What liability insurance does a mobile catering company need?

Running a mobile catering business comes with a unique set of responsibilities. Whether you operate a food van, trailer, or market stall, understanding the right liability insurance is an important part of protecting your business, your customers, and your team.

This guide explains the key types of liability insurance mobile caterers need in the UK, how they work, and why they are commonly required for day‑to‑day trading.

What insurance is important for a mobile catering business?

Most mobile catering businesses in the UK should have:

• Public liability insurance

• Product liability insurance

• Employers’ liability insurance (if you employ staff)

While only employers’ liability is a legal requirement, public and product liability insurance are widely considered essential to trade, especially at events or on licensed pitches.

Why liability insurance matters for mobile caterers

Mobile catering businesses operate in environments where risks can change quickly. You might be serving food at a busy festival one day, and a private event the next.

This variation brings potential risks such as:

• Customer injuries near your setup

• Food-related illness or allergic reactions

• Accidental damage to third-party property

• Employee injuries during service

Catering liability insurance helps cover the financial impact of these situations by protecting your business against claims and legal costs.

The three main types of liability insurance

Public liability insurance

Public liability insurance is the cover most people associate with mobile catering.

It protects your business if:

• A customer slips near your stall

• Someone trips over equipment or cables

• You accidentally damage property while trading

Although it is not legally required, it is often expected by:

• Event organisers

• Local councils

• Markets and festivals

Most organisers require at least £5 million of cover before allowing traders to operate. Learn more about public liability insurance for caterers.

Product liability insurance

Product liability insurance is specifically designed for businesses that sell food and drink.

It covers claims if a customer becomes ill or injured due to something you have served, such as:

• Food poisoning

• Allergic reactions

• Contamination issues

In many cases, product liability insurance is included within public liability policies. However, it is always important to check what your policy covers.

Why it matters:

Even a single food safety incident can lead to costly claims, making this cover a key consideration for mobile food businesses.

Employers’ liability insurance

Employers’ liability insurance is the only type of liability cover that is legally required in most cases.

You must have it if you employ:

• Full-time staff

• Part-time staff

• Temporary or casual workers

It covers claims if an employee is injured or becomes ill as a result of their work.

The legal minimum level of cover in the UK is £5 million, although many policies provide £10 million as standard.

Do you need all three types of liability insurance?

In practice, most mobile caterers rely on a combination of all three.

• Public liability helps you trade at events

• Product liability protects your food service

• Employers’ liability ensures legal compliance if you have staff

Without the right combination of cover, you may find it difficult to secure pitches or operate confidently in public spaces.

Additional cover to consider

While liability insurance is the foundation, many catering businesses choose to extend their cover to reflect how they operate.

Equipment cover

Covers:

• Cooking equipment

• Refrigeration units

This can help protect against theft, accidental damage, or loss.

Catering van or trailer insurance

Standard vehicle insurance does not always reflect the needs of a catering setup.

Specialist cover can include:

• Fixtures and fittings

• Catering equipment

• Business use of the vehicle

Find out more about catering van insurance or catering trailer insurance on our site.

Business interruption insurance

This provides cover if your business cannot trade due to an unexpected insured event, such as:

• Fire

• Theft

• Equipment breakdown

It helps protect lost income during downtime.

What level of cover do mobile caterers typically need?

While requirements vary, common levels include:

• Public liability: £5 million minimum (sometimes £10 million for large events)

• Employers’ liability: £5 million legal requirement

• Product liability: Often aligned with public liability limits

These levels are often influenced by:

• Event organiser requirements

• Local authority expectations

• The size and scale of your business

What other insurance cover do you need?

While you’re thinking about whether you’ve the right level of catering public liability insurance, have you thought about other cover, too?

From food trucks and vans to trailers, your catering vehicle will be one of the biggest investments in your business. So, you’re going to want to protect it. Mobilers can tailor insurance to cover all shapes and sizes of vehicle for theft, loss, fire and damage.

You can choose from comprehensive, third party fire and theft, and third party only. We can  also provide cover for your vehicle’s permanent fixtures and fittings. After all, the value of your top-of-the-range cooking and food storage equipment can often exceed the cost of the vehicle itself!

Don’t forget, there’s plenty of optional cover on offer as well. This can include cover for legal expenses, business interruption, generators, and loss of stock.

How to choose the right liability insurance

When selecting cover, it can be helpful to consider:

• Where you trade (markets, festivals, private events)

• The type of food you serve

• Whether you employ staff

• The value of your equipment and setup

Insurance policies can be tailored to reflect your business, ensuring your cover aligns with how you operate.

Conclusion

Liability insurance plays a central role in supporting mobile catering businesses across the UK. While only employers’ liability is legally required, public and product liability insurance are widely expected in order to trade.

By understanding the different types of cover available and how they apply to your business, you can ensure your insurance reflects the realities of mobile catering, helping you operate with clarity and confidence.

Take out catering public liability insurance through Mobilers and you could enjoy policy benefits such as:

• Immediate cover and quotations available

• Documents emailed or sent out immediately

• Short period policies available on request

With flexible payment options and exclusive discounts available, it’s so easy to protect your food business with insurance from Mobilers.

Get a quote for catering public liability insurance today.