Shipping insurance is a service which may reimburse senders whose parcels are lost, stolen, and/or damaged in transit.
In Canada and the US, shipping insurance is sold by postal services, courier companies, and shipping-insurance companies. Not all insurers will insure all goods. For example, postal services will not insure certain economy-class parcels, though other insurers often will.
When practical, self-insurance is normally more economical than paying for insurance. See Insurance#Limited consumer benefits. High value items may require insurance against loss in transit. Some carriers provide limited liability coverage as part of the conditions of carriage. Review of the precise terms of the conditions of carriage (normally printed on the receipt) will disclose whether limited liability coverage is offered, or whether the customer must elect and pay for this service separately either via the carrier for an additional cost or via a third party insurer.