A Step-by-Step Guide to Protecting Your Store and Avoiding Payout Freezes.
Phase 1: Verify Your Policy Structure
Before uploading your documents to the Seller Center, ensure your policy isn’t just a "Gene 
ral Liability" shell. It must include:
- [ ] Commercial General Liability (CGL): Coverage for third-party bodily injury and property damage.
- [ ] Products & Completed Operations: Specifically covering the products you sell after they reach the customer.
- [ ] Occurrence-Based Form: Ensure your policy is "Occurrence" based rather than "Claims-Made" (this is the standard platform preference for long-term protection).
- [ ] Entity Alignment: The "Named Insured" on the policy must exactly match the Legal Entity Name and Address on your TikTok Shop Seller account.
Phase 2: Mandatory Endorsements
TikTok requires specific language to accept your Certificate of Insurance (COI):
- [ ] Additional Insured: Your policy must list: “TikTok Inc., its parent company, subsidiaries, and affiliates” as Additional Insureds.
- [ ] Primary & Non-Contributory: Your insurance must be the primary payer in the event of a claim involving your product.
- [ ] Waiver of Subrogation: A standard requirement that prevents your insurer from seeking costs back from TikTok after a claim is paid.
Phase 3: Coverage Limits & Deductibles
Standard requirements for most mid-to-high volume sellers:
- [ ] Each Occurrence: At least $1,000,000.
- [ ] General Aggregate: At least $2,000,000.
- [ ] Products/Completed Operations Aggregate: At least $2,000,000.
- [ ] Deductible Cap: Most platforms, including TikTok’s partner guidelines, prefer deductibles not exceeding $10,000.
Phase 4: The Upload Process
Once your agent issues the COI, follow these steps to verify:
- [ ] Log in to TikTok Shop Seller Center.
- [ ] Navigate to Finances > Insurance.
- [ ] Check Document Clarity: Ensure the PDF is a high-resolution scan (blurry COIs are the #1 cause of rejection).
- [ ] Set a Renewal Alert: TikTok will automatically flag your account 30 days before the policy expires. Set a manual reminder for 60 days prior to avoid any lapse in "Active" status.
Pro Tip for Sellers: If you sell high-risk categories like supplements, toys, or electronics with lithium batteries, standard "instant" policies may exclude these. Always double-check your "Exclusions" page with your agent.