Antique Store Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages an antique store business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for antique shops, antique malls, and dealers in vintage and collectible goods. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual inventory, consignments, and sales channels.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dealer's Stock / Fine Arts Coverage | Covers inventory at selling price or consignment value — standard property often pays only cost and limits jewelry and art. | Core | |
| Consigned Property / Property of | Others Covers items consignors and booth dealers leave with you. | Core | |
| Commercial General Liability | Covers customer injuries, such as tip-overs and trips in crowded aisles. | Core | |
| Crime / Employee Theft | Covers theft by employees and money losses. | Core | |
| Transit / Show Floater | Covers items at antique shows, on approval, and in shipment. | Prevalent | |
| Business Income | Replaces income while the shop is closed after a fire or break-in. | Prevalent | |
| Building Coverage (Older Buildings) | Covers the building at replacement cost, plus code upgrades for older structures. | Prevalent | |
| Professional Liability (Appraisal / Authentication) | Needed if you appraise or authenticate items for customers. | Situational | |
| Cyber / Privacy Liability | Covers online sales and customer payment data. | Situational | |
| Workers' Compensation | Required once you have employees; lifting heavy furniture causes injuries. | Situational | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits above GL for serious injuries. | Situational | |
| Title / Defective Title Coverage | Covers loss when an item you sold must be returned to a prior owner. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by antique dealers is how inventory is valued and what counts as yours. Many standard property policies pay cost rather than selling price and cap jewelry, silver, and fine art at small sublimits — and consigned or booth-dealer items may not be covered at all. Items taken to shows or shipped to buyers can fall outside the premises coverage. Confirm your stock is covered at the value you need, that consigned property is included, and that shows and shipments are covered by a floater.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your antique store coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Antique Store Insurance · Antique Store Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does an antique store business need?
The core coverages for an antique store business are Dealer's Stock / Fine Arts Coverage, Consigned Property / Property of, Commercial General Liability, Crime / Employee Theft. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my antique store coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.