Whether it's at a festival, a wedding or local event, eating al fresco is hugely popular. If you've got a catering van and serving mouth-watering food on the go, you'll need an insurance policy which protects you for every eventuality. And ideally one that's cheap as chips.
Here we'll dish up how to get the right catering van insurance for your mobile eatery.
**Single annual policy. New and former Paramount+ subscribers only who sign up at ParamountPlus.com. Subscription required. Auto-renews unless cancelled. 18+. Just Eat website account required, geographical exclusions apply. The year-round reward is provided by Greggs, and consists of one regular hot drink per month for a year, only available via the Confused.com app. T&Cs apply.
***Beat your renewal guarantee. Must be a like-for-like policy. Read full T&Cs.
1Correct as of October 2024
When you look into any type of van insurance policy, there are 3 levels of cover to choose from:
Third-party only (TPO)
Third-party, fire and theft (TPFT)
Fully comprehensive
Specialist catering van insurance policies are likely to be more expensive than regular van insurance. Because of the way it's used and the equipment inside, a catering vans need more protection than a regular van. But for the extra cover for your business, you may feel this is worth it.
Prices will also vary depending your age, location, annual mileage, what kind of van you drive, your personal driving history and so on. And when you're pitched up, there are other factors which have a bearing on the cost. For example, you're likely to have to pay a bit more if you're using cooking equipment in the van rather than, say, if you have an ice cream van.
According to our data, the average annual insurance policy for a catering van is £998.27*. By contrast, getting insurance for a regular van costs £729.31* a year on average. So that's a difference of £268.96 for protecting your business, rather than just getting typical vehicle cover.
*Based on Confused.com data, Q3 2024.
There are a few things you can do to reduce the cost of your catering van insurance. Stepping up security is worth doing in itself, but could also lead to cheaper premiums. Look into getting alarms to protect your van and stock, or a steering lock to make it harder to pinch. And try to keep it locked up in a garage and off the road when unattended.
Your driving will influence the cost of cover too. Keep a clean driving record if possible. Plus a higher mileage tends to lead to more costly cover, so try to limit driving your van to business use only if you can. If you have a different vehicle for personal use, all the better.
Finally, compare a range of catering van insurance policies from different providers. This way you can see van insurance deals side-by-side, and more easily pick the cover level that suits your circumstances, at a price that's right.
Mobile caterers can benefit from a good catering van insurance policy in a number of ways.
Cover unexpected costs like repairs, accidents, and damage to keep your business running smoothly.
Maintain your reputation by getting your van back on the road faster, reducing downtime that could affect your business.
Cover if your business is interrupted for certain reasons, such as illness, theft or equipment failure.
You can tailor your policy to specific catering businesses, from sandwich vans to full mobile kitchens.
"Who doesn't love an ice cream van? Whether it's the brilliant childhood memories or the refreshing ice creams on summer days, ice cream vans create a happy Britain! Keeping your van insured is an essential step to keeping your business protected and thriving. To get the best level of cover, make sure you're honest about the van's modifications and expected mileage."
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