Some Car Boot Sale Insurance policies require ALL exhibitors to have their own Public Liability cover, If they don't the cover is null and void! This makes it impractical for all the private individuals and other casual sellers to turn up and sell at your Car Boot Sales.
What to buy and sell. Bric-a-brac, clothes, books and toys are all car boot sale staples. However, it can be surprising what sells well, so even if you think an item is not worth anything, it may be worth bringing it along. You should avoid spending all of your profits on buying more items from other sellers.
What are you not allowed to sell at a car boot sale?
Fire Arms, Knives, Tobacco, Alcohol and Controlled Substances, Unless fully licensed to do so, with permission from National Car Boot sale organisers, it is strictly forbidden to sell any of the above items and any items that may fall into the above categories.
Product liability insurance is important for anyone who sells products, whether it be online or over the counter, because the seller is the first point of call for a customer if something goes wrong, and is therefore liable to be the subject of a claim.
How To Sell At A Car Boot Sale Tips & Tricks / What You Need / How To Set Up A Stall / What To Sell
Is it a legal requirement to have product liability insurance?
However, product liability insurance isn't required by law. As a business you do not have to hold a policy, but manufacturers, suppliers, distributors or retailers that your business works with may require you to have it as part of your contract.
If you wish to regularly attend craft fairs and have your own stall, you will also need stall insurance. This will protect you and stall against any incidents, and you can enjoy the event knowing your craft business is thoroughly protected.
Do you have to declare earnings from a car boot sale?
For somebody like yourself who has only sold their own unwanted second hand goods on a couple of occassions, HM Revenue & Customs would not deem there to be a trading activity and therefore the income received would not need to be declared on a self assessment tax return.
You can sell food which is not to be consumed on the premises at our sales (such as homemade cakes and jams etc). However we believe that you would then definitely be considered a TRADER and be governed by the rules set out below.
Legislation states that all food businesses must register their kitchens with their local authority, unless they operate on a 'casual and limited' basis only. If you're simply selling once in a blue moon at a car boot sale or market then you might not need to worry.
Sellers will typically pay a small fee for their pitch and arrive with their goods in the boot of their car. Usually the items are then unpacked onto folding trestle tables, a blanket or tarpaulin, or the ground. Entry to the general public is usually free, although sometimes a small admission charge is made.
You will probably need a health and Hygiene certificate so contact your council and find out. Also contact who owns the car boot site, and see if they are allowing any more traders selling sweets. It is not just a case of buying, rebagging and selling on.
First thing when car boot sales open, professional resellers will scour for electrical goods. Make sure you've gathered up all of your unused tech gear, which will sell for a higher price than most of your other odd bits and bobs, and set up early. Some things you might not have even thought of will sell.
If you're simply selling cakes once in a blue moon at a car boot sale or market then you don't need to worry. However, if you are planning on doing this regularly, contact your local council and ask them what the rules are. If you do have to register your kitchen, it's totally free to do so.
WHAT YOU CANNOT SELL: food and both hot and cold drinks. This condition is enforced by stewards. NO COUNTERFEIT GOODS (COPIES), KNIVES, PELLET GUNS, ALCOHOL , ANIMALS AND BIRDS MAY BE SOLD. TRADING STANDARDS STAFF INSPECT THE CAR BOOT SALE.
Allotment Laws state that you cannot sell vegetables or plants from your plot! So i think doing that in a car boot would be a bad idea. What i do is give them away at work for small donations!
If the sale takes place less than a year after your initial property purchase, you will pay taxes on the boot at your ordinary income rate. The boot is taxed at the lower capital gains rate if you sell the property more than a year after buying it.
Are you allowed to sell new goods? It is fine if you bring along unwanted gifts that are deemed new. However, we are not a market and do not wish to have market stalls within our Car Boot Sales.
Do I need public liability insurance to sell at a craft fair?
Most craft fair organisers will request proof that you have an insurance policy in place before allowing you to sell at their craft fair. Employers liability insurance is a legal requirement if you have any employees accompanying you at the craft fair who are not family members or contractors.
Crafters and craft fair sellers possess the same risks as a small business, and therefore will require effective business liability insurance. Selling any handmade items can result in a claim being made against you, by buyers or employees.
There are some types of cover that all crafters should have – Public and Products Liability insurance is definitely one and, if you employ anyone, the law says you have to have Employers Liability cover too.
In general, an injured party must prove that the product was defective or dangerous at the time when it left the possession or control of the defendant. The seller is not liable for injuries caused by parties' mishandling or other actions that make the product harmful at the time it was consumed by the purchaser.
You should consider product liability insurance if your business designs, manufactures or supplies a physical product that is sold or given away for free. Your business may be held legally responsible for any injuries to people or damage to property caused by a faulty product.
