Food trucks need coverage for vehicle damage, customer injuries and food safety claims. Below you'll find recommended insurance types, coverage amounts and real claims that show how policies protect food truck businesses.
What Insurance Do You Need For a Food Truck Business?
Commercial auto insurance is required for food trucks, along with general liability, workers' compensation and product liability.
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Updated: November 19, 2025
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Food Truck Business Insurance Requirements: Key Takeaways
Commercial auto insurance is the most critical coverage for food trucks since you can't legally operate or drive to events without it. (Read More)
Food truck businesses must carry workers' compensation, commercial auto and general liability coverage by law or contract. (Read More)
Optional coverage to consider includes equipment breakdown, commercial umbrella and commercial property insurance.
Get certificates of insurance after purchasing policies, verify coverage meets event requirements and submit proof to venues before bookings. (Read More)
What Insurance Types Are Needed For a Food Truck Business?
Covers your food truck and mounted equipment while driving, including collision damage, liability for accidents you cause and theft or vandalism. Personal auto policies won't cover commercial vehicle use, and 49 states legally require commercial auto insurance for business vehicles. | A $1 million combined single limit with comprehensive and collision coverage satisfies state requirements. Coverage should include permanently attached business equipment. | A food truck owner ran a red light driving to a festival, causing $28,000 in medical bills, $15,000 in vehicle damage, $22,000 to repair the truck and $6,000 in equipment damage. Commercial auto insurance covered all $71,000 with a $1,000 deductible. | |
Covers customer injuries near your truck, burns from hot food and damage to event venue property. Most event organizers, venues and municipalities require general liability insurance before issuing vendor permits. | $1 to $2 million per occurrence or $2 to $3 million aggregate satisfies most event requirements. Premium venues and festivals may require $3 to $5 million total. | A customer spilled hot coffee at a festival, suffering burns that required $12,000 in medical treatment. The customer sued for $45,000 including pain and suffering. General liability paid the $38,000 settlement and $9,000 in legal fees. | |
Covers medical costs and lost wages for employee injuries from fryer burns, knife cuts, slips on greasy surfaces and heat exhaustion. Required by law in most states once you hire your first employee. | The minimum coverage amount is set by your state. Food service operations pay higher premiums due to frequent injury claims. | An employee suffered third-degree burns when hot oil splashed from the fryer during lunch rush. Emergency treatment, skin grafts and two months off work cost $34,000 in medical bills and $8,000 in lost wages. Workers' comp covered all $42,000. | |
Covers claims from foodborne illness, allergic reactions and contaminated food, including medical expenses, legal defense and settlements. Product liability protects food trucks from the highest-dollar claims in the industry. | $1 million per claim or $2 million aggregate covers most operations. High-volume trucks need $2 to $3 million in coverage. | Ten customers contracted salmonella from undercooked chicken at a corporate event, resulting in $67,000 in medical costs and a lawsuit seeking $180,000. Product liability covered the $140,000 settlement, $28,000 in legal fees and $12,000 in investigation costs. | |
Equipment Breakdown Insurance | Covers refrigeration failures, generator breakdowns and spoiled food inventory when equipment malfunctions. Business interruption coverage pays for lost revenue while equipment is repaired or replaced. | Most food trucks need $15,000 to $25,000 in equipment coverage and $3,000 to $5,000 for spoilage. Business interruption should equal three to five days of typical revenue. | Refrigeration failed overnight before a weekend festival, spoiling $2,800 in food and ingredients. Repairs cost $4,500 and took three days, causing $3,200 in lost revenue. Equipment breakdown insurance paid all $10,500 in losses. |
Food Truck Business Insurance Requirements
The table below summarizes business insurance requirements for food truck companies by state law and contracts. Requirements vary by state, client type and venue, with penalties for non-compliance including fines, license suspension and personal liability for claims.
Workers' Compensation Insurance | Required by law in most states once you hire your first employee, with penalties including fines up to $10,000 per employee, criminal charges, business license suspension and personal liability for all injury costs. Food truck employees face high injury rates from burns, cuts and slips, making this coverage mandatory and heavily enforced. | The minimum coverage amount is set by your state. Premiums are based on payroll and claims history, with food service classifications paying higher rates than most industries. |
Commercial Auto Insurance | Required by law in 49 states for all business-owned vehicles, and personal auto policies don't satisfy state requirements for commercial use. Event organizers and venues also require proof of commercial auto coverage before allowing food trucks on their property. | State minimums vary, with standard requirements ranging from 25/50/10 to 30/60/25 split auto liability limits. Many venues require $1 million combined single limit, exceeding state minimums. |
General Liability Insurance | Required by most event organizers, festivals, venues, property owners and municipalities before issuing vendor permits or allowing food trucks to operate. General liability must include product liability coverage for foodborne illness claims, and contracts typically require adding the venue as an additional insured. | The industry standard requirement is $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. High-value clients, premium festivals and large venues may require $3 to $5 million in total coverage. |
Commercial Property Insurance | Required by commissary kitchen landlords and lenders for financed equipment or leased commercial space. Most health departments require food trucks to use licensed commissary kitchens, making this coverage a common contractual obligation for lease agreements. | Coverage amounts are based on the replacement cost of the building and contents, ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 depending on commissary size and equipment value. Landlords typically require them as additional insureds on the policy. |
Required by luxury venues, corporate event clients, large festivals and premium catering contracts as an add-on to existing general liability limits. High-profile events need extra protection beyond standard coverage to guard against catastrophic foodborne illness outbreaks affecting multiple customers. | High-value clients typically require $3 to $5 million in total coverage across all liability policies. Premium events and corporate catering may require $5 to $10 million in umbrella coverage. | |
How To Ensure Food Truck Business Insurance Requirements Are Met
Buying insurance is just the first step. Food truck owners must request certificates, verify coverage meets event requirements and send proof to venues before bookings. Follow these steps:
- 1Request Certificates of Insurance from your insurance provider
Request a Certificate of Insurance from your insurer immediately after purchasing each policy to prove coverage to event organizers, venues and municipalities. Most providers offer instant digital download or email delivery within hours, meeting tight festival application deadlines of one to two weeks before events.
- 2Verify coverage amounts match event and venue requirements
Compare each COI against specific event contracts, venue leases and permit applications to confirm your policy limits meet their minimum requirements. Your general liability policy must include products-completed operations coverage for foodborne illness claims, since some event organizers require separate product liability confirmation.
- 3Add event organizers as additional insureds when required
Almost every festival and private property booking requires adding the event organizer or venue owner as an additional insured on your general liability policy. Contact your insurer to add specific entities by name for $25 to $50 per endorsement, allowing one to three business days for processing before your event starts.
- 4Submit proof of insurance to events, venues and licensing authorities
Submit COIs to event organizers one to two weeks before each festival, your commissary landlord for annual lease renewals and municipalities for vendor permits. Food truck operators submit COIs 20 or more times yearly, so keep digital copies organized by policy type for quick access.
- 5Set up renewal reminders and send updated COIs proactively
Set reminders 30 to 60 days before each policy expires to avoid coverage lapses during peak festival season. Request updated COIs immediately when policies renew and send them to all active event organizers, your commissary landlord and municipalities where you hold vendor licenses.
Get Business Insurance You Need For Your Food Truck Business
Use our matching tool below to find food truck insurance companies suited to your business needs. We recommend comparing rates from at least three insurers and researching providers experienced with mobile food vendor coverage. Prioritize companies that understand event liability requirements, commissary operations and foodborne illness protection.
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About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.