GameStop cuts its PSA insured cap to $1,000 per card
Cards sent to PSA through GameStop from September 9 are covered up to $1,000 each, down from $1,500. If your card is worth more, that matters.
By Jamie Budesky · Published September 10, 2026
In short
GameStop’s card grading terms, effective September 9, 2026, cap insured value at $1,000 per card for PSA submissions created on or after that date. Submissions created from June 1 had a $1,500 cap, and earlier ones $500. If a card is worth more than $1,000, GameStop will not cover the difference.
What changed
GameStop’s Card Grading Terms and Conditions, which carry an effective date of September 9, 2026, set the maximum insured value for cards sent to PSA through GameStop by when the submission was created:
| Submission created | Maximum insured value per card |
|---|---|
| Before June 1, 2026 | $500 |
| June 1, 2026 to before September 9, 2026 | $1,500 |
| On or after September 9, 2026 | $1,000 |
For anything you create at GameStop from September 9 on, the cap is $1,000 per card, down from $1,500. The terms say GameStop’s compensation for a lost or damaged card is limited to the lesser of the maximum insured value or the value you declared, and that GameStop is not liable once items reach PSA.
Why it lines up with PSA’s new Standard tier
The change landed the same day PSA announced its new service levels. PSA’s new Standard tier opens September 14 at $59.99 per card with a 90 to 100 business day estimate and a $1,000 maximum insured value. Priority, formerly Regular, is $79.99 with a $1,500 cap, and Express is now $199 with a $2,500 cap.
So GameStop’s new $1,000 cap matches the cap on PSA’s cheapest direct tier. The terms we read do not say which PSA tier GameStop submissions use, so treat that as a parallel, not a confirmed link. We covered the tier itself in Is PSA Standard worth it?
What to do before you hand a card over at GameStop
- Rule: if a card is worth more than $1,000, do not rely on GameStop’s cap. Compensation is limited to the lower of $1,000 or your declared value, so a $3,000 card is covered as a $1,000 card.
- Check the creation date on your submission. Orders created before September 9 keep the cap that applied when they were created.
- Expect a long wait either way. PSA said its backlog was 9.9 million cards in the same announcement; our September 8 backlog note has the detail.
- Compare drop-off options. Our card grading near me guide covers in-person routes beyond GameStop.
Pre-screen before you pick a drop-off
A lower insurance cap is one more reason to decide which cards are worth sending. CardGrade gives you a photo-based pre-screen of visible condition so you can decide which cards are worth the fee. It is not an official grade, authentication or appraisal, and CardGrade is not affiliated with PSA, BGS, CGC, SGC or TAG. Try a pre-screen
What we could not confirm
- When GameStop published the updated terms. The page shows only an effective date of September 9, 2026.
- Which PSA service level GameStop submissions are processed under, and whether GameStop’s in-store prices changed with PSA’s new tiers.
- Why GameStop lowered the cap from $1,500.
Sources
- GameStop: Card Grading Terms and Conditions (effective date September 9, 2026)
- PSA: service level announcement (September 9, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What is the GameStop PSA insured value limit?
For PSA submissions created at GameStop on or after September 9, 2026, the maximum insured value is $1,000 per card, according to GameStop’s Card Grading Terms and Conditions.
Did GameStop lower its card grading insurance cap?
Yes. Submissions created from June 1, 2026 to before September 9, 2026 had a $1,500 cap. From September 9, the cap is $1,000. Submissions created before June 1 had a $500 cap.
What happens if my card is worth more than $1,000 at GameStop?
GameStop’s terms limit compensation to the lesser of the maximum insured value or your declared value, so coverage stops at $1,000 per card for new submissions.
Is GameStop responsible for my card once it reaches PSA?
GameStop’s terms say it is not liable once items reach PSA. From that point, PSA’s own terms apply.
What is the max insured value for PSA Standard?
PSA’s Standard tier, announced September 9, 2026 and opening September 14, has a $1,000 maximum insured value at $59.99 per card.