Optional Services – Extend Your Shipping Choices

DHL offers a breadth of Optional Services - from non-standard deliveries and billing options to carbon neutral shipping. With a flexible choice of service enhancements, you have added convenience when using our express delivery services worldwide.

Please note that not all Optional Services are available with every shipment or in every country.

In addition to the standard DHL Express liability, we offer financial protection to our customers against all risks of physical shipment loss or damage, from any external cause.

Learn more on standard liability

Overview

Shipment Insurance can be arranged for both express documents and parcels, although some restrictions and limitations may apply. These will depend on the destination and contents of the shipment.

DHL’s shipment insurance meets the general requirements for loss and damage to goods in transit cover. Protection is effective from the time DHL Express has control or possession of the shipment until the time of delivery. Physical loss or damage of goods is covered, subject to specific limitations and exclusions.

Limitations and exclusions

Shipment Insurance covers items in transit worldwide, although temporary restrictions may apply from time to time as a consequence of, but not limited to, political, terrorist, nuclear and war risks, or on the advice of government officials. It does not cover the following:

delay;
ordinary leakage;
loss in weight or volume, or wear and tear of the shipment;
loss, damage or expense caused by insufficiency or unsuitability of packing or preparation of the shipment;
loss, damage or expense caused by inherent vice or nature of the shipment;
loss, damage or expense attributable to the willful misconduct by the customer or its agents;
loss, damage or expense caused by delay;
loss, damage or expense arising from the use of any atomic or nuclear weapon or radioactivity.

Basis of loss settlement

Cover is limited to the value declared by the shipper, replacement cost, invoice value or actual cash value whichever is the lowest. Evidence may be requested to substantiate the declared value in the event of a claim.
In the event of total loss of your shipment, with Insurance, you will also be entitled to a refund of the shipping charge. In the event of a partial loss, you will be entitled to a refund of the relevant proportion of the shipping charge.
When more than one shipment covered by Insurance is subject to loss or damage arising from a single event, the maximum aggregate compensation for all such shipments is limited to 5 million EUR.

How to make a claim

If you wish to make a claim, you should always notify DHL Express as soon as possible, but in any event, no later than 30 days following actual or scheduled delivery whichever is earlier.

DHL Express offers its customers many DHL-branded packaging items completely free of charge, such as envelopes and small boxes. A payable range of standard DHL-branded packaging is also available in many locations, such as:

larger boxes for sending heavier goods
triangular tubes for sending posters
bottle boxes for sending liquids

DHL Express offers a range of industry packaging for specialized customer needs, such as Thermo Packaging for sending diagnostic specimens. Please ask your Sales Executive for more details.

Furthermore, a Smartphone box, Tablet box and a Laptop box are available in certain markets for high value contents that require sturdy protection. Please ask your Sales Executive for more details.

For more information on Packaging options and to order supplies:

Order Supplies Order Supplies

DHL Express has a service to satisfy sending shipments of almost all shapes and sizes. When a piece in your shipment is in excess of 70kg, or has a longest side in excess of 120cm, additional charges are payable to cover the higher shipment handling costs. Please contact your local DHL Express office for advice.

If you need to send a parcel to a remote address anywhere in the world, DHL Express will meet the challenge. Thanks to our extensive network, we can help you reach customers and suppliers even in rural and difficult to access locations.

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At times, it can be easier to have your customer collect shipments from a DHL Service Point, rather than attempt a delivery to an uncertain address. Simply request the option at the time of booking and our Customer Service staff at destination will notify the Receiver when the shipment is ready to collect. Shipments are held for up to 7 calendar days free of charge.

If you have a shipment that could not be delivered for an unexpected reason, DHL Express will on your instructions hold the shipment for up to 7 calendar days after the first delivery attempt, free of charge. Thereafter charges apply.

DHL Express offers its customers flexible payment and billing options for transport charges, duties and taxes. This flexibility gives the freedom to invoice the Shipper, Receiver or a third party Importer.

Payment on Pickup
As a Shipper, you can opt to pay cash at the time the courier arrives to pickup your shipment. All transport and related charges are presented in one invoice and the shipment is simply on its way. Ideal for Shippers without an account number or for business visits when you’re away from the office.

Import Express
An Import Express billing account allows you to control all of your inbound shipments through a single account number with all shipments shown on just one single invoice. A free of charge billing option.

Duties and Taxes Paid
This service allows duties and taxes to be charged to the Shipper or a nominated third party. We will clear the shipment at destination, pay customs charges, and invoice the duties and taxes to the account specified on the waybill. This enables the Shipper to sell goods to a Buyer on an all-inclusive price basis. DHL Express then invoices the Shipper for the administration of this service at the time of recovering the duties and taxes paid at destination.

Neutral Delivery
Neutral Delivery allows the Shipper to send a dutiable shipment to the Receiver, with the duties and taxes invoiced to a third party or importer of record. To maintain confidentiality for the Shipper, the shipment documentation doesn’t reveal the value of the goods to the Receiver.

Additional charges for Optional Services for international shipments

Optional Service	How We Charge	Extra Charge
Shipment Insurance	By shipment value	10.00 EUR or 2% of stated shipment value if higher
Payable Packaging	Per item	Variable
Hold for Collection	For 7 calendar days	No charge
Storage at DHL Facility	Per day	5.00 EUR minimum and 1 EUR / kilo per day if heavier
Duties and Taxes Paid	Per shipment	20.00 EUR or 2% of duties and taxes if higher
Neutral Delivery	Per shipment	20.00 EUR or 2% of duties and taxes if higher

Optional Services and Surcharges are in addition to applicable transportation charges. They will be billed in accordance with the published rates current at the time the shipment booking is made.

The DHL Express Rate & Transit Guide is available for download.

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