COMING SOON
Insurance for online sellers is coming to CMTIA
Whether you sell through your own website, online marketplaces or social media, we’re developing a new insurance product specifically for online sellers.
Join the waitlist to be among the first to know when it launches.
We’ll only use your details to keep you updated about the new service.
Designed for online sellers
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Online Retailers Insurance is designed for sole traders and limited companies that make at least 50% of their turnover from online sales. It is aimed at businesses with turnover of up to £1 million and 10 employees or fewer.
Public and Products Liability are included as the core cover. For online retailers, one of the main risks is a product you sell causing injury or damage. Public Liability may also be important if you trade from a physical shop or market.
You can choose to add Employers’ Liability, Contents and Stock, Goods in Transit, Business Interruption and Personal Accident cover, depending on the needs of your business.
Yes. Employers’ Liability is available as an optional cover if your business has employees.
Yes, provided at least 50% of your turnover comes from online sales. If you also trade from a physical shop or market, Public Liability may be particularly important.
Yes. Some products are excluded, including fireworks, vapes and tobacco. The types of products we can cover will be similar to those currently accepted under CMTIA’s Market Traders Insurance. For further details, please see the summary of cover and policy wording.
The policy is designed for businesses selling through their own website or app, as well as online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Vinted and Shopify. Other online marketplaces can also be accommodated, subject to the policy criteria.
Yes. The product is suitable for both home-based and premises-based online retailers, subject to the underwriting criteria.
Dropshipping businesses are not currently covered by the Online Retailers policy. These businesses may be referred so CMTIA can understand the individual circumstances.
Yes. The policy can accommodate businesses using third-party fulfilment providers, including Amazon FBA, subject to the underwriting criteria and policy terms. Where liability lies with your business, the policy will provide cover.
Yes. You can export products to the USA and Canada, provided North American sales account for no more than 50% of your total turnover and the products you sell fall within the accepted categories. Public & Products Liability cover is available up to £5 million where you export to North America. Additional policy terms and exclusions apply.
Yes, but there are additional requirements. If you source products or components from outside the UK and EU, you must carry out documented quality control checks. You will also be asked whether you have continued suppliers with full traceability in place.
Contents and Stock cover protects your business contents and the stock you own and intend to sell. Business contents include equipment and other physical property used to operate your business. Cover is available up to £100,000.
Goods in Transit covers eligible goods if they are lost or damaged while being transported, whether in your own vehicle or by a third party such as Royal Mail or DHL. Cover is available at £25,000 or £50,000, with a £10,000 limit for any one load.
Third-party couriers will often provide cover up to a certain limit. The optional Goods in Transit cover provides dedicated protection for eligible goods while they are being transported, which may be useful if you regularly send larger quantities of goods.
Business Interruption provides protection against loss of business income following an insured event that interrupts your business, such as fire, flood or theft. Cover is available up to £100,000, with a standard indemnity period of 12 months.
