Why Food Truck Insurance Is Important For You?

TLTR: This article discusses food truck insurance, its costs, requirements, and insurance eligibility criteria. It also explains where you can purchase the insurance and the kinds of risks that are covered under the policy.

Food trucks are becoming more and more common. You’ve no doubt at least seen them parked downtown on the street, or outside convenience stores or breweries, if you haven’t already patronized a few. They have become an important part of many cities by providing quick and convenient culinary options for residents and visitors alike.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry has managed to grow. According to IBIS World, there are 26,228 food truck businesses in the U.S.

If you are part of this growing field or plan to be, you should know that an important step in managing a successful food truck business is investing in the right type of insurance.

What is Food Truck Insurance?

Food truck insurance is a type of commercial truck insurance that is usually used to insure food businesses that operate on vehicles. There are many policies that cover food trucks but you can also get a separate policy for just the food truck.
In order to ensure your business runs smoothly, it’s important that you have a good understanding of which type of food truck insurance policy is right for you.

Is Food Truck Insurance Essential?

If you are a food truck owner or thinking of starting a food truck business then yes, the policy is essential for you. In fact, Food Truck Operator states that food truck insurance is one of the most important business steps for running a food truck business.
A standard food truck insurance policy covers:

Mobile Food Trucks
Lunch Trucks
Catering Trucks
Concession Trucks
Vending Trucks
Ice-cream trucks
Food truck owners often believe that their businesses are too small to face legal liabilities. Unfortunately, this is not true. According to the SBA Office of Advocacy, 36% to 53% of small businesses have to deal with a lawsuit every year. The costs for these lawsuits commonly range between $3,000 to $150,000.

Having comprehensive food truck insurance can save you from the serious financial burdens that arise from such lawsuits.

How to Buy Food Truck Insurance?

According to Prestige Food Trucks, the most common hazards in food truck businesses are burns, cuts, slips, falls, and car accidents.

Other common risks for food truck owners include:

Food spoilage
Fire hazards
Smoke inhalation
Food poisoning
Equipment damage
Injuries to workers
Theft
You will need to find a food truck insurance policy that will help you cover most of these risks.

Research

There are many companies that specialize in food truck insurance, so you’ll need to spend a little time looking for and deciding on the right carrier. You can Google company names on the internet. You can also ask other food truck owners for referrals.

Make sure that you take your time looking for the best policy for you.

Negotiate On Prices

The prices you get for a food truck insurance policy can vary significantly based on many factors. Make sure you know the average cost. If you’re running on a tight budget, be sure to let your insurance agent know.

It’s important that you get cheap full coverage insurance for your business.

Re-assessment

As a business owner, you understand that your business is likely to change (and hopefully grow) with time. Even after you’ve bought food truck insurance, be sure to reassess your business growth every year so you can determine whether or not you have additional liabilities that require coverage.

How Much Does Food Truck Insurance Cost?

At the low end of prices, you’re likely to spend up to $50,000 to start a food truck business. When buying insurance for a food truck, your average cost can be between $2,000 to $4,000 a year.
Here are some factors that determine food truck insurance costs:

Location

The location you operate your food truck in is likely to make a difference in your premium cost. If you choose to operate on a busy street with a lot of traffic, then your food truck insurance cost will be higher. If you choose to operate from a park, then the insurance cost is likely to be on the lower side.

Your location determines many risks you are likely to face as a food truck owner. Make sure you serve your customers from a secure location.

Driving Record

Trucks are relatively difficult to drive in comparison to other vehicles. Your insurance company will want to see your driving record before you get a quote.

If you have speeding tickets, DUIs or accidents in your record, your premiums may be much higher. On the other hand, if you have had previous experience driving trucks, your premium cost can go down significantly.

The Condition of Your Truck

Many food truck owners start with a low budget. It’s also fairly common to buy a truck that has already been used or is quite old. While you may be able to kickstart your business with a smaller budget and an old truck, you will have to pay a heftier premium.

Insurance companies inspect the truck before giving you a deal. They check everything from the model number, previous owners (if any), vehicle loan, the engine, and even the paint job. If your truck requires a lot of repairs and is barely working, your food truck insurance cost will go up.

Equipment Used in Your Truck

You’ll of course have cooking equipment in your food truck. If you invest in more costly equipment for your business then your food truck insurance premium may be higher. For example, if you use an air frier (ranges between $100-$200) instead of a regular frier ($50-$100) then you may have to invest more in insurance.

Credit Score

If you are a food truck owner who has a solid credit score, you’re likely to get cheaper premiums. Credit scores make a huge difference in the quotes you’ll get from insurance providers.

Note: The average food truck equipment can cost you between $1,000 to $2,500. However, you can invest on the higher ends as well. The price of your premium is going to go up as you invest more in your food truck.

Ways To Reduce The Cost Of Insurance For Food Truck

Ask for Bundled Coverage

As a business owner, you may need more than just one policy. For example, if your truck sells liquor, you may need to purchase liquor liability insurance along with your food truck insurance. Buying these policies as a bundle from the same agent may help you reduce costs of your premiums.

Opt For High Deductibles

Higher deductibles can help you get lower premium rates. But this can be quite risky. For example, if you face legal action from a customer, you may have to bear the financial brunt on your own.

Pay Yearly

If you have the means to pay off the deposit on your premium up front it can potentially save you up to 20% on your total insurance costs. Paying yearly may look like a lot, but in the long run it works out to be cheaper than a monthly premium.

Shop Around

One of the best ways to save on policies is to know the prices. When you compare prices via an insurance directory the chances are that you can land yourself the best deal on food truck insurance.

What Policies Cover Food Truck Insurance?

The type of coverage that your business needs will depend on the risks and types of operations that you engage in. There are four main types of coverage for food trucks:

Business Owners Policy

A business owners policy (BOP) combines commercial property, business interruption insurance, and general liability insurance in one plan. The combination of the three allows a BOP to cover different claims against liabilities such as property damage, customer injuries, theft, and vandalism. A BOP is often more affordable than buying each policy separately.

Workers Compensation Insurance

Workers compensation insurance covers employee claims for injuries and illnesses due to their job, such as lost wages and medical bills. Except for Texas, this policy is mandatory coverage in all states.

When it comes to the food industry, tiny mishaps are unavoidable. For example, in a rush to serve a dish, a hot pot falls from a stove and burns your employee’s leg. As a result, your workers compensation insurance will kick in and help cover any medical bills.

Commercial Auto Insurance

Commercial auto insurance will cover the medical bills, cost of property damage, and possible lawsuits caused during an accident.

Commercial General Liability Insurance

Commercial general liability insurance covers property damage or bodily injury claims that arise because of accidents.

As reported on CNBC, an elderly woman sued McDonald’s in 1992 after spilling hot coffee on herself. The coffee caused third-degree burns and she needed numerous operations. If you want to avoid covering for such third-party claims out of your own pocket, you need to opt for a CGL policy. You can even add commercial cyber liability insurance as an endorsement to your CGL policy to protect sensitive customer information, such as credit card details.

Note: The average cost for the above-mentioned policies is taken from Insureon. The prices may vary based on the carrier you choose for your food truck insurance.

Some Carriers That Are Well Known for Selling Food Truck Insurance

There has never been a better time to own a food truck. According to Forbes, food trucks provide a good alternative for people who want to dine out post-pandemic.

According to Investopedia, insurance companies that sell food truck insurance include:

Top Food Truck Insurance Companies:

• Food Liability Insurance Program : Best overall
• Progressive Insurance : Best bundling discounts
• GEICO  : Best for large fleets
• Hiscox:  Best for general liability coverage
• Farmers : Best policy options
• Insure My Food Truck : Best for first-time food truck operators 

Find A Food Truck Insurance Agent Near You

If you want a reliable food truck insurance, finding the right agent can be difficult. While insurance companies offer many standard policies, these are insufficient for your specific needs.

Finding a local food truck insurance agent is your best bet in such cases.

A good insurance agent will do more than just sell you a policy. These agents are as distinct as you are. As a result, as a buyer, you must conduct research to find the best agent for your food cart insurance requirements.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Ask for Recommendations: Reach out to other food truck owners in your area to get referrals for insurance agents they use.

Check Online Reviews: You can use sites like Yelp and Google to see reviews of different insurance agents in your area.

Ask the Right Questions: Make sure to ask your potential insurance agent questions about the coverage they offer and the cost of their services.

Compare Prices: Get quotes from several different agents and compare their prices to get the best deal.

Read the Fine Print: Make sure to read the policy documents carefully and understand exactly what coverage you are getting.

One of the best ways to find an agent in your locality is through Agency Height. You can rest assured that the agents you find on Agency Height are among the best in the industry and your area.

Conclusion

If you own a food truck business, it’s important to have the right food truck insurance coverage for your assets and employees.

There are several types of policies available with varying levels of protection, so make sure to do your research before deciding on one option. With all these considerations in mind, feel free to reach out to a local insurance agent and get more information on food truck insurance.