What Licence Do I Need for a Burger Van?

by Mark Pillin
(Cambridgeshire)

Mark asked: "If I buy a burger van what licence do I need and who do I talk to about getting permission?"

Hiya Mark, great question — this is probably the number one thing people ask me.

The good news is you don't need one single "burger van licence." What you actually need is a few different things, and none of them are that hard to get once you know what they are.

1. Register as a food business

This one is free. You need to register with your local council's Environmental Health department at least 28 days before you start trading. You can do this online on the gov.uk website. It costs nothing.

2. Street Trading Licence (or Consent)

This is the main one people think of as "the licence." You get it from the council where you want to trade. Every council is different — some call it a Street Trading Licence, some call it a Street Trading Consent. The cost varies too — some councils charge £100-£200 a year, others charge more.

If you're trading on private land (like a car park or industrial estate), you might not need this — but you will need the landowner's permission.

3. Food Hygiene Certificate

You need at least a Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate. You can do this online in a few hours and it usually costs around £15-£25. It's straightforward — mostly common sense stuff about hand washing, temperatures and cross-contamination.

4. Public Liability Insurance

Not technically a legal requirement, but most councils, event organisers and pitch owners won't let you trade without it. Most mobile caterers get at least £5 million cover. It usually costs around £150-£300 a year.

5. Gas Safety Certificate (if using LPG)

If your burger van uses gas for cooking (which most do), you need an LPG gas safety certificate from a Gas Safe registered engineer. This needs doing every year.

6. Fire Risk Assessment

You need to do a basic fire risk assessment for your van. This isn't as scary as it sounds — it's mainly about making sure you have the right fire extinguisher and fire blanket.

Who to talk to first?

Start with your local council. Give them a ring and say you want to start a mobile catering business. They'll tell you exactly what they need from you. Every council is slightly different, so this is always the best first step.

Hope that helps you get started, Mark.

Disclaimer: This is general advice for UK mobile catering. Rules can vary between councils, so always check with your local authority before you start trading.

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