What insurance coverage is required for a food truck in Ohio?

Food trucks in Ohio are a popular dining option for those looking for a quick and delicious bite to eat. You can find food trucks in many areas across the state, and you may have plans to join their ranks by opening your own food truck business.

Before you jump headfirst into this major project, however, you must analyze the insurance and licensing requirements. You also should crunch the numbers to ensure that this type of venture will be financially beneficial for you.

Because an Ohio food truck is a mobile restaurant, you will need to comply with the state’s auto insurance requirements for commercial vehicles. You also may need to buy various insurance products related to running a business and hiring employees.

Typically, Ohio food truck owners pay $105/mo for a business owner’s policy that includes general liability and property insurance. Food truck insurance rates in OH will vary and are based on your equipment value and other factors. The cost of multiple insurance premiums can have a major and direct impact on the profitability of your food truck business in Ohio, so you must spend time gathering quotes for insurance products before you launch your business.

Even a single insurance premium can be costly for a food truck operator to pay for, and you may consider shopping around to find the best rates available for all of the insurance products you need to buy. Make sure to compare quotes with our free quote tool above today! 

Remember that bundling your insurance policies together with the same insurance company could also result in additional savings on your insurance costs.

What Coverage is Available for Food Trucks in Ohio?

Ohio food trucks are exposed to numerous risks and perils on a regular basis, such as car accidents, employee workplace injuries, customer liability issues, and more.

You must carefully analyze the potential risks that you may face in order to determine what types of food truck insurance you should buy, but you also need to be aware of the minimum amount of insurance that food truck owners and operators in Ohio are legally responsible for.

Commercial Auto Insurance

In Ohio, state law dictates that all vehicles be properly insured per the state’s minimum auto insurance requirements.

The minimum auto coverage requirements for this state include liability insurance, which pays for expenses you create for other people while you are driving the food truck throughout Ohio and beyond.

Because liability insurance will not cover any of your own food truck repair costs or other accident-related expenses, you should carefully consider the benefit associated with adding collision or comprehensive food truck insurance to your auto policy.

What is Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance?

When you lease rather than purchase your food truck in Ohio, you may need to obtain a hired and non-owned coverage policy.

Even when you drive a leased truck, you must take responsibility for the damages you create for others, this type of hired or non-owned coverage gives you the financial means to do so.

It also provides financial benefits related to liability expenses for food truck operators if one of your employees is in an accident while driving the truck.

Collision Coverage

Collision auto insurance is not a legal requirement for Ohio food truck owners, but your lender may require it if you purchased your vehicle with a loan.

Before you choosing collision over comprehensive coverage, keep in mind that collision coverage only offers benefits for vehicle repairs or a full replacement of the food truck in the event of a collision with a vehicle or other object, and all other types of damaging events or losses are not covered by this type of insurance.

Collision insurance in Ohio can have a coverage limit set by you or dictated by your lender. The amount of coverage should coincide with the amount of money you owe on your truck loan or on the truck’s value.

What is Comprehensive Coverage on a Food Truck?

Food trucks in Ohio are exposed to many other perils and risks besides collisions with other vehicles. For example, your food truck could catch on fire or be damaged by bad weather conditions that are known to pass through Ohio from time to time.

Comprehensive insurance is not legally required by Ohio auto insurance laws, but your lender could require it if collision insurance is not required.

General Liability

All businesses face general liability risks that are not related to driving an automobile. For example, your business could be sued by a customer who burns his mouth on food that is served at a scorching temperature.

Liability insurance for a food truck business may pay for any related liability expenses that you incur as a result of running your business on a daily basis, and this type of coverage is not associated with auto liability insurance.

General liability insurance may be broken down into legal fees benefits, medical expense benefits, and more, and the combined limits are usually several hundred thousand dollars.

Property Insurance

The contents inside your Ohio food truck also needs to be insured, and this is because it could be stolen, damaged in a fire, or affected in another unfortunate way.

Adding personal property coverage to an auto policy can provide you with the financial protection you need on these items.

Another type of property insurance that may be applicable for some Ohio food truck owners is real estate property insurance.

You may own land that is developed with a seating area or other upgrades for your food truck business, and property insurance can be used to cover losses associated with the improvements on your land.

Do I need worker’s compensation for my food truck?

When you hire employees to work for your Ohio food truck business, you take on the liability concern associated with potential workplace injuries.

The last thing you may want is for your employees to be injured on the job, but if this happens, you could be responsible for paying their wages while they are recuperating, paying for medical bills, and more.

Workers’ compensation insurance may be required in many cases, and it may provide related benefits to your injured employees.

Umbrella Policy

Some food truck owners satisfy employee coverage requirements and needs by purchasing an umbrella policy.

However, an umbrella policy for an Ohio food truck business also offers many other types of benefits that ultimately could prevent you from paying numerous expenses out of your own pocket.

Bundling Your Ohio Food Truck Insurance

With so many different types of Ohio food truck insurance to buy, you understandably may be looking for a great way to save money on insurance without being uninsured in any way.

Bundling Ohio food truck insurance is one option to consider, and this means that you buy most or all coverage from the same provider. Many providers offer a bundled coverage discount when you take this step.

However, you should not assume that bundling your food truck insurance policies together would always result in financial savings. In some cases, it is more affordable to shop around and to buy each type of insurance you need separately.

Whether you are preparing to launch a new food truck business in Ohio or you are thinking about upgrading your coverage, you can shop online to compare the options available. Don’t miss out on our free quote tool below! Just enter your ZIP code and start comparing rates now!

Case Studies: Insurance Coverage for Food Trucks in Ohio

Case Study 1: The Grill Stop Food Truck

The Grill Stop food truck in Ohio recognized the importance of obtaining the right insurance coverage for their business. They understood that compliance with the state’s auto insurance requirements for commercial vehicles was essential. The Grill Stop food truck purchased a business owner’s policy that included general liability and property insurance, meeting the minimum legal requirements.

By carefully assessing their equipment value and other factors, they were able to secure coverage at an average cost of $105 per month. This comprehensive coverage protected their business, assets, and customers, providing peace of mind and financial security.

Case Study 2: The Tasty Treats Food Truck

The Tasty Treats food truck in Ohio took a proactive approach to insurance coverage. They recognized the potential risks and perils that their food truck business could face on a regular basis, including accidents, employee injuries, and customer liability issues.

To ensure comprehensive protection, The Tasty Treats food truck obtained commercial auto insurance, hired and non-owned auto insurance, general liability insurance, property insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance. They also considered the benefits of an umbrella policy to cover additional liabilities.

Case Study 3: The Savory Delights Food Truck

The Savory Delights food truck in Ohio understood the importance of cost-effectiveness while maintaining adequate insurance coverage. They recognized that multiple insurance premiums could impact their profitability and budget. To find the best rates available, The Savory Delights food truck compared quotes from different insurance providers and explored options for bundled coverage.

They carefully evaluated the cost and coverage of each policy, considering both bundled and unbundled insurance. By conducting thorough research and taking the time to analyze their insurance needs, The Savory Delights food truck found affordable coverage that met their requirements.