eBay COI Requirements 2026
What eBay Requires on Your COI
Three things must be exact: the certificate holder, the limits, and the additional insured language. Miss any one and the COI gets rejected.
Certificate Holder
(eBay itself does not require AI status)
Coverage protects YOU as the seller
Minimum Limits
| Coverage Line | Required Minimum |
|---|---|
| CGL — Each Occurrence (recommended) | $1,000,000 |
| CGL — General Aggregate (recommended) | $2,000,000 |
| Products / Completed Operations | $2,000,000 |
| Personal & Advertising Injury | $1,000,000 |
| Damage to Rented Premises | $300,000 |
| Inland Marine (for in-transit inventory) | Recommended |
Required Additional Insured Language
Sample COI for eBay
How Much Does eBay-Compliant Insurance Cost?
eBay seller insurance averages $25 to $200 per month for $1M / $2M GL plus product liability, scaling with revenue and product category. Lower-volume sellers can find coverage as low as $300/year through specialty carriers. High-revenue eBay sellers pay $1,000+ per year for proper coverage.
Why eBay Rejects COIs
eBay COI FAQ
Does eBay require sellers to carry insurance?
No. eBay does not require insurance. However, eBay's user agreement specifies that "eBay has no responsibility or liability for the safety or performance of any product that you list or sell," meaning you are solely responsible for any legal bills arising from your products.
Why is eBay coverage important if it's not required?
eBay's user agreement explicitly disclaims liability. eBay's Buyer Protection program also tilts toward buyers, meaning sellers absorb most disputes through chargebacks, refunds, and account-level penalties. Insurance does not cover normal business losses (returns, chargebacks) but does cover liability claims (bodily injury, property damage, product defects) that can exceed your annual revenue.
What categories on eBay most need product liability?
High-injury-potential goods: electronics with lithium batteries, mechanical items, children's toys, personal care products, ingestible items, refurbished electronics, and high-value collectibles where authenticity claims arise.
Does eBay's Buyer Protection cover product liability claims?
No. Buyer Protection only covers transactional disputes (refunds for items not as described, lost packages, etc.). It does NOT cover product liability claims when a customer is injured by your product or when your product damages their property. That's where insurance applies.
How much does eBay seller insurance cost?
$25 to $200 per month for $1M / $2M GL plus product liability, scaling with revenue and product category. Lower-volume sellers can find coverage as low as $300/year through specialty carriers. High-revenue sellers pay $1,000+ per year.
Should I add Inland Marine coverage for eBay?
Yes if you ship high-value items, store inventory away from your home, or import internationally. Inland Marine covers your inventory in transit and at off-site storage — a coverage gap that standard CGL doesn't fill.
What about international eBay sellers?
If you ship outside North America, verify your policy includes worldwide coverage territory. Most US ecom carriers limit territory to North America by default. International shipping without proper coverage exposes you to foreign legal claims.
Does eBay verify insurance for high-revenue sellers?
eBay does not currently verify insurance even for high-volume sellers. However, this could change. Top-rated sellers / PowerSeller status doesn't require insurance, but most established eBay sellers carry coverage anyway as basic risk management.
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