What is the difference between a certified letter and a registered letter?

Answer 1

AnswerCertified letters travel with regular mail; you get a receipt "certifying" that you sent it, along with tracking which shows it has been delivered. If you also purchase the "return receipt" (the little green card they attach) you will not receive a physical article saying your item has been delivered. Most people get the "return receipt" at small additional cost. "Return receipt" isn't necessary unless you are unable to enter the tracking number online.

"Certified" is cheaper than a "registered letter", which travels outside the regular mail flow, it is signed for and individually handled at every stop in the process. It therefore takes more time to be delivered and is more expensive. Because it is considered more secure, valuables are often sent "registered" rather than "certified." If lost, there is a "log book" record of the travels of the registered letter (or package) at every stop, making recovery more likely.

Certified mail is not insured unless you buy extra insurance from the post office at additional cost. Registered mail is insured up to $25,000, or more with the purchase of additional insurance.

A "certified" letter will be delivered to anyone at a particular address if they sign for it (a secretary at an office, for instance), but a "restricted certified letter" will be delivered only to the person whose name appears on the envelope.

The legal system: courts, lawyers, etc. generally use certified mail with return receipt to prove that their documents were both mailed - and received.

Regular first class mail is the cheapest, followed by "certified", with "registered" being the most expensive.