Including the right documentation with your claim helps USPS® approve it more quickly. Save all your evidence documents until your claim is resolved.

Tracking or Label Number

The tracking or label number is found on your online label record, package label, mailing receipt, or sales receipt. Tracking and label numbers are between 13 and 34 characters.

Evidence of Insurance Purchased

Any of these items show evidence of insurance:

Original mailing receipt issued at the time of mailing

Outer packaging showing the names and addresses of the sender and the addressee and the proper label showing that the article was sent insured

Printed electronic online label record or computer printout from the application used to print the label and purchase the insurance

NOTE: USPS may not legally pay compensation for uninsured lost or damaged articles. If your uninsured mail is missing or delayed you may request a Missing Mail Search.

Proof of Value

Proof of value is the cost or value of an item when it was mailed. Any of these can be used to show proof of value:

Sales receipt

Paid invoice or paid bill of sale

Statement of value and/or estimates of repair costs from a reputable dealer

Credit card billing statement

Receipt of costs incurred for reconstruction of non-negotiable documents

Printouts of the online transaction identifying the purchaser and seller, price paid, date of transaction, description of item purchased, and assurance that the transaction status is completed

Proof of Damage

Photos that clearly show the extent of damage will help with your case. For damaged claims, you’ll also need to provide an estimate of the repair costs from a reputable dealer.