eBay Seller Shipping Insurance
How ShipCover and carrier coverage on eBay labels work, what they exclude, and where seller-side coverage fits.
Contact InsureShipReviewed by Kyle Gibson, Compliance Auditor · Updated October 2026
Key takeaways
- ShipCover is real insurance: eBay says it is offered through PIP and underwritten by Arch Specialty Insurance Company.
- Many eBay labels include carrier coverage up to $100, on USPS Priority Mail and Ground Advantage, most UPS services and FedEx.
- ShipCover excludes some destinations and item types, including coins, bullion, loose stones, negotiable documents and plasma TVs.
- Claims have waiting periods: at least 7 days after the transaction for damage, and 30 days after estimated delivery for loss.
- InsureShip is integrated with eBay (built with RapidFulfillment), so shipments for your marketplace orders can be insured. Marketplaces control their own checkout, so this is seller-side coverage, not a buyer add-on.
What does eBay already cover?
eBay's protection for sellers' shipments lives on eBay labels: carrier coverage that comes with the label, and ShipCover that you can add. As of October 2026:
| Option | Included or extra coverage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USPS label | Priority Mail and Ground Advantage include loss or damage coverage up to $100. Extra coverage up to $5,000 can be purchased. | eBay ShipCover help |
| UPS label | Up to $100 on all services except Ground Saver. Extra declared value up to $999. | eBay ShipCover help |
| FedEx label | Up to $100 on all services. Extra declared value up to $1,000, except Ground Economy, where claims cap at $100 replacement value plus transportation costs. | eBay ShipCover help |
| ShipCover | From $1.70 per $100 domestic and $2.82 per $100 international. Maximum $15,000 domestic and $10,000 international. Offered through PIP, underwritten by Arch Specialty Insurance Company. | eBay ShipCover help |
Where do gaps remain for eBay sellers?
Labels bought off eBay
eBay describes ShipCover as “fully integrated with eBay Labels.” If you print labels in a separate shipping tool or on your own carrier account, those shipments need their own coverage.
Excluded items and places
ShipCover excludes coins, bullion, loose diamonds or stones, stocks, bonds, currency, gift certificates, tickets, other negotiable documents and plasma TVs or monitors. It also excludes shipments to Belarus, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Myanmar, Russia, Sudan, Syria and Zimbabwe. eBay notes the list may change.
Carrier service fine print
UPS Ground Saver doesn't get the included $100, and FedEx Ground Economy claims are capped at $100 plus transportation costs. Pick the service with the coverage in mind.
Waiting periods
You wait at least 7 days after the transaction ends to claim damage, and 30 days after the estimated delivery date to claim loss. Plan for that cash-flow gap on expensive items.
How do eBay sellers add shipping insurance?
Match the option to how you ship.
eBay labels plus ShipCover
If you buy labels on eBay and the item isn't excluded, ShipCover is the direct route. It is insurance, and claims start from the label in Seller Hub.
Carrier declared value
For UPS and FedEx labels, the carriers' extra declared value (up to $999 and $1,000) is another layer. Read the carrier's claim rules.
Third-party shipping insurance (InsureShip)
Established in 2012, InsureShip is licensed by the California Department of Insurance, license #0G55434, licensed in all 50 states, and backed by Navigators (The Hartford), rated A+ by AM Best. Its coverage is written for loss, damage and theft, including porch piracy, up to $5,000 per shipment, and InsureShip handles the claims. InsureShip is integrated with eBay (built with RapidFulfillment). Contact InsureShip to turn it on and choose which shipments to insure.
Running your own store too? InsureShip is integrated at checkout with Shopify, WooCommerce, Checkout Champ, BigCommerce and many other platforms (see all integrations), plus a custom API. Your eBay orders keep eBay's options; your own site can offer coverage to buyers.
How do you turn on InsureShip for eBay?
- Contact InsureShip. Tell us about your eBay seller account.
- We enable the integration for your store. The eBay integration was built with our fulfillment partner RapidFulfillment, so there is no API build on your side.
- Choose which shipments to insure. Pick the eBay orders you want covered, such as orders above a set value.
- Sellers file claims at /pages/file-claim. InsureShip handles every claim.
How do you file a claim on an eBay shipment?
- Wait out the timing rule. At least 7 days after the transaction for damage; 30 days after estimated delivery for loss.
- Open the label. Go to Shipping labels in My eBay or Seller Hub, find the label, and choose “Create claim” under More actions.
- Complete the form. PIP emails a confirmation with the policy number, claim amount and claim number.
- Claim only what was affected. If several items shipped and only one arrived damaged, only that item can be claimed.
eBay's 2024 update says it will “need to verify whether the item was damaged in transit or never received.” Keep the buyer's messages, photos of the damage and packaging, and proof of value. For shipments covered by InsureShip, file at /pages/file-claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is eBay ShipCover real insurance?
Yes. eBay says it offers ShipCover through Parcel Insurance Plan (PIP), which is underwritten by Arch Specialty Insurance Company.
How much does ShipCover cost?
As of October 2026, eBay says ShipCover starts at $1.70 per $100 of coverage for domestic shipping and $2.82 per $100 for international shipping.
What is the most ShipCover will cover?
Up to $15,000 for domestic shipments and up to $10,000 for international shipments, subject to item and country exclusions.
Do eBay labels include any coverage without ShipCover?
Many do. eBay lists up to $100 on USPS Priority Mail and Ground Advantage, on UPS services except Ground Saver, and on FedEx services.
Does InsureShip integrate with eBay?
Yes. InsureShip is integrated with eBay (built with RapidFulfillment), so shipments for your marketplace orders can be insured. Marketplaces control their own checkout, so this is seller-side coverage, not a buyer add-on.
Selling on eBay? Talk to us about your shipments
InsureShip is integrated with eBay. Tell us where you sell, how you buy labels and what you ship, and we will turn on the integration and help you choose which shipments to insure. If you also run your own store, ask about adding shipping insurance at checkout there.
InsureShip: Established in 2012. Licensed by the California Department of Insurance, license #0G55434, and licensed in all 50 states. Underwritten by Navigators, a Hartford company, rated A+ by AM Best (Navigators Insurance Company, as of 2024).
Talk to InsureShipSources
Last checked October 9, 2026. Marketplace terms can change; confirm current terms in your seller account. General information, not legal advice. eBay: Shipping insurance (ShipCover) · eBay Seller Center: October 2024 seller protections update · The Hartford: Navigators fact sheet (April 2025)