Mobile catering insurance: key facts
- Public liability is not a legal requirement for a self-employed mobile caterer, but almost every event organiser and council pitch asks for it, often at £5 million and sometimes £10 million for large events.
- Product liability covers claims that your food made someone ill, such as food poisoning or an allergic reaction.
- Mobile catering insurance for a sole trader costs roughly £100 to £250 a year for public and product liability (rough guide figures). Insurance for the van or trailer as a vehicle is separate.
- You must register as a food business with your local council at least 28 days before you start trading. Registration is free.
- Employers' liability is a legal requirement once you employ anyone, including casual event staff, with at least £5 million of cover. Fines can reach £2,500 a day.
- Work on LPG gas appliances in a catering vehicle should be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and most event organisers ask to see a current gas safety certificate.
- Food businesses must be able to tell customers which of the 14 major allergens are in the food they sell.
What does mobile catering insurance cover?
Mobile catering insurance is a package built around public liability and product liability, which together cover injury to the public and illness caused by your food. Most add equipment and stock cover. The van or trailer itself needs separate motor or trailer insurance.
| Cover | What it protects | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| Public liability | Claims from customers or the public for injury or damage, such as a burn from hot oil or a trip over a cable. | Every mobile caterer. |
| Product liability | Claims that the food or drink you sold caused illness or injury, such as food poisoning or an allergic reaction. | Every food business. |
| Equipment and fitted catering kit | Griddles, fryers, fridges, generators, gazebos and the fitted kitchen, against theft, fire and damage. | Nearly every food van and trailer. |
| Stock and stock deterioration | Stock lost to theft or fire, or spoiled when a fridge breaks down. | Caterers with lots of chilled stock. |
| Business interruption | Lost income if a fire or theft stops you trading. | Caterers who rely on a busy season. |
| Employers' liability | Claims from staff injured or made ill at work, such as burns or scalds. | A legal requirement once you employ anyone, including casual staff. |
| Money | Cash takings stolen from your unit, home or on the way to the bank. | Caterers who take a lot of cash. |
| Motor or trailer insurance | The van on the road, with business use, or a trailer against theft and damage. | Every food van and trailer. Separate from liability cover. |
Is mobile catering insurance a legal requirement?
No law requires a self-employed mobile caterer working alone to hold public or product liability insurance. As soon as you employ anyone, employers' liability insurance is compulsory, with at least £5 million of cover.
In practice, you will struggle to trade without liability insurance:
- Event organisers require it, usually at £5 million and sometimes £10 million for large events.
- Councils and markets require it as a condition of a street trading consent, licence or pitch.
- Food claims can be large. If undercooked chicken makes a dozen people ill, costs can run into tens of thousands of pounds.
The duty to hold employers' liability comes from the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. You must hold at least £5 million of cover, and you can be fined up to £2,500 for each day you are uninsured. Northern Ireland has its own, very similar, legislation.
How much does mobile catering insurance cost?
For a sole-trader mobile caterer, public and product liability costs roughly £100 to £250 a year. These are rough guide figures, and the van or trailer's motor insurance is separate.
| Typical set-up | Rough guide price per year |
|---|---|
| Sole trader, public and product liability only | £100 to £250 |
| Sole trader adding equipment, stock and generator | £250 to £650 |
| Catering business with staff (adds employers' liability) | £600 to £1,500 |
What affects the price of food truck and food van insurance:
- Your liability limit. Moving from £2 million to £5 million or £10 million adds to the cost.
- What you cook. Deep-fat frying and open flames, such as wood-fired ovens and charcoal grills, are higher risk than serving coffee or pre-made sandwiches.
- Turnover and the events you attend. Big festivals carry more risk than a village market.
- Equipment value, staff, claims history and excess.
Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) at 12% is included in the figures above. Burger van insurance for the vehicle is priced separately.
What to check before you buy food van insurance
Whether a mobile caterer's claim is paid usually depends on the policy conditions, not the headline limit. Check these points in the wording before you buy.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Product liability included | Some cheap policies leave it out, so food poisoning and allergen claims are not covered. |
| Limit matches your events | If an organiser asks for £10 million and your policy is £5 million, you may lose the pitch. |
| Deep-fat frying and open flames | Some policies exclude fryers, charcoal or wood-fired cooking unless declared. |
| Gas safety conditions | Many policies require a current Gas Safe certificate. Without one, a claim could be refused. |
| Fitted equipment | Make sure the kitchen inside the van or trailer is insured somewhere, and for its full replacement value. |
| Theft conditions | Trailer and equipment cover often requires a wheel clamp, hitch lock or secure storage overnight. |
Rules and regulations for mobile catering businesses
Every mobile catering business must register with the local council as a food business, follow food hygiene law under the Food Safety Act 1990, give customers allergen information, and get permission to trade in the street. Gas, fire and electrical safety also matter, and event organisers will check them.
- Food business registration. Register with your local council at least 28 days before you start trading. It is free. Mobile units usually register where the vehicle is kept.
- Food hygiene. The Food Safety Act 1990 and food hygiene regulations require you to sell safe food, keep your unit clean, control temperatures and have a written food safety system based on HACCP principles. Safer Food, Better Business (or CookSafe in Scotland) is a common way to do this.
- Food hygiene rating. Displaying your rating is compulsory in Wales and Northern Ireland and voluntary in England; Scotland uses a pass or improvement required scheme. Many organisers only book traders rated 4 or 5.
- Training. Anyone who handles food must be trained or supervised in food hygiene to a level that suits their job. A Level 2 food hygiene certificate is not a legal requirement, but it is the standard most councils, organisers and insurers expect.
- Allergens. Under the Food Information Regulations 2014 in England, and similar rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, you must be able to tell customers if your food contains any of the 14 major allergens. Food you prepack before customers order it must carry a full ingredients label with allergens emphasised (Natasha's Law). Food made to order does not need a label.
- Street trading. Selling in a street usually needs a street trading consent or licence from the council. In England and Wales, many councils use powers under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, each deciding which streets are covered. London boroughs use their own legislation, Scotland uses a street trader's licence under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, and Northern Ireland has its own street trading law. Check with the council before you trade.
- Gas safety. LPG appliances in catering vehicles should be installed and serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Most events want a current gas safety certificate.
- Fire safety. Carry suitable fire extinguishers, such as a wet chemical extinguisher for fryers, and a fire blanket.
Common claims against food vans and street food traders
Typical claims against mobile caterers are food poisoning and allergic reactions, burns from hot oil or drinks, trips over cables and equipment, and theft or fire damage to the van, trailer and kit. These are the risks mobile catering insurance is designed to cover.
- Food poisoning at a festival. Chicken that was not cooked through on a busy evening makes several customers ill. Product liability pays the compensation and legal costs.
- An allergic reaction. A customer is told a sauce is nut-free, but a new supplier's batch isn't. They need hospital treatment.
- A trip over a cable. A customer trips over a generator cable and breaks a wrist.
- A fryer fire. Hot oil catches fire, and the unit is off the road for weeks mid-season.
- Generator failure. The generator cuts out overnight at a festival and the fridge stock is lost.
Food truck insurance, catering trailers and your equipment
A food van or truck needs motor insurance with business use, and a catering trailer needs its own trailer cover for theft and damage. Separately, the fitted kitchen, generator and stock need insuring, either on the vehicle policy or the mobile catering policy.
- Business use. Driving to pitches needs business use on your van insurance.
- Converted vehicles. Declare the catering conversion, or a claim could be refused.
- Catering trailers. The towing vehicle's policy usually covers third-party liability while the trailer is attached, but not theft of or damage to the trailer itself. Catering trailer insurance covers that, and usually requires a hitch lock or wheel clamp.
- Fitted equipment. If the vehicle policy doesn't cover the fitted kitchen in full, add it to your mobile catering policy.
Starting a mobile catering business: checklist
Before your first event, register with HMRC and with your council as a food business, get your food hygiene training and gas safety certificate, and put public and product liability, equipment cover and vehicle insurance with business use in place.
- Register as self-employed with HMRC, or set up a limited company.
- Register your food business with the council at least 28 days before you trade. It is free.
- Get food hygiene training, at least Level 2 for you and anyone who handles food.
- Write your food safety system and keep temperature and cleaning records.
- Prepare allergen information for every item on your menu, covering the 14 major allergens.
- Get your gas appliances checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer and keep the certificate with you.
- Get public and product liability, usually at £5 million, plus equipment and stock cover.
- Insure the van or trailer with business use, and declare the catering conversion.
- Check street trading rules with the council.
- Before you hire anyone, even casual event staff, add employers' liability and check they are trained.
Mobile catering insurance: broker or buy online?
Buying online can work for a sole trader serving simple food from a gazebo at a few local markets. A broker is more useful when you run a converted van or trailer, fry or cook over open flames, need £10 million cover for big events, employ staff, or want your vehicle and equipment covers to fit together.
A broker who arranges cover for mobile caterers can check that product liability is included, that your fitted kitchen is insured somewhere, and that the policy meets each event organiser's requirements.
For a wider guide to every type of business cover, see our small business insurance guide.
Related guides
Mobile catering insurance: frequently asked questions
Is mobile catering insurance a legal requirement?
Public and product liability insurance are not legal requirements for a self-employed mobile caterer working alone, but almost every event organiser, market and council will ask for them. Employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement once you employ anyone, with at least £5 million of cover.
How much does mobile catering insurance cost?
As a rough guide, a sole-trader mobile caterer pays roughly £100 to £250 a year for public and product liability. Adding equipment, stock and generator cover is about £250 to £650, and a business with staff about £600 to £1,500. These rough guide figures include 12% IPT; the van or trailer's motor insurance is separate.
How much public liability do I need for event catering?
Most event organisers ask for £5 million of public and product liability, and some large festivals and venues ask for £10 million. Small markets may accept £2 million.
Does food van insurance cover food poisoning claims?
Only if you have product liability insurance. A motor policy for your food van will not cover it, and some basic public liability policies leave it out.
What is the difference between food truck insurance and mobile catering insurance?
Food truck insurance usually means motor insurance for the vehicle on the road, with business use. Mobile catering insurance means the business covers, such as public and product liability and equipment. Most owners need both.
Do I need to register my burger van with the council?
Yes. Every food business, including a burger van, must register with the local council at least 28 days before it starts trading. Registration is free.
Is my catering trailer covered when it is parked at home?
Not by your car insurance. The towing vehicle's policy usually covers third-party liability only while the trailer is attached. Catering trailer insurance covers theft and damage, often with a wheel clamp or hitch lock condition.
Do I need a gas safety certificate for my food van?
Most event organisers and many insurers require one, from a Gas Safe registered engineer, usually renewed yearly.
Do I need a food hygiene certificate to sell street food?
No specific certificate is legally required, but food handlers must be trained or supervised in food hygiene. In practice, councils and organisers expect Level 2.
Do I need a licence to sell food from a van?
You need to register as a food business. To trade in a street, you usually need a street trading consent or licence from the council, and rules vary between councils and UK nations. Private events usually only need the organiser's permission.
Do I need employers' liability for casual staff at events?
Yes, usually. Paid event helpers, even cash in hand, are likely to count as employees. Fines can reach £2,500 a day.
Am I covered if my fridge breaks down and my stock spoils?
Only if your policy includes stock deterioration cover, which is usually an optional extra. Check whether it covers generator failure and power cuts at events.