If you run an e-commerce store shipping valuable items, you've probably dealt with lost or damaged packages. Carrier declared value coverage (usually capped at $100) rarely covers the real cost. Third-party shipping insurance fills that gap.
In this post, I'll walk through how to integrate the Secursus shipping insurance API into an e-commerce workflow. Secursus covers parcels up to $120,000 against loss, theft, and damage in transit across 30+ carriers (FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL, etc.).
Overview of the API
The Secursus API V2 is REST-based and uses OAuth 2 for authentication. The main operations are:
Authentication: Get access and refresh tokens via OAuth 2
Parcels (core operations):
- Get insurance fees (quote for a single parcel)
- Get insurance fees for many parcels (bulk quoting)
- Create a parcel (insure a shipment)
- Create many parcels (bulk insure)
- Retrieve, list, and cancel parcels
Claims: Get, retrieve, and cancel claims
Webhooks: Configurable notifications for parcel and claim status updates
Step 1: Authentication
The API uses OAuth 2. Create your account on the Figural platform to get API credentials.
Step 2: Get a Quote
Before insuring, get the fee for a specific parcel. The API returns the insurance premium based on declared value, item category, and destination. Rates typically start at 1% of declared value.
Step 3: Create an Insured Parcel
Once the customer checks out, create the insured parcel by passing: tracking number, carrier name, value, currency, item description. A confirmation is sent to the recipient. The parcel is covered from pickup to delivery.
Step 4: Handle Claims via Webhooks
Set up webhooks to get notified when a claim is filed or resolved. This automates your customer support flow. Claims are resolved within 72 hours max, paid by bank transfer.
Step 5: Bulk Operations
For high-volume merchants (100+ parcels/month), the API supports bulk quoting, bulk creation, and CSV file import via the dashboard.
Key Coverage Details
- Covers loss, theft, and damage during transit
- Accepted carriers: FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL Express, Aramex, TNT, Evri, Canada Post, and 20+ more
- High-value items accepted: jewelry, watches, electronics, artwork, trading cards, luxury clothing, collectibles
- Coverage up to $120,000 per package
- Neutral packaging required
- Claims resolved within 72 hours, paid by bank transfer
- Signature on delivery recommended; without signature, coverage limited to $200
When to Use This vs. Carrier Insurance
Carrier declared value tops out at $100 free coverage and excludes many item categories. Third-party insurance like Secursus covers up to $120,000, includes high-value categories (jewelry, watches, art), resolves claims in days instead of weeks, and integrates via REST API with webhooks.
Conclusion
If you're building an e-commerce platform that ships high-value items, integrating third-party shipping insurance via API protects margins and automates the workflow. Full API reference: developer.secursus.com
Disclaimer: I work with Secursus/Figural. This post is a technical walkthrough based on our public API documentation.
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