Food Truck Insurance: The Complete Guide to Coverage, Events, and Costs

Food Truck Coverage Essentials

• Commercial Auto (Business Auto): Liability for on‑road accidents and physical damage for your truck. Add towing & rental reimbursement where available.
• General Liability (GL): Slip‑and‑fall, customer injuries, and many event/venue requirements. Includes products/completed operations for foodborne illness claims (policy terms apply).
• Business Personal Property & Tools: Cooking equipment, POS, signage—often covered on a mobile inland marine or BPP form so it’s protected away from your base.
• Food Spoilage & Refrigerated Property: Covers stock spoiled by power outage, mechanical breakdown, or temperature change (availability varies).
• Equipment Breakdown: Protection for sudden breakdown of critical systems like refrigerators or generators (where offered).
• Business Income (Interruption): Replaces lost income after a covered loss (e.g., fire) shuts you down during repairs.
• Workers’ Compensation: Required when you have employees; helps with on‑the‑job injuries.
• Hired & Non‑Owned Auto (HNOA): If staff occasionally drive rented or personal vehicles for business errands.
• Liquor Liability: If you serve alcohol at events (where legal), many venues require it.
• Cyber/Data Breach: POS systems store card data; coverage helps with breach costs and notification requirements.
• Umbrella/Excess: Extra limits when festivals or contracts demand higher coverage.

Events, Cities, and Commissaries: COIs That Get You In

Festivals, municipalities, and private venues often require a Certificate of Insurance with specific language. Common asks include:

• Additional Insured (AI) on GL and sometimes Auto
• Primary & Non‑Contributory wording
• Waiver of Subrogation
• Specific limit requirements (e.g., $1M/$2M GL, $1M Auto)
• Per‑event aggregate or special endorsements when applicable

We issue fast COIs with the right endorsements so you can pass inspection and start serving.

What Does Food Truck Insurance Cost?

Pricing depends on your vehicle value, cooking setup (open flame, fryers), city/venue requirements, claims history, and coverage limits. Bundle strategies (Auto + GL + Property) and safety measures (fire suppression, training, commissary compliance) can help control costs.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

• Buying auto only: You still need GL and product liability for customer injuries/illness.
• Skipping spoilage coverage: A power outage can wipe out inventory in hours.
• Not scheduling the trailer/generator: Unlisted gear may not be covered in transit or at events.
• Missing AI/waiver language: Leads to denied event entry or last‑minute scrambles.
• Underinsuring equipment: Custom builds and wrap costs add up—match coverage to true replacement costs.
• No workers’ comp for staff: Required with employees; protects your team and contracts.
• Ignoring cyber risks: POS breaches are expensive—consider cyber with PCI support.