,000

Document everything: pre-shipment photos, condition reports, packing materials

Use art-specific crating: carriers can deny claims for inadequate packaging

Keep copies of all documentation: invoice, COA, packing list, tracking

Report damage immediately: most policies require notification within 24–48 hours

How Gilded Artworks Supports Insurance

Every document generated by Gilded Artworks — brochures, customs sheets, and certificates — serves as supporting documentation for insurance claims. The declared values, artwork descriptions, and provenance records are all formatted to meet the documentation requirements of major art insurance underwriters.