Mobile Catering Insurance: What Cover Do You Actually Need?
Insurance is one of those things nobody gets excited about, but if you're starting a mobile catering business in the UK you need to get it sorted before you start trading. I've been doing this for over 20 years and I've seen people get caught out. Don't be one of them.
Here's a straight-talking guide to what you actually need, what it costs, and where to start.
What Insurance Do I Need for a Mobile Catering Business?
There are five main types of insurance that mobile caterers in the UK need to think about. Not all of them are legally required, but in practice you'll struggle to trade without most of them. Public liability and product liability are the two you absolutely cannot skip. Employers' liability becomes a legal requirement the moment anyone else works with you. Vehicle insurance and stock cover protect your livelihood if something goes wrong.
Public Liability Insurance
Public liability insurance covers you if a member of the public gets injured or their property gets damaged because of something you did while trading. A customer slips near your van, someone has a reaction to something you served, a kid trips over your generator cable. That sort of thing.
It's not technically a legal requirement, but in practice you won't trade without it. Councils, event organisers, retail park managers, landowners — they all want to see your certificate before they'll let you set up. Most ask for £5 million of cover as standard. A few big events want £10 million, but that's less common.
Most mobile caterers pay between £150 and £300 a year for public liability. That's less than a quid a day to protect your livelihood. Don't even think about trading without it.
Product Liability Insurance
Product liability covers you if someone gets ill or is injured from the food you've sold them. Food poisoning claims can get serious and expensive very quickly.
The good news is that many public liability policies include product liability as standard. But not all of them do. When you're getting quotes, check whether it's included or whether it's an add-on. If it's not included, get it added. This one is non-negotiable when you're handling and serving food to the public.
Employers' Liability Insurance
The moment someone else steps onto your van to work, whether that's a paid member of staff, a mate helping out for the day, or a family member doing you a favour, you are legally required to have employers' liability insurance. This isn't optional. It's the law.
The minimum cover required by law is £5 million, though most policies offer £10 million as standard. If you get caught trading with staff and no employers' liability insurance, you can be fined up to £2,500 for every single day you're not insured.
If you're a sole trader working completely on your own, you don't need this one. But the moment anyone else helps you on the van, sort it out.
Vehicle and Trailer Insurance
Your catering van or trailer is your business. Standard car insurance won't cover a vehicle being used for commercial catering, so you need a specialist policy.
A proper catering vehicle policy should cover theft, fire, accidental damage, and ideally your equipment too. Make sure it covers the vehicle while it's parked up and trading, not just when it's driving. Some cheaper policies only cover transit, which is no use if someone breaks into your van while you're set up on a pitch.
Get at least three quotes and compare what's actually covered, not just the price. Read the small print. Check the excess amounts. Make sure the insurer is FCA regulated and look for reviews from other caterers. A policy that seems cheap upfront can cost you a fortune if it doesn't pay out when you need it.
Stock and Equipment Cover
Have a think about this. If your griddle, fryer, bain-marie, generator and all your stock were stolen tonight or destroyed in a fire, could you replace everything out of your own pocket? For most people the answer is no.
Some vehicle policies include equipment and stock cover, but plenty don't. Ask your insurer about adding it, or take out a separate contents policy. Make a list of everything on your van and what it would cost to replace new. Keep that list updated and store photos of your setup somewhere safe. You'll need that list if you ever make a claim.
How Much Does Mobile Catering Insurance Cost?
As a rough guide, most mobile caterers pay between £300 and £800 a year for a combined package that includes public liability, product liability and vehicle cover. The exact price depends on what you're selling, where you're trading, the value of your van and equipment, and whether you've made any previous claims.
Some insurers offer specialist mobile catering packages that bundle everything together, which usually works out cheaper than buying each policy separately. It's worth speaking to a broker who understands the catering industry. They'll know which insurers are good for mobile caterers and can often get better rates than going direct.
| Insurance Type | Typical Annual Cost | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Public Liability (£5M cover) | £150 – £300 | Not legally, but you won't trade without it |
| Product Liability | Often included with PLI | Essential for anyone serving food |
| Employers' Liability (£5M minimum) | £80 – £200 | Legal requirement if you have any staff |
| Vehicle / Trailer | £300 – £600+ | Legal requirement for road use |
| Stock & Equipment | £50 – £200 | Strongly recommended |
| Combined Package | £300 – £800 | Best value — covers most of the above |
Tips From 20 Years on the Road
Keep all your insurance documents in one place. I keep copies in a folder on the van and digital copies on my phone. You'll need to show your public liability certificate to councils and event organisers, and sometimes the Environmental Health Officer when they visit.
Set a reminder to renew before your policies expire. Trading without valid insurance, even for one day, puts everything at risk. Most insurers send a reminder but don't rely on it.
If you're just starting out and money is tight, public liability is the absolute bare minimum. Get that in place before you trade. Then add the rest as soon as you can afford to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need insurance for a burger van?
Yes. At minimum you need public liability insurance (£5 million cover) and product liability. Most councils and event organisers won't let you trade without seeing your certificate. If you have staff, employers' liability is a legal requirement too.
Can I use my car insurance for my catering van?
No. Standard car insurance doesn't cover commercial catering use. You need a specialist catering vehicle policy that covers you while parked up and trading, not just driving.
How much is public liability insurance for a food van?
Most mobile caterers pay between £150 and £300 a year for £5 million of public liability cover. It varies depending on what you sell and where you trade.
Do I need insurance if I'm trading on private land?
Yes. Trading on private land doesn't remove the need for insurance. Many landowners will ask to see your public liability certificate before allowing you to set up. And if a customer gets ill from your food, it doesn't matter whether you're on public or private land.
What happens if I trade without insurance?
Without public liability, most councils and event organisers won't let you trade at all. Without employers' liability (when you have staff), you face fines of up to £2,500 per day. And without any insurance, one claim could wipe out your entire business.
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