Catering Van & Trailer Insurance
Specialist business insurance for mobile food vendors from £5.82 per month.
- Public Liability up to £10 million
- Catering trailer cover
- Equipment & Stock cover included as standard
- Join over 180,000 customers**
From £5.82* a month
What does caterering van insurance cover?
Our insurance for catering van vendors offers specialist protection for street food sellers, freelance vendors, and mobile food businesses serving hot or cold food, including those operating from catering trailers or market stalls.
With our policy, you’ll benefit from public liability and product liability cover of up to £10 million as standard. It also includes essential protection for your equipment and stock.
We also provide employers’ liability if you hire staff, frozen goods cover, loss of money cover, and catering trailer cover.
Make sure you have the correct insurance for your event, and be sure to check if any exclusions are relevant to what you have planned in policy documentation.
Public Liability
Equipment & Stock
Frozen Goods
Employers' Liability
Catering Trailer
Public Liability
- Up to £10 million available.
- Protection from claims by a third-party (EG member of the public) who sustains injuries or has their property damaged as a result of your actions.
Product Liability
- Up to £10 million available.
- Protection should you receive any claims arising from any products and goods supplied by you to other parties, who may then sustain an injury or damage to their own property.
Catering Equipment
- From £250 worth of cover.
- Add up to £10,000 worth of cover.
- Protects against accidental damage, loss, or theft of equipment you own or are legally responsible for. This includes business equipment that isn’t permanently fitted, whether it’s at your premises or temporarily off-site.
Stock
- From £250 worth of cover.
- Add up to £3,000 worth of cover.
- Provides protection for accidental damage, loss, or theft of your stock, including non-frozen goods, whether stored at your premises or temporarily elsewhere.
Frozen goods cover
- From £250 worth of cover.
- Up to £3000 cover available
- Protects your frozen goods against accidental damage, loss, or theft.
- Includes cover for damage or loss caused by refrigeration equipment breakdown or a failure in the public electricity supply.
- Also provides protection for losses resulting from theft or vandalism.
Employers’ Liability
- Up to £10 million available.
- If any employee suffered physical injury or a fatality because of the employer’s negligence. If that staff member sought compensation, the insurer would handle the cost of the claim.
- If you employ any staff members, Employers’ Liability is a legal requirement.
Catering trailer cover (only available on an annual policy)
- Up to £25,000 cover available (for quotes over £25,000 our team can provide a bespoke quote)
- Provides cover for accidental damage, loss, or theft of your trailer, including its internal fixtures and fittings.
- Optional cover is available for damage caused to the trailer while in transit.
- For trailers worth £10,000 or less, you’ll need a wheel clamp and hitch lock, when left unattended.
- For trailers worth over £10,000, you’ll need a wheel clamp, hitch lock, alarm, and tracker, when left unattended.
- For trailers worth over £25,000 a serial number will need to be provided.
- Overnight, the trailer must be stored in a driveway, garage, or locked compound.
While in transit, if the trailer is involved in a road traffic incident while attached to a car or van, third-party liability will typically be covered under the insured’s motor insurance. However, damage to the trailer itself can be covered under this policy if the relevant cover option is selected.
Loss of money
- Protection for any money earned through your insured business activities.
- Cash from your business is covered while it’s at your business premises, your home, or the home of any partner, director, or authorised employee. It’s also protected when being transported during business-related journeys.
- Cover also includes damage caused by theft to cash registers, safes, bags, or cases used to carry money, as well as damage to tills and safes.
- Cover for bona fide subcontractors, who should have their own insurance.
- Catering overseas.
- Claims for financial losses relating to non or late delivery of products to third parties.
- Cover for catering trailers left out of sight of the insured and/or more than one minutes walking distance from the insured.
- Cover for equipment and stock when left in a vehicle and/or catering trailer out of sight of the driver and/or more than one minutes walking distance from the driver.
Endorsements:
- Staff must have a minimum level 1 food hygiene certificate (including apprentices)
- When a trailer is unattended, it must have an alarm, tracker and key approved hitch lock installed. It must also have a wheel clamp when unattached and unattended.
- Trailer must be kept in a driveway, garage or locked compound overnight.
- While in transit, if the trailer is involved in a road traffic incident while attached to a car or van, third-party liability will typically be covered under the insured’s motor insurance.
For information on exclusions in your cover please refer to policy documentation.
Why choose Protectivity for your catering van insurance?
Let the reviews of over 3,000 customers explain why you should choose us.¹
Trusted by over 180,000 policyholders.
Experienced insurance providers for over 30 years.
5* reviews from 3,000+ customers.
Proof of our excellent customer service.
Experienced Claims Handling
A smooth and efficient claims process.
UK Based Customer Support
On average we answer your phone calls in under 2 minutes
Frequently
Asked Questions
Is my electronic point of sale (POS) equipment specifically covered when used in my catering van?
Yes, if your point of sale (POS) equipment is portable and not permanently fitted, it can be covered under Catering Equipment insurance. Coverage applies whether it’s used on-site or temporarily off-site.
What happens if adverse weather conditions damage my catering van’s awning or exterior serving area?
If these components are classified as part of your equipment and not permanently fixed to a van, they may be covered under Catering Equipment insurance for accidental damage. If fixed, they may fall under a different policy (motor or separate business premises insurance).
Does this policy cover food stock while in transit before reaching my catering van?
Yes, stock is covered for accidental damage, loss, or theft while in transit—as long as it’s not left unattended and out of sight of the driver, which would void coverage.
Am I insured for festival and event attendance where I might be stationary for several days?
Yes, your cover includes operation at events, provided your equipment and trailer meet all policy conditions. However, if your trailer is unattended, required security measures must be in place.
Does your policy cover food trailer units that are towed rather than self-propelled?
Yes, catering trailers are covered up to £20,000. You can get a bespoke quote for higher values. The trailer must meet specific security requirements and be stored appropriately overnight.
What security measures do I need to have installed in my catering van for insurance validity?
These measures apply to catering trailers rather than vans. For trailers, an approved alarm, tracker, key-operated hitch lock, and wheel clamp (when unattached) are required when unattended.
Does my policy include public liability coverage for the area immediately surrounding my van?
Yes, Public Liability insurance covers up to £5 million for injury or property damage to third parties, including incidents occurring around your van during operation.
Is my catering van covered when parked overnight at my home address?
This policy primarily covers trailers, not self-propelled vans, these would need separate motor insurance. However, if you’re insuring a catering trailer, it must be parked in a driveway, garage, or locked compound overnight with all required security measures. For a self-propelled van, you’d need specific motor insurance.
Does your policy cover generator equipment used to power my catering van?
Yes, generator equipment can be included under Catering Equipment cover if it is not permanently fixed and you are legally responsible for it. Coverage is available for accidental damage, loss, or theft, subject to a £500 single item limit.
What happens if my catering van breaks down on the way to an event?
Vehicle breakdowns themselves are not covered by this insurance. You would need separate breakdown cover via a motor insurance policy. However, if the breakdown results in loss of frozen stock this would be covered.
Are refrigeration units and specialist food storage systems in my van covered?
Yes, if the refrigeration units are part of your equipment and not permanently fixed, they can be covered under Catering Equipment. Frozen goods stored inside are also covered—up to £3,000—against loss due to breakdown or power failure.
Does my catering van insurance cover modifications like built-in cooking equipment?
Built-in cooking equipment is considered part of your catering equipment. If it’s not permanently fixed and you are legally responsible for it, you can include it under your Catering Equipment cover—up to £10,000, with a £500 single item limit.
This page content has been created for general information and should not be taken as advice.
*Prices quoted refer to a quote raised from our website 05/01/2026. Prices will differ depending on requirements. Make sure you have the correct level of cover for what you need. For the most accurate pricing, please get a quote and for full details on what is covered refer to our policy documentation with your quote.
** Based on Protectivity sales data from 2007 to present
ˆ10% discount for policies bought online and applies only to the first-year of your policy premium. Protectivity reserves the right to amend or withdraw this offer at any time. Available to UK residents only.
¹Based on live Feefo data