Food trucks have been trending for years now, and their popularity certainly isn’t going anywhere soon. With the number of people who enjoy eating from them, it makes sense for those who want to own a mobile restaurant to start one.
However, with all of the other things that go along with starting a food truck business, you also need to keep in mind the insurance requirements. Since a food truck is a mobile restaurant running out of a commercial vehicle, it’s clear that a standard one-size-fits-all insurance policy isn’t going to work.
So, before you head out to sell lunches to your new customers, make sure that you have these specific insurance policies in place.
Commercial Auto Insurance
The number one type of insurance that a food truck operator needs is commercial auto insurance. This is essential, as it covers everything from accidents on the road to damage to the truck while it’s sitting and you’re waiting for customers. Commercial auto insurance is similar to personal auto insurance, but with one major difference: the amounts of coverage available. Plus, your personal insurance won’t cover anything that should happen with your food truck because that vehicle is used for business purposes. So, start with one of these policies.
General Liability Insurance Protects Against Customer Claims
Next, you need to have general liability insurance. This policy provides a number of protections for incidents that your business might be found liable for. An example of this is food poisoning. If you accidentally left an ingredient out too long and it went bad, sickening a number of your customers, your business could be responsible for those customers’ medical bills. Another situation occurs in the parking lot or street near your food truck. If a customer slips on ketchup splatter and breaks an ankle, your food truck could be at blame. Thankfully, your general liability insurance policy can help.
Protect Your Equipment, Inventory, and Business
There are a number of other policies that your business may need, depending on the circumstances. These include commercial property coverage for the equipment in your food truck. Those refrigerators, generators, grills, and more need to be insured. You may also need inland marine coverage for your equipment that’s movable, like the entire truck itself, and even business interruption insurance, which may pay the bills if your food truck becomes inoperable. On top of this, there’s workers’ compensation insurance, in case you employ anyone to help you cook and feed customers. As you can see, insuring a food truck can be complicated, so you need to fully understand the policies available and the ones your specific food truck needs.
Contact Spivey Insurance
There are plenty of financial risks that come with operating a food truck. Issues with the truck itself, potential personal injury claims, and the possibility of having to pay a lot out of pocket for things like spoiled food are all things that you may have to deal with. Thankfully, you can obtain the right insurance coverage through Spivey Insurance, as our knowledgeable agents can help you choose the best policies and coverage amounts for all your food truck needs.