Parcel · Germany, domestic and cross-border parcel
GLS Germany claim deadlines, liability and evidence
Where the shipper has taken out no transport insurance, GLS pays above the statutory cap up to EUR 750 per parcel, or EUR 2,500 for CashService parcels. The amount is the lowest of purchase price, current value for used goods, or auction price. GLS applies the statutory notice deadlines and all claims time-bar after one year.
Tightest deadline
At delivery
Standard cap
EUR 750 per parcel, or EUR 2,500 for CashService
Liability regime
HGB
GLS has the highest standard figure of the four German carriers, and it is structured as a genuine top-up rather than a waiver: section 10.2 pays the value of the goods above the statutory limit, up to EUR 750. The condition attached to it is unusual and easy to miss. The top-up applies only where the shipper has taken out no transport insurance of its own, so a shipper with its own goods-in-transit policy falls back to the bare statutory weight cap, and an agreed excess on that policy does not restore the GLS top-up unless GLS specifically agreed it.
Claim windows
GLS applies the HGB domestically and CMR cross-border, and pays above those caps up to EUR 750 per parcel where the shipper holds no transport insurance of its own. Air carriage falls under Montreal art. 22, with art. 25 expressly disapplied.
Visible damage or partial loss
At delivery
Counted from delivery.
GLS states at 10.6 that the statutory damage-notice deadlines apply, which for German domestic carriage means § 438(1) HGB.
Concealed damage (not externally visible)
7 days
Counted from delivery.
Under § 438(2) HGB via GLS 10.6, in text form under § 438(4).
Delay, where a delivery time was owed
21 days
Counted from delivery.
Under § 438(3) HGB via GLS 10.6. GLS is liable for delay only "soweit geschuldet", where a delivery period was actually owed (10.1).
Insured versus uninsured
No additional cover
The HGB governs domestic carriage and CMR cross-border (10.1.1 and 10.1.2). Where the shipper has concluded no transport insurance, GLS pays above those limits the value of the goods, capped at the lowest of the shipper’s purchase price, the current value for used goods, or the auction price for goods sent following an auction, to a maximum of EUR 750 per parcel and EUR 2,500 for CashService parcels (10.2).
With cover bought
The conditions publish no bought-up cover tier. The EUR 750 top-up is instead conditional on the shipper NOT holding its own transport insurance, which inverts the usual arrangement.
Delay and late delivery
Liability for exceeding the delivery period arises only where a period was owed (10.1), and § 431(3) HGB caps it at three times the freight charge. Consequential loss, pure economic loss, lost profit, lost revenue, the cost of substitute performance and losses from customs or air-freight delays are all excluded (10.3).
Evidence required
GLS Germany does not publish a document list. Request one in writing before you need it.
Exclusions
- Consequential loss and follow-on costs, expressly including pure economic loss, lost profit, lost revenue and the cost of substitute performance (AGB 10.3)
- Losses caused by delays in customs or air-freight clearance (10.3)
- Precious metals, gemstones, watches, jewellery, pearls, art, collectors’ items and antiques worth more than EUR 750 per parcel
- Documents that have to be delivered by or within a deadline
- Parcels over 40 kg, and over the separate limits for EuroExpressParcel and GlobalExpressParcel
- Under Montreal art. 22 for international air carriage, with art. 25 expressly disapplied so no higher limit can be agreed (10.5)
Filing the claim
- Who files
- The conditions do not restrict who may claim, but the EUR 750 top-up in 10.2 is framed around the shipper ("Versender") and its own insurance position, so it is the shipper’s status that decides whether the top-up applies.
- How to file
- GLS publishes no filing channel or deadline of its own and defers to the statutory deadlines at 10.6. Notice after delivery must be in text form under § 438(4) HGB.
- Processing time
- The conditions do not publish a handling time. All claims against GLS Germany time-bar after one year under § 439 HGB, or three years where the carrier acted with intent or equivalent fault.
What quietly kills GLS DE claims
Holding your own goods-in-transit insurance switches the EUR 750 top-up off. Section 10.2 applies only where the shipper has concluded no transport insurance, so the better-insured shipper is the one thrown back on the bare weight cap.
An excess agreed with your own insurer does not bring the top-up back unless GLS specifically agreed that with you (10.2).
The EUR 750 is a ceiling on the lowest of three valuations, not a sum insured: purchase price, current value for used goods, or auction price, whichever is lowest.
Montreal art. 25 is disapplied at 10.5, so on the air leg you cannot agree a higher limit even by paying for one.
Valuables above EUR 750 per parcel are excluded from carriage outright, which puts them outside the compensation regime rather than merely above its ceiling.
FAQ
How much does GLS Germany pay for a lost parcel?
Up to EUR 750 per parcel, or EUR 2,500 for CashService parcels, but only where the shipper holds no transport insurance of its own. The figure paid is the lowest of the purchase price, the current value for used goods, or the auction price.
Why was my GLS claim settled at the weight cap instead of EUR 750?
The EUR 750 top-up in section 10.2 applies only where the shipper has concluded no transport insurance. A shipper with its own goods-in-transit policy falls back on the statutory limit of 8.33 SDR per kilogram under § 431(1) HGB.
How long do I have to bring a claim against GLS Germany?
Notice deadlines are the statutory ones under § 438 HGB: at delivery for visible damage, 7 days for concealed damage and 21 days for delay. The claim itself time-bars after one year under § 439 HGB, or three years for intent or equivalent fault.
Sources
- GLS Germany, Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen, Stand Januar 2025 (sections 5 and 10)
- § 438 HGB, Schadensanzeige
- § 439 HGB, Verjährung
Verified 31 August 2026. This page summarises publicly published conditions for reference. A negotiated carrier contract, a rate-card annex or a service-specific annex can override any of it. Always check the deadline in your own agreement before relying on a figure here. Spotted a figure that has changed? Tell us and we will correct it.
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