Food truck and mobile food insurance
The Capital Region's food truck scene runs from Saratoga's summer events to Albany's Tricentennial Park lunches to brewery lots in Troy, and every one of those venues wants a certificate before you park. A food truck is a restaurant that drives, so it needs both a restaurant's coverage and a commercial vehicle's. Get both in one package and the certificates go out in minutes.
A food truck needs two policies that most owners assume are one: commercial auto for the vehicle on the road, and general liability plus property for the kitchen inside it and the food it serves. Events, breweries and municipalities require certificates naming them as additional insured, usually at $1 million per occurrence, and a truck without them doesn't get booked. Workers' comp applies from the first employee.
The mobile food package
- Commercial auto: liability and physical damage for the truck, with the build-out scheduled.
- General liability with products: customers, food, propane, generator, awnings.
- Property and equipment: removable equipment, tents, stock, POS.
- Spoilage and equipment breakdown: the reach-in that dies on a 90-degree day.
- Workers' compensation and DBL/PFL from the first employee.
- Liquor liability if you ever serve alcohol at events.
What carriers look at
| Factor | Why |
|---|---|
| Cooking method | Deep fryers and open flame rate higher; fire suppression in the hood matters |
| Propane and generator setup | Leak detection, tank mounting and inspection |
| Drivers | Records of everyone who drives the truck |
| Where it's stored | Commissary lot versus street parking overnight |
| Events per year and venues | Sets the certificate workload and sometimes the rate |
Off the truck
If you cater weddings from the truck, run a pop-up inside a brewery, or park at a private party, tell me. Catering endorsements and event coverage are inexpensive and the venue's contract will assume you have them.
What I need to quote
- Truck or trailer details, VIN, value with build-out, and where it's stored.
- Menu and cooking equipment.
- Drivers, employees and payroll.
- Health permit, commissary, and the venues that require certificates.
Common questions
Short answers to what people ask before they call.
Still have a question? Call (518) 902-8822 or book a call.
Does a food truck need both commercial auto and general liability insurance?
Yes. Commercial auto covers the truck as a vehicle: crashes, and liability while driving. It doesn't cover a customer burned at the window, food poisoning, the generator fire, or the propane leak while parked. General liability with products coverage does. Carriers write the two together as a mobile food package.
What do events and breweries require?
Typically a certificate of insurance showing $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate general liability, with the venue or municipality named as additional insured, sometimes with a waiver of subrogation. Some larger events want $2 million per occurrence. I issue certificates the same day and keep a list of your regular venues.
Is the kitchen equipment covered if the truck is stolen or burns?
The vehicle's physical damage coverage pays for the truck. The permanently installed kitchen equipment may or may not be included depending on how the policy is written; I make sure the equipment and build-out value is scheduled. Removable items and stock go on a property or inland marine floater.
What about a trailer pulled by my pickup?
The trailer takes auto liability from the tow vehicle, which then needs to be on a commercial auto policy, and the trailer itself needs physical damage coverage. The kitchen and GL side are the same as a truck.
Do I need a health permit before you can insure me?
Carriers ask for the county health department permit (Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady and Rensselaer each issue their own) and the commissary agreement. Having them in hand speeds the quote.
Get a quote for your business
Tell me what you do, where, and roughly what payroll looks like. Quotes come from the private carriers I represent, usually within days.
Where I work
I'm based in Clifton Park and work in person across six counties, the four on the map plus Warren and Washington, or by phone.
Close to the Clifton Park office: Clifton Knolls, Country Knolls, Rexford, Vischer Ferry, Jonesville, Groom's Corners and Halfmoon across Route 9 — I'll come to you at home.
Auto, home and business insurance by town
Medicare has its own county and town pages.