CMR insurance and the 8.33 SDR liability limit
For every international road load that RNJ Transport moves, the CMR Convention limits the carrier’s liability to 8.33 SDR per kilogram of gross weight. On 19 October 2026, that was about 10 EUR per kilogram. The limit often pays less than the goods are worth. Goods worth more than about 10 EUR per kilogram need cargo insurance.
- Under CMR Article 23, a carrier pays at most 8.33 SDR per kilogram of gross weight lost or damaged.
- On 19 October 2026, 1 SDR was 1.207 EUR, so the CMR limit was about 10 EUR per kilogram.
- The carrier pays nothing when a CMR exemption applies, such as poor packing by the sender.
- Note visible damage at delivery. Report hidden damage in writing within 7 days, not counting Sundays and public holidays.
- Cargo insurance covers the goods. CMR liability insurance covers only what the carrier owes.
Carrier liability under the CMR Convention
Under Article 17 of the CMR Convention, the carrier is liable for loss, damage and delay. Liability starts when the carrier receives the goods and ends at delivery. The carrier is also liable for its staff and for any other carrier it uses (Article 3).
For a loss, the carrier pays the value of the goods where and when it accepted them. The carrier also refunds the carriage charges and customs duties for the lost part. CMR pays no further damage, such as lost sales (Article 23).
Cases where the carrier is not liable
The carrier pays nothing when it proves that a CMR exemption caused the loss. Article 17(2) lists general causes, such as a fault of the person who claims. Article 17(4) lists special risks, such as poor packing or loading by the sender. The table shows the main exemptions and what you can do.
For a special risk, CMR presumes the risk caused the loss, but you can prove another cause (Article 18(2)). In a temperature-controlled truck, the carrier must also prove it chose, kept and used the equipment correctly and followed your instructions (Article 18(4)).
| Exemption | Article | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Fault or instructions of the person who claims | 17(2) | Give clear instructions in writing. |
| A defect in the goods themselves (inherent vice) | 17(2) | Ship goods in good condition. |
| Events the carrier could not avoid or prevent | 17(2) | Ask an insurer if a cargo policy covers this risk. |
| Open truck without a cover, agreed in the CMR note | 17(4)(a) | Book a curtainsider or box trailer. |
| Missing or poor packing | 17(4)(b) | Pack and wrap each pallet for road transport. |
| Loading, stowing or unloading by the sender or receiver | 17(4)(c) | If your staff load, secure the goods with straps. |
| Goods that break, rust, rot, dry out or leak by nature | 17(4)(d) | Use suitable packing. Give any temperature in writing. |
| Poor marks or numbers on packages | 17(4)(e) | Mark every package with its number. |
| Live animals | 17(4)(f) | Give care instructions in writing. |
The 8.33 SDR limit and when it changes
Article 23(3) of CMR caps compensation at 8.33 SDR per kilogram of the gross weight that is lost or damaged. The 1978 Protocol to CMR set this amount. Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden and Norway are all parties to it. On 19 October 2026, the limit was about 10 EUR per kilogram.
An SDR (Special Drawing Right) is a reserve asset of the International Monetary Fund, valued from five currencies. On 19 October 2026, the IMF rate was 1 SDR = 1.20701 EUR, so 8.33 SDR was 10.05 EUR. A court uses the rate on the date of the judgement, or a date the parties agree.
The cap counts only the weight that is lost. If one 200 kg pallet is lost, the cap is 200 × 8.33 SDR, about 2,011 EUR. The rules in the table change the cap.
| Case | What the carrier pays | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Loss or damage | The lost value of the goods, up to 8.33 SDR per kg, plus carriage charges and duties | 23, 25 |
| Delay | Proven damage from the delay, up to the carriage charge | 23(5) |
| Declared value in the CMR note, surcharge agreed | Up to the declared value, in place of the limit | 24 |
| Special interest in delivery in the CMR note, surcharge agreed | Proven extra loss, up to the amount declared | 26 |
| Wilful misconduct by the carrier, its staff or its subcontractors | No CMR limit and no CMR exemptions apply | 29 |
Time limits for reservations and claims
CMR sets short deadlines, and a missed deadline weakens or ends your claim. The receiver notes visible damage at delivery. Hidden damage needs a written reservation within 7 days. A delay needs a written reservation within 21 days. Court action must start within 1 year, or within 3 years for wilful misconduct.
The day of delivery does not count (Article 30(4)). Without a reservation, the law presumes the goods arrived as the CMR note describes them. A written claim pauses the 1-year period until the carrier rejects it in writing (Article 32(2)).
| Situation | Deadline | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Visible loss or damage | At delivery, checked with the carrier | 30(1) |
| Hidden loss or damage | In writing within 7 days of delivery, not counting Sundays and public holidays | 30(1) |
| Delay | In writing within 21 days after the goods are placed at the receiver’s disposal | 30(3) |
| Court action | 1 year. 3 years for wilful misconduct. | 32(1) |
CMR liability insurance and cargo insurance
CMR liability insurance and cargo insurance cover different things. The carrier buys CMR liability insurance to pay what it owes under CMR. That payment stops at the CMR limit and does not happen when an exemption applies. The cargo owner buys cargo insurance for the goods themselves.
A carrier’s policy can also have its own limit and exclusions. RNJ Transport asks for the value of the goods when you ask for a price. Tell us the value of the goods when you book, so we can talk about cover before the truck leaves.
| Question | Carrier’s CMR liability insurance | Cargo insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Who buys it | The carrier | The seller or the buyer of the goods |
| What it covers | The carrier’s liability under CMR | The goods themselves |
| Highest payment | The CMR limit, or a lower policy limit | The value in the policy |
| When a CMR exemption applies | Nothing to pay | Pays if the policy covers the risk |
Worked example: laptops and ceramic tiles
The CMR limit depends on weight, so light and valuable goods get the least cover. Compare two loads at 1 SDR = 1.20701 EUR. Two pallets of laptops weigh 400 kg and are worth 120,000 EUR. A full load of ceramic tiles weighs 22,000 kg and is worth 15,000 EUR.
Laptops: 400 kg × 8.33 SDR = 3,332 SDR, about 4,022 EUR. If the laptops are lost, CMR pays at most that. Without cargo insurance, you lose the other 115,978 EUR.
Tiles: 22,000 kg × 8.33 SDR = 183,260 SDR, about 221,197 EUR. That is far above the 15,000 EUR value. If the carrier is liable, CMR pays the full value of the tiles.
The laptops are worth 300 EUR per kg. The tiles are worth 0.68 EUR per kg. Above about 10 EUR per kg, CMR does not cover the full value.
Steps to protect a valuable load
Five steps protect a valuable load under CMR. Most take a few minutes before loading or at delivery. They keep the carrier liable where CMR says it is, and they keep your claim inside the deadlines. Cargo insurance can cover the rest of the value.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For a real claim, ask a lawyer or your insurer.
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Calculate the value per kilogram
Divide the value by the gross weight. Above about 10 EUR per kg, CMR does not cover the full value.
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Decide on cover before loading
Buy cargo insurance, or declare a value in the CMR note against an agreed surcharge (Article 24).
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Pack, mark and load with care
Poor packing, poor marks and loading by your staff are CMR exemptions.
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Check the goods at delivery
Count the packages. Write any visible damage on the CMR note before the driver leaves.
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Claim in writing and in time
Report hidden damage within 7 days and delay within 21 days. Start court action within 1 year.
CMR maximum on four example loads
The table uses the IMF rate of 19 October 2026: 1 SDR = 1.20701 EUR. The CMR maximum applies only when the carrier is liable. The gap is your loss without cargo insurance. For your own load, use the CMR liability calculator.
Buy cargo insurance when one of these is true.
- The goods are worth more than about 10 EUR per kilogram.
- The goods are light and valuable, such as electronics, medicines or clothing.
- You want cover when a CMR exemption frees the carrier. Check that the policy covers those cases.
- Your sales contract makes you responsible for insuring the goods.
| Goods | Gross weight | Value | CMR maximum | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laptops, 2 pallets | 400 kg | 120,000 EUR | 4,022 EUR | 115,978 EUR |
| Clothing | 3,000 kg | 90,000 EUR | 30,163 EUR | 59,837 EUR |
| Machine parts | 7,800 kg | 150,000 EUR | 78,424 EUR | 71,576 EUR |
| Ceramic tiles, full load | 22,000 kg | 15,000 EUR | 221,197 EUR | 0 EUR |
Frequently asked questions
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Is CMR insurance the same as cargo insurance?
No. CMR insurance usually means the carrier’s liability insurance. It pays what the carrier owes under CMR, up to 8.33 SDR per kilogram, and nothing when an exemption applies. Cargo insurance is a separate policy for the goods themselves. It pays for the risks and the value in the policy.
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How much is 8.33 SDR in euros?
About 10 EUR per kilogram. On 19 October 2026, the IMF rate was 1 SDR = 1.20701 EUR, so 8.33 SDR was 10.05 EUR. The rate changes every day. For an exact number, check the IMF rate on the day you need it.
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Does the CMR limit apply to the whole load or only to the lost part?
Only to the lost or damaged part. Article 23(3) counts the gross weight that is lost or damaged. If one 200 kg pallet is lost from a 7,800 kg load, the cap is about 2,011 EUR. The rest of the load does not raise the cap.
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Can I raise the carrier’s CMR liability?
Yes. Under Article 24, you can declare a higher value in the CMR note against a surcharge. The declared value then replaces the 8.33 SDR limit. Under Article 26, you can declare a special interest in delivery, for example when a delay would stop production. Both need the carrier’s agreement before loading.
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How long do I have to start a CMR claim in court?
Usually 1 year. Under Article 32, the period is 1 year, or 3 years for wilful misconduct. For damage or delay, the year starts on the delivery date. A written claim to the carrier pauses the year until the carrier rejects it in writing.
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Who should buy cargo insurance, the seller or the buyer?
Usually the party that carries the risk of the goods during transport. The sales contract decides this, often through the Incoterms rule it names. If you are not sure, write in the contract who buys cargo insurance and for what amount.
Sources (5)
- Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR), Geneva, 19 May 1956
- Protocol to the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR), Geneva, 5 July 1978
- United Nations Treaty Collection: Protocol to the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR), status
- IMF: SDRs per Currency unit and Currency units per SDR, last five days
- IMF: What is the SDR?
We checked these sources on 19 October 2026.
Talk to us about a valuable load
Send the route, the date, the load size and the value of the goods in the price form. We call you back. You can also call us during working hours. We can then talk about cover before the truck leaves.
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