Freight transport insurance To compare
Do you transport valuable goods? Carriers have only limited liability (CMR: ±€10/kg). In the event of damage or loss, you often only get a fraction of the actual value back. Fully protect your cargo with freight insurance.
📦 Premium indication 2025
What is a Freight transport insurance?
A Freight transport insurance protects the value of your goods during transport. The insurance pays out in the event of damage, loss or theft – regardless of whether the carrier is liable or not.
Unlike carrier liability, which is limited to one Maximum per kilogram, this insurance covers the actual invoice value of your load.
The insurance is intended for: cargo stakeholders: companies that own the goods or bear the transport risk. Think of importers, exporters, wholesalers and manufacturers.
You can choose one one-time insurance per shipment or one continuous policy which automatically covers all your transports.
The CMR Gap: Why This Insurance Is Essential
Carriers are bound by international treaties that govern their liability limit to a maximum per kilogram. For high-value goods, this means that you will often only be compensated for a fraction of the actual damage. We call it this difference "CMR hole".
🚛 CMR (International road transport)
Maximum 8.33 SDR ≈ €10 per kg
🚚 AVC (Domestic transport NL)
Maximum €3.40 per kg
📊 Calculation example: Electronics from Germany
You import €50,000 worth of electronics (500 kg). Along the way, the cargo is totaled in an accident.
With freight transport insurance you will be reimbursed for the full €50,000.
One-off or Continuous?
Choose the policy form that suits your transport frequency.
📋 Continuous Insurance
For companies that transport goods regularly. All shipments are automatically covered.
- ✓ Automatic coverage for all transports
- ✓ No notification required per shipment
- ✓ Lower premium per euro of cargo value
- ✓ Maximum amount agreed per shipment
- ✓ Annual turnover determines the premium
- ✓ Ideal for importers/exporters
- ✓ Flexibly expandable
📄 One-time Insurance
For incidental shipments or particularly valuable transports.
- ✓ Close per shipment
- ✓ No ongoing obligations
- ✓ Customized coverage per transport
- ✓ Suitable for project-based transport
- ✓ Can be closed immediately
- ✓ Ideal for one-off import/export
- ✓ Premium per shipment
What is Insured?
Extensive protection for your goods during transport.
All External Misfortunes
Damage due to accidents, collisions, fire, explosion and other external causes during transport.
Theft & Loss
Complete or partial theft of the cargo, including robbery or disappearance during transport.
Damage & Breakage
Material damage to the goods due to bumps, falls, breaking or other damage en route.
Fire & Explosion
Damage to your cargo due to fire, explosion or lightning strike during the entire transport route.
Water & Weather Influences
Damage caused by water, rain, flood, storm and other weather conditions.
Loading & Unloading
Damage that occurs during loading and unloading of the goods is also insured.
War & Strike
Extension for damage caused by acts of war, strikes and civil unrest.
Cooling damage
Spoilage of refrigerated or frozen goods due to failure or failure of the refrigeration system.
Average average
Contribution to general average costs for maritime transport, up to 10% of the cargo value.
Clearance & Storage
Costs for clearance, salvage and destruction of damaged cargo.
Transit & Transshipment
Coverage during transshipment and temporary storage en route for combined transport.
Loss of profit (10%)
Compensation for lost profits up to 10% on top of the invoice value of the goods.
Freight transport insurance covers transport by road, sea, air and rail.
Road transport
Truck, van, combinations
CMR/AVCSea freight
Container, bulk, ro-ro ships
Hague-VisbyAir freight
Cargo aircraft, express
MontréalRail transport
Freight trains, intermodal
CIMFor Which Companies?
Freight transport insurance is for all cargo stakeholders.
Manufacturer
Production & shipping
Importer
Import from abroad
Exporter
Export abroad
Wholesale
B2B trade & distribution
Retailer
Shops & chains
Ecommerce
Web shops & fulfillment
Machine builder
Technical products
Chemistry & Pharma
Special goods
Practical examples
Situations in which freight transport insurance makes the difference.
🚛 Collision with Electronics
Truck with laptops (800 kg, value €120,000) is involved in an accident. Cargo total loss.
🚢 Container Overboard
During a storm, your sea container with machines (€85,000) goes overboard. Lost at sea.
🔓 Theft During Transport
Truck with textiles (€45,000) is robbed from the parking lot at night.
❄️ Refrigeration damage Foods
Refrigeration unit fails, 15,000 kg of frozen products (€35,000) spoiled.
✈️ Air freight damage
Medical equipment (€200,000) damaged during handling at the airport.
🌊 Water damage in Container
Leakage in shipping container, €60,000 in furniture water damage.
Covered and Not Covered
Know what freight transport insurance does and does not cover.
✓ Well covered
- ✓ Damage from accidents and collisions
- ✓ Theft and loss of cargo
- ✓ Fire, explosion and lightning strike
- ✓ Damage, breakage and destruction
- ✓ Water damage and weather influences
- ✓ Damage during loading and unloading
- ✓ Damage during transhipment and storage en route
- ✓ Loss due to carrier force majeure
- ✓ Clearance and salvage costs
- ✓ Cooling damage (with extension)
- ✓ War & strike (with expansion)
- ✓ General average for maritime transport
✗ Not Covered
- ✗ Own defect of the goods
- ✗ Inadequate packaging by sender
- ✗ Delay and consequential damage
- ✗ Normal wear and tear and decay
- ✗ Intention or gross negligence of the insured
- ✗ Nuclear reactions and radioactivity
- ✗ Seizure by authorities
- ✗ Sanctioned countries without a permit
- ✗ Live animals (standard)
- ✗ Cash and securities
- ✗ Business downtime and loss of profit (standard)
Incoterms & Insurance Obligation
The chosen one Incoterms (delivery conditions) determine who is responsible for the transport risk and therefore who must take out the insurance. Always check your purchase agreement!
🏭 EXW (Ex Works)
Buyer bears risk from seller's factory/warehouse. Buyer insures the entire transport.
🚛FCA (Free Carrier)
Risk passes upon delivery to carrier. Buyer insures from then on.
🚢 CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight)
Seller arranges insurance to destination port. Seller insures maritime transport.
🏠DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
Seller bears all risks until delivery. Seller insures the entire transport.
What determines the Premium?
The premium is tailor-made and is calculated as a percentage of the cargo value, usually between 0.15% and 0.50%.
Cargo value
Invoice value or annual transport turnover
Type of Goods
Vulnerable, valuable, perishable
Transport route
Destinations and risk regions
Mode of transport
Road, sea, air or combined
Basic or extended coverage
Transport frequency
One-off or continuous
Past claims
Own risk
Higher deductible = lower premium
Why Choose Us?
Full Value Covered
Your cargo is insured for the actual invoice value, not the limited CMR limit.
Worldwide Coverage
Transport by road, sea, air and rail to almost all destinations.
Immediate payment, you do not have to wait for liability procedures.
Continuous or One-off
Flexible policy types that suit your transport pattern.
Expansions for refrigerated transport, hazardous substances and war risk.
We advise on delivery conditions and insurance requirements.
100% Independent
We compare 30+ insurers for the best coverage and premium.
60+ Years of Expertise
More than 60 years of experience in transport insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Protect Your Cargo Completely
Compare the best freight transport insurance policies now. Request a quote without obligation.
