Hot Topic COI Requirements 2026
What Hot Topic 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
18305 E. San Jose Ave
City of Industry, CA 91748
Minimum Limits
| Coverage Line | Required Minimum |
|---|---|
| Each Occurrence (CGL) | $1,000,000 |
| General Aggregate | $2,000,000 |
| Products Liability | $1,000,000 |
| Personal & Advertising Injury | $1,000,000 |
| Damage to Rented Premises | $300,000 |
| Medical Expense (Any one person) | $5,000 |
Required Additional Insured Language
Sample COI for Hot Topic
How Much Does Hot Topic-Compliant Insurance Cost?
Hot Topic-compliant policies typically run $75 to $300 per month for typical apparel and accessory vendors. Pop-culture licensed merchandise and electronics (especially items with lithium batteries) run $200 to $800 per month due to product liability complexity.
Why Hot Topic Rejects COIs
Hot Topic COI FAQ
What are Hot Topic's minimum insurance requirements?
$1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate of CGL. Hot Topic, Inc., Hot Topic Merchandising, and any of its subsidiaries must be named as additional insureds. Products Liability specifically listed at $1M minimum.
Why does my COI address need to match the Vendor Information Form?
Hot Topic's compliance team rejects COIs where the company name or address differs even slightly from what was submitted on the Vendor Information Form. The address on the COI must match the address of the person on the Vendor Information Form who is noted to be financially and legally responsible for the company.
Does my Hot Topic policy cover apparel and licensed merchandise?
It must. Hot Topic's product mix includes apparel, accessories, and pop-culture licensed merchandise. Some categories carry distinct exposures including small parts, lithium batteries (in electronics), licensing / IP claims, and dye / chemical exposures. Verify your policy form does not exclude apparel or licensed goods.
What is licensing / IP coverage and do I need it?
Pop-culture licensed merchandise often involves intellectual property licensed from third parties (e.g., Marvel, Disney, Star Wars). Standard CGL covers Personal & Advertising Injury (which includes some IP claims). For pure IP licensing disputes, separate Intellectual Property insurance may be needed.
Does Hot Topic require waiver of subrogation?
Hot Topic's baseline requirements do not explicitly require waiver of subrogation, but specific Vendor Agreements may add it. Confirm with your Hot Topic vendor rep before binding.
What about lithium battery items?
Electronics, accessories, and gadgets with lithium batteries (chargers, light-up items, fashion electronics) carry distinct product liability exposure. Some carriers exclude lithium battery items entirely. Verify your policy form before binding if you sell battery-powered goods.
Does Hot Topic accept claims-made or occurrence?
Hot Topic prefers occurrence-basis policies. Claims-made is accepted with proper retroactive date and tail coverage. Apparel and small electronics vendors should especially carry occurrence — claims can emerge years after a product is used.
How much does Hot Topic-compliant insurance cost?
Apparel and accessory vendors: $75-$300/month. Pop-culture licensed merchandise and electronics: $200-$800/month due to product liability complexity. Items with small parts and lithium batteries command premium loads.
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