CMR liability calculator: what the carrier pays at most
RNJ Transport’s free CMR calculator shows the most a carrier pays for lost or damaged goods under the CMR Convention: 8.33 SDR per kilogram of gross weight. Enter the weight and the value of the goods. The calculator converts the limit to euros and shows the part of the value it does not cover.
We filled in an example. Change any number to see your own result.
Your result
- CMR limit
- 4,022 EUR
- Not covered by CMR
- 115,978 EUR
- Limit per kilogram
- 10.05 EUR/kg
- Value per kilogram
- 300 EUR/kg
- CMR covers at most 4,022 EUR. The other 115,978 EUR is not covered. Cargo insurance can cover the goods themselves.
- The carrier pays nothing when a CMR exemption applies, such as poor packing or loading by the sender.
The button adds these numbers to the price form at the bottom of this page.
- 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 1.20701 EUR, so the limit was about 10.05 EUR per kilogram.
- Light, valuable goods get the least cover. Goods worth more than about 10 EUR per kilogram are not fully covered.
- The carrier pays nothing when a CMR exemption applies, such as poor packing by the sender.
How the calculator works
The calculator multiplies the gross weight of the lost or damaged goods by 8.33 SDR. Then it converts the result to euros at the SDR rate you enter. The carrier pays the lower of two numbers: the value of the goods or this limit. Carriage charges and customs duties for the lost goods come on top, under Article 23(4).
In the example, two pallets of laptops weigh 400 kg and are worth 120,000 EUR. The limit is 400 × 8.33 = 3,332 SDR, about 4,022 EUR. Without cargo insurance, 115,978 EUR of the value is not covered.
Cases that change the limit
The CMR limit changes in four cases. The calculator shows the standard case. Read the CMR note and the transport contract for the case that applies to your load.
- Declared value in the CMR note, with a surcharge agreed: the carrier pays up to that value (Article 24)
- Special interest in delivery in the CMR note, with a surcharge agreed: proven extra loss up to that amount (Article 26)
- Wilful misconduct by the carrier or its staff: no CMR limit applies (Article 29)
- A CMR exemption, such as poor packing or loading by the sender: the carrier pays nothing (Article 17)
Cover for the rest of the value
Cargo insurance covers the goods themselves, also in cases where the carrier is not liable. The seller or the buyer of the goods buys it from an insurer. Ask your insurer or broker for a quote with the route and the value of the goods.
RNJ Transport checks every carrier before a load and moves your goods under a CMR note on every international trip. Our guide to CMR liability and cargo insurance explains the deadlines for claims.
Sources (4)
- 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
- IMF: SDRs per Currency unit and Currency units per SDR, last five days
- IMF: What is the SDR?
Numbers checked on 19 October 2026
Frequently asked questions
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How much does a carrier pay under CMR?
At most 8.33 SDR per kilogram of gross weight lost or damaged, plus carriage charges and duties. On 19 October 2026 that was about 10.05 EUR per kilogram. The carrier never pays more than the value of the goods, and pays nothing when a CMR exemption applies.
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What is an SDR?
The Special Drawing Right, a unit of account of the International Monetary Fund. Its value comes from a basket of five currencies: the US dollar, the euro, the Chinese renminbi, the Japanese yen and the British pound. The IMF publishes the rate every working day, so the CMR limit in euros moves a little each day.
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Does CMR pay for a late delivery?
Yes, for proven damage from the delay, up to the carriage charge (Article 23(5)). Report the delay in writing within 21 days after the goods are placed at the receiver’s disposal. A late load does not move the 8.33 SDR limit for loss or damage.
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Can I get more than the CMR limit?
Yes, in two ways. Declare a higher value or a special interest in delivery in the CMR note, and agree a surcharge with the carrier. Or buy cargo insurance for the goods from an insurer. Cargo insurance also pays in some cases where the carrier is not liable.
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Does the CMR limit apply to every road load?
No. CMR applies to road transport for reward when the pickup and delivery places are in two different countries and at least one of them has signed CMR. A load inside one country follows that country’s law.
Other free tools
- Loading metre calculator The loading metres of a part load, with stacking, weight and a floor plan of a 13.6 m trailer.
- Pallet calculator How many pallets fit on a standard trailer or on your own vehicle, by floor space and by weight.
- Volume and chargeable weight The volume in m³, the gross weight and the chargeable weight of a shipment at the factor in your offer.
- Incoterms 2020 chart Who loads, books the truck, insures and clears customs under each of the seven Incoterms rules for trucks.
- Fuel surcharge calculator The fuel surcharge in % and in EUR from your contract’s reference price, today’s diesel price and the fuel share.
- Transit time calculator Driving, breaks and rest for one or two drivers under the EU rules, with the arrival day and time.
Transport for valuable goods
Send the route, the date, the load size and the value of the goods in the price form. You can also call us. We tell you how the load travels and which documents go with it.
+370 698 38573A person in our Klaipėda office answers your call.
Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00, Lithuanian time
Get a price
Send your route and your phone number. We call you back about the price.