Flea Market Insurance: Liability, Cost & Quotes from $11

Whether you are a prominent candlemaker, soapmaker, or any other artisan, chances are you will find space in a flea market. The allure of being a vendor at a flea market is evident as there’s the potential to make a ton of money and ultimately scale your business. 

 

Whether it be held during a festival or a sports event, a flea market presents vendors with unprecedented risks. This necessitates the need for flea market insurance.

 

Think of flea market vendor insurance as specialty vendor insurance specifically for those participating in the flea market. This policy is designed to protect financial assets and essential investments for the said flea market. Overall, finding the right insurance policy for your flea market is integral in ensuring you protect your business and achieve long-term success. 

 

As you embark on a flea market insurance application, it would be best to understand the different policies available. This guide will explain each one in detail. 

 

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Flea Market Liability Insurance  

While at the flea market, there are a number of potential risks that you are exposed to. These will include: 

• Customer personal injury claims as a result of an accident   

• Damage to site property 

• Lawsuits as a result of defective products 

• Community lawsuits 

 

General liability insurance for flea markets should comprehensively protect you from these. While your business is not legally required to have this, it’s not recommended to operate without it. If your business ends up facing a claim, you are at risk of ending up with a mountain of expenses. Having the right general liability insurance policy for your flea market business should be able to help you cover the following:

• Third-party personal injuries – In personal injury claims, general liability insurance will help you cover the aggrieved party’s medical expenses such as emergency treatment and medication 

• Third-party property damage –  In property damage claims, general liability insurance will help you reimburse the value of the aggrieved party’s destroyed property 

• Legal expenses – If the aggrieved party decides to take legal recourse, general liability insurance will cover attorney fees, settlements, administrative costs, and other expenses on your behalf 

 

Flea market general liability insurance offers optional policies – advertising injury coverage and rented premises liability coverage. 

 

Advertising injury coverage will help if you’re sued for copyright infringement, slander, libel, false advertising, and other related offenses.  In practice, this insurance will cover attorney fees, administrative costs, and other legal expenses on your behalf.

 

As for rented premises liability coverage, this will cover reimbursements if the policyholder is renting or leasing a commercial space that then becomes damaged because of a fire. 

 

Flea Market Public Liability Insurance 

Public liability insurance is another liability coverage available for you. It works the same way as general liability insurance. Nonetheless, public liability insurance is more limited in terms of what perils are covered because you can’t add advertising injury coverage or rented premises liability coverage to it. 

Flea Market Liquor Liability Insurance

Liquor liability insurance is useful if you’re planning to sell alcoholic beverages.  This insurance will cover the medical expenses or property damage of persons who injured themselves due to drunkenness or become intoxicated and are blaming your business. Specific expenses covered are legal defense and the medication or property damage reimbursement for aggrieved third parties. 

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Commercial Property Insurance for Flea Markets 

Your flea market business depends on equipment and supplies to keep running. When these are damaged by unexpected events, such as a fire, your commercial property insurance provider will meet the cost of replacing these.

 

There are two coverages in commercial property insurance for flea markets:

• Business equipment and tools coverage 

• Stocks and contents coverage 

 

Business equipment and tools coverage in commercial property insurance will recoup losses up to the insurance limits stated if business equipment and tools become lost or damaged due to fire, theft, vandalism, extreme weather, and other covered perils. 

 

Stocks and contents coverage is an insurance for the tangible products sold during a flea market. When such products become lost or damaged due to fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils, stocks and contents coverage will reimburse their value. 

 

Also read: Antique Shop Insurance: Business Insurance From $5

 

Flea Market Workers’ Compensation Insurance

In most states, you are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Getting workers’ compensation policy is a step in the right direction when it comes to meeting the legal obligations needed. Besides, your employees get to have the required protection when it comes to injuries or diseases while carrying out job-related activities. This policy will cover the following on your behalf:

• Medical expenses – Your employee will experience muscle overuse injuries, cuts, or fractures while working. It’s also possible for them to experience work-related sicknesses such as heat stroke or fatigue.  In connection, workers’ compensation insurance will provide the money you can use to pay for the medical treatment/procedure an injured or sick employee needs

• Hospitalization – An injured or sick employee might need to stay in the hospital to fully recover from a work-related injury or disease. In this scenario, workers’ compensation insurance provides help by giving the money you can use to cover hospital bills

• Medication – While in the hospital or healing at home, your employee will need medicines to fully recover from a work-related injury or disease. Workers’ compensation insurance is useful in this case. It will provide the funds needed to buy medicines no matter how costly

• Rehabilitation – Rehab will be required if your employee experiences a work-related injury or disease that results in the impairment of bodily functions. In such a situation, you can use workers’ compensation insurance to cover therapist fees, rehab equipment, and other associated costs 

• Lost income compensation – If your employee can’t work due to a work-related injury or disease, workers’ compensation insurance will help you cover lost wages. This insurance provides a weekly allowance equal to two-thirds or 67% of your employee’s average weekly wage.  That said, if your employee makes $764 per week,  weekly compensation for lost income will be $511.88

• Death benefits – If your employee dies from a work-related injury or disease, workers’ compensation insurance will cover funeral expenses and provide financial aid to dependents 

 

Flea Market Commercial Auto Insurance 

Suppose you use a vehicle to, for instance, transport your wares. In that case, you should consider getting a commercial auto policy. Commercial auto insurance provides the following protections:

• Auto liability coverage –  This will protect you in the event that you or your employee gets into an accident while using the said commercial vehicle. If third parties are injured or had their property damaged because of the accident, auto liability coverage will cover medical expenses and reimbursements on your behalf. Note that protection won’t be provided if you caused the accident due to involvement in criminal activities (e.g. driving without a license or DUI)

• Physical damage coverage – Physical damage coverage has two forms: collision and comprehensive. Collision physical damage coverage will cover repair or replacement expenses if your commercial vehicle got damaged due to a collision with a vehicle or an object.  On the other hand, physical damage coverage will cover expenses if your commercial vehicle is damaged by fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils. Note that coverage doesn’t apply to aftermarket parts. Also, damage resulting from rollovers is excluded. 

• Emergency roadside assistance – Emergency roadside assistance will reimburse what you spend on battery jumpstart, towing, tire delivery, gas delivery, tire replacement, and other related services 

• MedPay/personal injury protection – MedPay/personal injury protection is protection for your commercial vehicle’s driver and passengers. MedPay covers medical and funeral expenses. Personal injury protection does the same but will also take care of lost income compensation, after-hospital visits, and more

 

Commercial Umbrella Insurance for Flea Markets 

This is an umbrella policy that should be able to pay for damages and expenses beyond the point to which your general liability insurance policy reaches. In the event that you don’t have the umbrella policy, you might be forced to pay out of pocket for these costs. 

 

Flea Market Inland Marine Insurance 

Inland marine insurance protects your equipment, stock, tools, signage, and all the other equipment and tools you require for the flea market sale from loss or damage caused by theft, vandalism, and other covered perils while they are in transit to and from the flea market location. 

 

Short-Term Flea Market Insurance

Flea markets don’t take place for long. This is why insurance companies offer short-term flea market insurance. This is available as a 24-hour, weekly, or monthly policy depending on your needs. 

Inclusions in short-term flea market insurance are general liability insurance with liquor liability coverage and equipment breakdown insurance. You can get more protection by endorsing commercial property insurance and workers’ compensation insurance. 

 

Other Insurance You Should Consider Buying 

Employer’s Liability Insurance

Employees might sue for negligence after experiencing a work-related injury or disease. This is why you should consider getting employer’s liability insurance. Employer’s liability insurance will cover attorney fees, administrative costs, settlements, and other legal expenses. 

Employment Practices Liability Insurance 

Employment practices liability insurance will cover expenses if an employee sues you for wrongful termination, sexual harassment, and other acts that constitute a violation of employee rights. Again, this will cover attorney fees, compensatory payments, and administrative costs on your behalf. 

Employee Dishonesty Insurance

Employee dishonesty insurance will recover losses in the event that an employee commits fraud, social engineering, theft, and other related crimes against you. Coverage applies whether you report a claim to the insurer when the crime has recently happened or the crime has long happened way before you discovered the repercussions. 

Flea Market Insurance Requirements 

General liability insurance is a primary requirement. You need to have at least $500,000 – $1 million coverage. Of course, you need to make sure that your general liability policy allows additional insureds to be added.

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Flea Market Insurance Cost  

Flea markets are considered somewhat low-risk, which means that insuring your business should be relatively affordable. So, how much is flea market insurance?

 

On average, it will cost you $33 per month for $1 million general liability coverage. If you are on the yearly plan, you should part with $396 every year. For further ideas about the cost, take a look at the table below that shows the pricing of the best flea market insurance companies.

 

Note that your flea market insurance cost depends on the type of coverage you require and what add-ons you need to fully address your flea market business needs. Other factors that will determine your flea market insurance cost include:

• Location

• Number of employees 

• General aggregate limit

• Per-occurrence limit 

• Applicable deductibles 

 

Consider partnering with an independent insurance agent, as they’d be instrumental in finding a flea market insurance policy that caters to both your business needs and budget. 

 

Nonetheless, comparing quotes yourself is the best option for finding good coverage at the most reasonable rates. Starting doing so here. Just click the “Get Quotes” button, fill-up the form, and you’ll then receive the offers and pricing of the most trusted flea market insurance carriers. 

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Best Flea Market Insurance Companies  

If you are in the market for a flea market insurance provider, here are the insurers you ought to consider. Read the reviews below to know their pros, cons, and pricing for a $1 million general liability insurance. 

 

CoverWallet Flea Market Insurance 

Pros 

• You can get several quotes from different providers, all done through an online application 

• A responsive online dashboard where you can manage your policy, pay premiums and file and manage your claims 

• Stable rates 

Cons 

• Third-party partners underwrite the policy 

 

Will relatively new, having only been started in 2015, CoverWallet does offer a competitive flea market insurance product. The different coverage options available include workers’ compensation, commercial property and general liability, among others. 

On average, with CoverWallet’s flea market insurance, you will pay $8 per month for general liability coverage. You get a chance to talk to an insurance advisor over the phone or by live chat throughout the entire quote process. You can then submit your application but note that you will not receive a quote until you talk to a CoverWallet representative. 

 

Best for: Fast quote comparison online 

Average cost: $8 per month 

Our rating: 10/10

 

Thimble Flea Market Insurance

Pros 

• Short-term flea market insurance coverage in under 60 seconds 

• You can get quotes and purchase coverage online via Thimble’s official website or mobile application

• You instantly get the Certificate of Insurance 

Cons 

• Only general liability coverage is offered 

  

Thimble started as a drone insurance provider in 2016 but has since evolved to cover other services, including flea markets. Your Thimble flea market insurance will be underwritten by Markel and National State Insurance and will cost you $10 per month. 

 

What makes Thimble’s flea market insurance offering stand out is the option of purchasing a cover for as short as just hours. This flexibility is particularly great for flea market vendors that only attend popups for short spans before moving on to the next. 

Before purchasing Thimble flee market insurance, take note that it only offers $1 million or $2 million general liability coverage. 

 

Best for: Short-term flea market policies 

Average cost: $10 per month 

Our rating: 9/10

 

Nationwide  Flea Market Insurance 

Pros 

• Exemplary customer service

• Above-average scores in claims handling 

• Zero deductibles 

• Flea market vendors are insured against theft or loss of property and flea market wares 

Cons 

• Flea market vendors in Alaska, Hawaii or Louisiana are excluded from coverage 

• It doesn’t cover mobile vendors 

 

Founded in 1925, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, commonly referred to as Nationwide, is an American insurance and financial services company based in Columbus, Ohio. 

 

Nationwide’s flea market insurance offering stands out mainly due to the flexibility the policyholder can enjoy. You have the option of adding on policies to cover your premises, products and completed operations, as well as claims of false advertising. Additionally, you can purchase a short-term policy depending on your flea market business needs, as you have the opportunity of determining the depth and duration of your coverage. 

 

A neat advantage of this flea market insurance policy is that there are no deductibles, and you get coverage in case of loss or damage of your property or wares. 

 

Best for: No deductibles   

Average cost: $90 per month 

Our rating: 8/10

 

ACT Insurance Flea Market Policy 

Pros 

• Specialty insurance product for artisans, crafters, and tradesmen who are highly likely to attend flea markets 

• Cheap policy plans 

Cons 

• Poor customer service 

 

ACT insurance is a company highly tailored for artisans, crafters and tradesmen located in Pleasant Grove, Utah. The insurer offers the fairest prices in the market, thus making it possible for small-scale vendors to purchase an insurance cover. With about $80, you should get a reasonably lean coverage enough to protect you against any claims filed due to your involvement with the flea market. 

 

Best for: Flea market  food trucks and mobile food vendors 

Average cost: $80 per month

Our rating: 8/10

 

Allstate Flea Market Insurance 

Pros 

• Prompt management of claims 

• Three policy options available for flea market vendors 

Cons 

• Commercial property insurance coverage is not available 

 

Allstate Insurance became a certified insurance carrier in 1931. Flea market vendors looking to work with Allstate Insurance for their flea market business have the option of choosing between several policies, including:

• General liability 

• Standalone product liability 

• Commercial auto liability 

Allstate’s most competitive flea market insurance coverage will cost $45 per month on average. 

 

Best for: Small and medium-sized flea market businesses 

Average cost: $45 per month

Our rating: 7/10

 

Geico Flea Market Insurance 

Pros 

• Network of agents available in all 50 states 

• Mobile application that’s accessible and easy-to-use 

• Possibility of bundling your policies for better rates 

• Flexible policies that make room to tailor-make customized flea market insurance policies 

Cons 

• Poor communication, especially pertaining to changes in premium 

 

Based in Chevy Chase, Maryland, Geico started underwriting insurance products in 1936. Its flea market insurance policy is desirable for mobile food cart vendors attending a flea market. These vendors are able to bundle their commercial auto and general liability insurance, which is, to say the least, relatively cost-effective. For general liability coverage, you’ll pay on average $38.   

 

Best for: Vendors and especially food truck and mobile food vendors, in need of bundling commercial auto and general liability policies 

Average cost: $38 per month 

Our rating: 7/10