Coverage built for the kitchen that's also a vehicle,
parked next to a propane tank.
Food truck insurance combines commercial auto coverage with restaurant liability and property protection, plus endorsements addressing propane explosion risk and refrigeration failure — hazards a generic business policy and a personal auto policy both explicitly exclude. The majority of food truck fires trace back to propane system failures, which constant vehicle movement makes worse over time.
What does your food truck operation look like?
Answer a few questions and we'll show you which coverages typically apply to your specific operation — no quote form required to see it.
Coverage Finder
Select every option that applies to your business
Coverage most food trucks carry
Every food truck's mix looks slightly different, but these six coverages come up again and again for mobile kitchen operations.
Commercial Auto Coverage
Unlike personal auto policies that exclude business use, this responds to damage during transit and at operational locations — the core of any food truck policy.
Propane & Fire Protection
Food truck fires typically cause tens of thousands of dollars in losses, with the majority attributed to propane system failures — constant vehicle movement jostles tanks and loosens connections over time.
Commercial Property
Protects permanently installed kitchen equipment — fryers, grills, refrigeration, generators, POS systems — against fire, theft, vandalism, and weather damage.
General Liability + Product Liability
Defends against customer bodily injury, property damage, and foodborne illness lawsuits — includes product liability for contamination and allergen exposure claims.
Workers' Compensation
Covers medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation for employees injured in cramped food truck workspaces — burn and cut risk is elevated in confined cooking areas.
Business Interruption
Covers lost income, employee wages, and operating expenses during forced shutdowns from generator failures, propane malfunctions, or equipment breakdowns.
Why a food truck needs two policies' worth of protection in one
A food truck is a restaurant AND a commercial vehicle at the same time — most insurance is built for one or the other, leaving a real gap exactly where food trucks live.
Personal auto insurance explicitly excludes this
A personal auto policy on your truck's chassis won't respond once you're using it for business — commercial coverage isn't a nice-to-have, it's the only thing that actually applies.
Movement itself is a risk factor
Constant vehicle movement jostles propane tanks, loosens connections, and causes structural wear that increases fire hazard over time — a risk a stationary kitchen simply doesn't accumulate.
What might your food truck pay?
A rough range based on fuel source and team size — not a quote, just a starting point before you talk to an agent.
How a claim actually plays out
Propane-related fire is the single most catastrophic risk food trucks face — here's how it typically unfolds.
Constant road vibration loosens a propane connection, and a leak ignites during service.
- Duty: Food truck operators owe a duty to inspect and secure propane connections regularly, given the known risk from constant vehicle movement.
- Breach: A missed inspection interval, or a connection that wasn't re-secured after a bumpy transit, is the most common failure point.
- Causation: The fire and resulting vehicle/equipment loss are traced directly back to the propane system failure.
- Damages: Food truck fires typically cause tens of thousands of dollars in losses — this is exactly why propane/fire endorsements exist on top of standard commercial property coverage.
This is the single most common and most catastrophic loss scenario in the food truck industry — and precisely why generic auto or business policies that exclude propane risk leave a dangerous gap.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I just use my personal auto insurance for my food truck?
Personal auto policies explicitly exclude business use — once you're using the vehicle for food truck operations, only commercial auto coverage responds to damage during transit and at operational locations.
What causes most food truck fires?
The majority of food truck fires are attributed to propane system failures — constant vehicle movement jostles tanks, loosens connections, and causes structural wear that increases fire hazard over time.
Do I need different coverage if I rely on a generator?
Yes — generator failures, power loss spoilage, and carbon monoxide buildup in enclosed spaces are mobile-specific exposures that fall outside traditional restaurant coverage and are addressed through business interruption and property endorsements.
What does general liability cover for a food truck?
General liability defends against customer bodily injury, property damage, and foodborne illness lawsuits — product liability coverage is typically included and addresses contamination, allergen exposure, and food poisoning claims.
Do I need workers’ comp if I only have one or two employees?
In most states, yes — workers' compensation is required once you have any employees, and it covers medical expenses and lost wages for injuries in the cramped, elevated-risk workspace a food truck kitchen represents.
Does insurance cover me at festivals and street events?
Yes — liability protection extends to high-traffic locations like festivals, concerts, and street events, responding to customer injuries, slip-and-fall incidents, and foodborne illness claims wherever you're operating.
Get coverage built around how your food truck actually operates.
Tell us your fuel source, your power setup, and your team size — and we'll put together the coverage that actually applies.
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