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CMR and Law 15/2009 liability limit calculator

Enter the gross weight of the damaged or lost cargo to get the road carrier's indicative liability limit, international (CMR) or Spanish domestic (LCTTM).

1Calculator

Indicative result. The SDR→EUR conversion uses the IMF's daily valuation, dated in the result; the legally applicable conversion date depends on each regime and is stated for the selected mode.

2How it works

How is the road carriage limit calculated?

In international carriage, the CMR Convention caps compensation for loss or damage at 8.33 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per kilogram of gross weight (Art. 23.3), plus a refund of the carriage charges (Art. 23.4). In Spanish domestic carriage, Law 15/2009 (LCTTM) sets the limit at one third of the daily IPREM per kilogram (Art. 57.1) — with the 2026 IPREM (€20.00/day), €6.67/kg — plus a refund of freight and expenses (Art. 58).

The SDR is the IMF's unit of account and its euro value changes daily; the CMR requires conversion into the currency of the court at the date of judgment or at a date agreed by the parties (Art. 23.7).

The limit does not always apply. It falls away where value was specially declared in the consignment note and, above all, where the carrier acted with wilful misconduct or equivalent default (Art. 29 CMR; Art. 62 LCTTM) — the Spanish Supreme Court has found this, among other scenarios, in thefts with the vehicle parked in unsafe, unguarded places. We have extensive experience arguing both for and against the limit: see our CMR claims practice.
Notice: this calculator provides general guidance on quantitative liability limits and does not constitute legal advice. The figure applicable to a specific case depends on its circumstances (documents, reservations, wilful misconduct or equivalent default, declarations of value, applicable regime) and, in SDR-based regimes, on the euro conversion at the date determined by the applicable rules, which differs between regimes. Consult a specialist lawyer about your case.
3FAQs
Does the limit include the carriage charges?

No: in addition to the per-kilo limit, the CMR requires a refund of freight, customs duties and other charges (Art. 23.4); the Spanish LCTTM provides the equivalent refund in Art. 58.

Can I claim more than the limit?

Yes, in two main scenarios: a special declaration of value in the consignment note, or wilful misconduct or equivalent default by the carrier.

How long do I have to claim?

One year as a general rule (three years in international carriage where wilful misconduct or equivalent default is found; two years in Spanish domestic carriage). A written claim suspends the time bar while it has not been rejected in writing, subject to certain requirements.

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