To start submitting to CGC, create an account now or once you start an order. You can submit with a free account, but to get the best benefits, including immediate discounts, choose one of our advanced membership tiers — Associate, Premium, or Elite — starting at just $39 per year!
FAQs – Submitting to CGC
General Submission FAQs
Services and fees vary depending on the value and category of collectibles you are submitting, the tiers you are selecting, and the turnaround time you desire. To see our prices and current turnaround times go to the CGC Services and Fees page.
Note: Upgrading your CGC membership offers additional discounts on grading.
Go to SUBMIT in the navigation bar, and select the collectible type that you'll be submitting. Then, start the submission process by selecting your desired tier before entering the fair market value (FMV) and quantity of collectibles you're submitting. Now it's as simple as proceeding through the checkout process with basic information like your payment method and return shipping address. Start you submission now!
Yes, CGC images all graded cards after encapsulation. These images are available to view at CGCgrading.com/verify.
Multiple orders of the same collectible type can be sent in one box. Different collectible types (i.e., comics and video games) must be mailed separately. You will be provided with a packing slip for each collectible that you submit.
CGC only accepts drop-off submissions at our office from CGC Authorized Dealers and Elite members. To make an appointment, contact CGC customer service at Service@CGCgrading.com or (+1) 855-GRADE10 (855-472-3310).
To upgrade your account, go here.
The Express Drop-off service is for CGC members who wish to submit collectibles at shows that CGC attends. Orders are completed using the “Show Drop Off” option when entering a submission prior to a show. Once at the show, head to the Express Drop-off line with your collectibles and packing slips for quick and easy submission.
Turnaround times depend primarily on the volume of submissions CGC has in house at the time of submission as well as the tier of service selected. Other factors include whether the submission process was completed properly, whether the submission was packaged correctly, or whether additional research was required. For the most up-to-date turnaround time estimates, go here.
CGC accepts major credit cards for payment. CGC does not accept checks.
CGC accepts payments on an Authorized Dealer account only from the Authorized Dealer. Payments from customers of the Authorized Dealer are not accepted for the Authorized Dealer account.
If you are using international shipping to send a submission to our US headquarters, you must designate yourself as the “importer of record,” and you are responsible for all customs duties and fees for your submissions. If we incur any customs duties and fees for your submissions, these costs will be billed to you, plus an administrative fee of $25.
Submitters can access the Submission Tracking tool to check the latest status of their submissions. Once a submission has moved through the grading process and is marked “Shipped” grades will be available. To access Submission Tracking, sign in to your account and select “My Submissions”.
Once your submission is in transit to CGC, your order cannot be cancelled or changed. CGC has already started working on your submission to perform your requested services. No refunds can be given after a submission has been delivered.
Please note that turnaround times are only estimates and are not guaranteed. For current services and fees as well as turnaround times, go here.
If you remove your collectible from its CGC holder, you can return the label to CGC so that the collectible is no longer counted in the CGC Population Report. This helps to make the CGC Population Report more accurate.
Please note that removing a collectible from its CGC holder will void any guarantee provided by the company. If you would like your collectible to be re-encapsulated by CGC, it will need to be submitted for grading as a raw (ungraded) collectible.
Shipping Collectibles to CGC
For step-by-step packaging instructions detailing how to prepare your trading cards for shipment to CGC Cards, click here.
Any damaged, unsealed or poorly sealed packages will be rejected and returned by the shipper. Please securely seal packages with reinforced shipping tape to prevent tampering en route.
Generally, the default shipping method used by CGC is FedEx.
Shipments within the United States are insured according to the declared value provided by the submitter on the CGC Submission Form(s), with coverage up to $100,000 per package procured by CGC. See the Domestic FedEx shipping rates.
Shipments to international addresses are insured according to the declared value provided by the submitter on the CGC Submission Form(s), with coverage up to $50,000 per package procured by CGC. See the International FedEx shipping rates.
If you have your own carrier account (with FedEx, UPS, USPS Express Mail or another service), contact CGC customer service at Service@CGCgrading.com or (+1) 855-GRADE10 (855-472-3310) before submitting in order to make alternate return shipping arrangements. We must have this information on file prior to receiving your submission. Please note that shipments on the submitter’s own account are not insured by CGC.
Multiple orders for the same collectible type are accepted in a single box. Different collectible types (i.e., comics and video games) must be mailed separately. Your submissions will be returned separately upon completion, depending on tier and turnaround time. The online form will automatically group your items by tier and service type, provide individual packing slips for each collectible type, and display the associated shipping and handling costs.
Domestic FedEx shipping fees are calculated according to the fee schedule here. Please note that additional charges may apply for extended or remote service areas, heavier packages, added items, return mint packaging, etc.
Shipping costs for international shipments vary based on the destination, weight and, sometimes, value of the package. If your submission will be returned to a non-US address, CGC will charge the international FedEx rate at the time that your submission is received. If this amount does not cover the total cost of return shipping, you will be charged the additional cost at the time that your submission is shipped. You can get a rate by visiting the FedEx website.
The following times are estimates based on CGC's experiences with these carriers and services.
For shipments to a US address:
FedEx: Overnight, 2 business days or 3 business days (based on selection)
USPS Registered Mail: 5-7 business days
USPS Express Mail: overnight
UPS: Overnight, 2 business days or 3 business days (based on selection)
For shipments to international addresses:
Note: Times do not include the customs clearance process, which may vary by country.
FedEx: 3-5 business days
USPS Registered Mail: 7-14 business days
USPS Express Mail: 5-7 business days
UPS: 3-7 business days
Shipments to US addresses are shipped by CGC via FedEx by default and insured up to $100,000 per package procured by CGC. See the Domestic FedEx Registered Mail Shipping / Insurance Fee Matrix.
If you have private insurance, or if you would like to ship with a carrier other than FedEx, please contact CGC customer service at Service@CGCgrading.com or (+1) 855-GRADE10 (855-472-3310) before submitting so that we can place this information on file. We must have this information on file prior to receiving your submission.
In the rare event that a return shipment cannot be located, please contact CGC customer service at Service@CGCgrading.com or (+1) 855-GRADE10 (855-472-3310). To make a claim, FedEx will require your tracking/PRO number and completion of the online claim form. Then follow the rest of the easy 5-step process.
Note: Additional charges may apply for extended or remote service areas, heavier packages, added items, etc. Please contact customer service if you are shipping collectibles valued over $100,000 per package to a US address.
Shipments to international addresses are shipped by CGC via FedEx by default and insured up to $50,000 per package procured by CGC. See the Domestic FedEx Registered Mail Shipping / Insurance Fee Matrix.
If you have private insurance, please contact CGC customer service at Service@CGCgrading.com or (+1) 855-GRADE10 (855-472-3310) before submitting so that we can place this information on file. We must have this information on file prior to receiving your submission.
Note: Additional charges may apply for extended or remote service areas, heavier packages, added items, etc. Please contact Customer Service if you are shipping collectibles valued over $50,000 per package.
If you are submitting from outside the US, the burden of proof as to where the books shipped from falls to you. CGC recommends that you visit your local customs office before shipping your submission and explain your intentions for these collectibles — that they are yours and are being sent to the US for evaluation only. They will provide you with a form that should accompany your submission, and, when the collectibles are returned with this form, the package will not be called into question.
If we receive a submission without this form, we will return the collectibles with any claim stickers that were affixed to the original box. This can sometimes work as proof of where the collectibles shipped from. The value that we will declare on the package is the amount paid for the grading of the collectibles, and they will be noted from the country of origin goods being returned, shipped to the US for evaluation only. Return shipping to locations outside the US requires special duties and shipping charges.
To see current return shipping fees for international shipments, go here. (Scroll to the table listing FedEx International Rates.) If you have further questions, please contact CGC customer service at (+1) 877-GRADE-10 (877-472-3310).