A catering van puts a commercial kitchen inside a vehicle and parks it in a field, a car park or a street. Insurers respond to that by attaching conditions about the things most likely to set it on fire.
Gas, frying and the conditions attached
LPG cylinders and deep fat frying inside a confined metal box is the reason this trade is rated as it is. Policies commonly require a current gas safety certificate for the installation from a registered engineer in the relevant commercial catering category, fire extinguishers and a fire blanket to hand, safe shutdown procedures, and sometimes a fire suppression system over the fryer. These are conditions, so a fire after a lapsed certificate can be a declined claim rather than a paid one.
The vehicle, the trailer and being towed
A self propelled catering van needs commercial motor cover for the use. A trailer is a different matter: it may be covered while attached to a towing vehicle and not while detached, and theft of a catering trailer from a yard or a field is a frequent loss. Hitch locks, wheel clamps and where the unit is kept overnight are standard questions, and the answers are often conditions rather than preferences.
Trading at events, and what organisers require
Markets, festivals, race meetings and private events almost all require public liability at a stated limit, a certificate in advance, and increasingly evidence of food hygiene rating and gas safety. Organisers are the practical enforcer of insurance in this trade, and pitch fees are usually forfeited if the paperwork is not in order. Some policies limit the number of event days or exclude certain kinds of event, which is worth checking before a season is booked.
Food, staff and stock
Products liability follows the food served, with allergen information required as it is anywhere else. Employers' liability applies to anybody working in the unit, and a hot, cramped working space with fryers produces burn and slip claims. Stock deterioration after a refrigeration or generator failure is a specific extension, and a generator is itself a piece of equipment worth listing rather than assuming.
Questions people ask about catering van insurance
Do I need a gas safety certificate for a catering van?
Insurers normally require a current certificate for the LPG installation from an engineer registered in the relevant commercial catering category, and treat it as a condition of cover.
Is a catering trailer covered when detached?
Not always. Cover can be limited to when the trailer is attached to a towing vehicle, and theft from a yard or field is a common loss, so check the detached position.
What do event organisers ask for?
Public liability at a stated limit with a certificate in advance, and often the food hygiene rating and gas safety evidence too.