Coffee Van Insurance
Specialist business insurance for coffee sellers from £5.82 per month.*
- Public Liability up to £10 million
- Equipment & Stock cover included as standard
- Coffee Trailer cover
- Join over 150,000 customers**
From £5.82* a month
What does coffee van insurance cover?
Our coffee van insurance provides comprehensive protection tailored to mobile coffee businesses, from vintage vans serving artisan brews to modern espresso setups at festivals and events.
Public and product liability cover of up to £10 million protects you if customers are injured on your premises or become ill from products you’ve served. Given that you’re serving hot beverages in busy public spaces, this protection is essential.
Equipment cover safeguards your valuable coffee machines, grinders, water systems, and serving equipment against damage, theft, or breakdown. You can insure equipment from £250 up to £10,000, ensuring your espresso machine and specialist kit are protected wherever you trade.
Stock cover protects your coffee beans, milk, syrups, and other consumables, whilst frozen goods cover extends to ice cream, frozen milk alternatives, or any refrigerated products. This includes protection if your refrigeration equipment fails.
For those operating from a converted vehicle or trailer, our catering trailer cover (available on annual policies) protects your mobile unit up to £25,000, including internal fixtures and fittings. Optional employers’ liability covers any baristas or staff you employ, and loss of money cover protects your daily takings during transit or while stored overnight.
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 do you need coffee van insurance?
As a coffee van operator, your customers rely on you to serve high-quality coffee and drinks, whether you’re trading at street markets, festivals, or regular locations. They trust your expertise, professionalism, and dedication to delivering a great experience. However, even with careful planning, unexpected incidents can happen. Coffee van insurance protects professionals like you against potential claims arising from accidents, mistakes, or unforeseen events during your operations.
From equipment breakdown and stock damage to incidents involving customers or staff, running a coffee van comes with its own unique risks.
No matter the size or type of your coffee van business, challenges and risks can affect your income and reputation. That’s why our policy is designed to be flexible, offering tailored cover that gives you peace of mind and the freedom to focus on serving exceptional coffee and growing your business.
Here are some typical scenarios where coffee van insurance can be invaluable:
Protection from claims should a customer or member of the public get injured.
Protection against claims arising from accidental injury to a customer or third party, or damage to their property. For example, a customer could trip over your coffee van equipment, or you might accidentally spill coffee or damage a personal item while serving.
Either way, in the event of incidents like these, you need public liability for catereing cover to avoid vulnerability to a substantial compensation claim, as well as other associated costs.
Protection if someone becomes injured or ill from food or drink you produce.
A customer may become unwell or suffer a burn or scald from a hot drink or food item you’ve prepared, which could result in a claim being made against you.
Having product liability protects against eventualities including contamination, spoilage and other food defects can help avoid costly compensation claims if they arise.
An employee or temporary worker suffers a workplace accident.
Employees may be at risk of accidents or injuries while working in or around your coffee van, and they could hold you responsible. If you have staff or hire temporary workers for your coffee van operations, employers’ liability insurance protects you against claims from these incidents. It is also a legal requirement in the UK, with fines of up to £2,500 per day for non-compliance.
A venue requires proof of liability cover for coffee vans.
If you are contracted to provide a coffee van at an event, it is often required to show proof of public liability insurance to the venue or event organiser as part of their risk assessment.
Our experts explain why...
“Operating a coffee van means your entire business is mobile, vulnerable, and exposed to risks that traditional cafés never encounter.
Road accidents, equipment breakdown, or theft could halt your trading overnight, whilst public liability claims from customer injuries or spillages pose constant threats.
Your van, espresso machines, grinders, and stock represent a substantial investment that needs protecting.
Purpose-built insurance for coffee van operators safeguards not just your vehicle and equipment, but your income stream too. It’s the foundation that allows you to trade at events, street locations, and festivals knowing you’re comprehensively protected against the unexpected.”
Chris Trotman, Protectivity Underwriting Manager
How much does coffee van insurance cost?
At Protectivity, coffee van insurance policies start at just £5.82* a month for an annual policy.
Your specific cost will reflect factors like your espresso machine’s value, whether you’ve converted your own vehicle, and the number of events or locations you trade from throughout the year.
Businesses requiring trailer cover or those with multiple staff members will pay more for the additional cover.
Prices from
£5.82* a month
Explainer quote
Policy cost
£5.82* a month
Policy type
Caterers Insurance
Duration
Annual
Turnover
£50,000
Public Liability
£1,000,000
Catering Equipment
£250
Stock & Frozen Foods
£250
This example is based on a real quote from our website on 14/04/2025. If your circumstances and cover needs differ, your quote may be more or less expensive than the above example. The quote you receive will reflect the information you share about your event. The quoted price may vary from those displayed here.
Have a question?
For further information on your policy, renewals, making a claim and contacting us, you’ll find an extensive list of FAQs on our Help & Support page.
Why choose Protectivity for your coffee van insurance?
Let the reviews of over 3,000 customers explain why you should choose us.¹
Trusted by over 130,000 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
Can I insure more than one coffee van on the same policy?
To insure more than one van/trailer, you would need to take out more than one policy.
Do I need cover for staff who work with me?
Yes. The policy has optional employers’ liability cover if you have employees or hire helpers, which is a legal requirement in many cases.
Can I get insurance if I use the van at both fixed pitches and mobile locations?
Yes. The insurance is designed to suit operators who trade from both fixed pitches and mobile spots, when ‘including mobile’ is selected. The flexibility is built into the cover offerings.
Do I need liability cover if I serve food and drinks?
Yes. Liability cover is essential. The coffee van policy includes public liability (for injury or property damage to third parties) and product liability (for injury or illness caused by what you serve).
Am I covered if I trade at festivals or street markets?
Yes. The policy is intended for mobile coffee businesses that could operate at street locations, markets, and festivals.
Does cover include my coffee machines, grinders and stock?
Yes. Protectivity’s coffee van insurance includes equipment cover that protects coffee machines, grinders, water systems, and serving equipment against damage, theft or breakdown. It also provides stock cover for consumables like beans, milk, syrups, and refrigerated items, and even covers frozen goods.
What type of insurance do I need for a coffee van?
You need coffee van insurance, a specialist business insurance policy tailored for mobile coffee operations. This combines public liability, product liability, equipment, and stock cover — designed specifically for mobile coffee operations. Our policy doesn’t provide cover for the vehicle itself, but can cover trailers and business operations.
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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 14/04/2025. 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 Sep 2024
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