Is Cash in Your Till Insured? Shop Cover in Murcia

Is the Cash in Your Shop Till Insured at Christmas? Theft, Hold-ups and Bank Runs in Spain

By Antonio Martínez Serrano, MiFID II certified financial adviser and exclusive Allianz agent in Murcia

If you run a shop, bar or small business in Murcia, the busiest weeks of the year are also the ones when the most cash piles up behind the counter. The awkward question usually comes after a scare: who pays for the money taken from the till? Better to know before the Christmas and Black Friday rush starts.

The short answer: cash is usually not covered by ordinary "theft" cover

In Spanish commercial policies (seguro de comercio), theft of stock and fittings and theft of cash (dinero en efectivo) are normally separate covers with separate limits. The cash limit is typically much lower than the stock limit, and it depends on where the money was: in a safe, in a locked drawer or cupboard, or being carried to the bank.

So the useful question is not "do I have theft cover?" but: how much cash does my policy cover, where, and under what conditions?

The three places cash can be

• In a safe (caja fuerte). Best protected, and usually its own cover.

• Outside the safe but in a locked piece of furniture. The till drawer or back-room cupboard, where most takings sit on a normal day.

• In transit. The trip to the bank branch or deposit machine, the riskiest moment on a busy street.

Cash left in plain sight, in an open till or in a pocket may fall outside the first two. Ask your agent how your policy treats it.

How Allianz Negocio handles it

Allianz Negocio, Allianz's insurance for shops and small businesses, has its own cash covers inside the theft section. The maximum limits stated in the product documentation are:

Theft of furniture, equipment and stock is covered separately, including damage to the door or shopfront from a break-in or attempt. What you actually have depends on the package (Basic, Optimal or Extra) and the options selected, so check your own policy.

Five common mistakes during the festive rush

1. Assuming "theft" covers all your cash. If the cash limit is €5,000 and you hold more on a busy Saturday, you bear the difference.

2. Letting cash build up in the shop. Bank daily during peak season, even if it's a nuisance.

3. Ignoring security requirements. Policies often require a certain level of protection (locks, alarm, safe) before they pay a theft claim.

4. Buying extra Christmas stock without telling your insurer. The sum insured can fall short. Ask us how your sum insured is set.

5. Not keeping records. After a theft you'll need to prove how much was in the till: daily till closing reports, receipts and cash counts.

What to do if cash is stolen from your shop

1. Don't touch anything and call 112 (or the National Police on 091).

2. File a report (denuncia) listing what was taken, cash included.

3. Tell your agent or your insurer's assistance line as soon as possible.

4. Gather proof: the day's till report, receipts, CCTV footage if any.

5. Photograph the damage to doors, drawers or the shop window.

Cutting cash is protection too

Accepting card and Bizum payments reduces the cash you hold. Spanish law also caps cash payments where a business or professional is involved: ask your accountant (gestor) for the current limit.

FAQ

Does my shop insurance cover cash in the till?

It depends on the policy: it's usually a specific cover with its own limit, lower than stock, and dependent on where the cash was.

What if I'm robbed on the way to the bank?

That's a different situation from a break-in. Some policies have a specific cash-in-transit cover; check yours.

Does insurance cover theft by an employee?

Not under ordinary theft cover. "Employee dishonesty" is a separate cover with its own limit.

How we can help

At AMB Seguros, Allianz's exclusive agency in central Murcia, we can check how much cash your policy really covers before the busy season. Drop by our office, or send us your policy by WhatsApp and we'll go through it on a video call, in English if you prefer. If you don't yet have cover for your business, see our small business insurance and company insurance pages, or browse the English blog.

Check your cover before Black Friday

Tell us how you handle cash and we'll tell you, with no obligation, whether your policy matches your trading season. Get in touch.

This article is for information only. Exact cover and limits depend on the general and particular conditions of your policy.