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

A food truck could help you showcase your unique culinary talent. Launching a successful food truck takes a lot more than putting a kitchen on wheels.

But before you start to serve, you’ll need an in-depthbusiness plan,including projections that cover optimistic, average, and low sales.

Your food truck business plan needs to include your menu with pricing, market research for your area of Florida, and the investment you can put into the truck. Make sure to use our free quote tool above to compare rates today!

In addition to the truck itself, safety and culinary equipment can cost up to $50,000 according to food truck entrepreneurs. Marketing, legal advice, and business insurance could cost an additional $50,000.

What equipment will I need to purchase?

A Florida food truck can be a towed trailer, or a mobile truck or van with cooking equipment. Florida’s regulations even state you can use a boat, as long as it meets state health requirements.

You will need to have equipment for safe storage and dispensing of hot or cold foods that you prepare in a commercial kitchen or commissary.

If you don’t use a commissary, you will need to outfit the truck with safe storage, cooking, and water and wastewater disposal equipment. Florida requires a self-sufficient food truck to have:

• A three-compartment sink
• A handwash sink
• Adequate refrigeration and storage
• Power utility hookups or a portable generator
• Appropriate water and wastewater tanks, disposal locations and procedures

What are the licensing requirements for Florida food trucks?

Florida’s Department of Business & Professional Regulation provides plan reviews at no cost and issues an MFDV (Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle License) for food trucks after you complete the application and submit a $50 application fee. (For more information, read our “Florida Car Insurance Regulations”).

The MFDV license fee in Florida is $347 for one year. The cut-off date to apply for and pay the annual license fee varies depending on which district and county will be the home base for your food truck.

Insurance Requirements For Florida Food Trucks

You will need a business policy and commercial vehicle insurance for your food truck in Florida.

Food Truck industry advisors say you should get vehicle insurance for your truck as soon as you buy it, even if you’re months away from starting to sell and serve food.

Commercial Vehicle Insurance

You will need a separate commercial vehicle insurance policy to cover work-related driving, including the truck.

Commercial auto insurance will pay for liability insurance for property damage, bodily injury, and legal costs.

It will also cover physical damage to your food truck caused by a collision, vandalism, theft, or weather damage. Commercial auto policies also include uninsured or under insured motorist coverage.

How much commercial car insurance do I need?

Your commercial auto policy should cover the food truck’s operations and anticipated costs of replacing the vehicle, legal defense, and additional business liability.

Florida requires you to purchase the state’s minimum auto insurance coverage for your truck and any other cars you operate in the course of running the food truck business.

Some Florida cities require a certificate of insurance along with the city’s application for a food truck license. St. Petersburg requires $300,000 in combined single – limit automobile liability insurance.

Hired And Non-Owned Car Insurance

If you rent a trailer to transport supplies or food, or your employee drives her car to pick up fresh produce, your business policy won’t provide coverage unless you have a hired or non-owned provision of your policy.

The policy will be valid in case of an accident as long as you follow the insurance company’s instructions.

Insurance that covers employees driving for your food truck business pays costs in excess of, or in addition to the employee’s auto policy.

Collision Insurance Coverage

Collision insurance covers damage to your food truck in the unfortunate case of an accident.

Because the food truck has a much higher value and cost than the average auto, look for coverage limits that can cover all potential losses.

Collision insurance may not cover equipment inside the truck. Instead, business liability insurance could replace the equipment.

Comprehensive Coverage For Your Food Truck

Comprehensive coverage will pay for damage from theft, fire, or other non-driving causes.

If your food truck is parked and vandals damage it, the comprehensive portion of your commercial or business auto policy will pay for repairs over the deductible amount.

What other insurance do I need for my food truck in Florida?

You are operating a business on wheels. You need commercial vehicle insurance and also business liability insurance.

Business Liability Insurance

General business liability insurance will be tailored to your business, which includes serving food to the public. Liability insurance provides coverage for any claims against your food truck by customers or others.

Property Insurance

You will want to make sure your property insurance covers the equipment you use in the food truck.

Many commercial auto policies won’t cover damage to cooking supplies, equipment, or other necessary items like generators.

Property insurance will provide coverage for smoke damage, theft, vandalism, or fire.

Employee Insurance

All employers in Florida must buy Workers Compensation insurance. This insurance pays for costs related to any injuries your employees may suffer while working for your food truck.

Florida’s Insurance Commissioner determines rates and regulations for Workers Compensation insurance premiums, payments, and coverage.

Umbrella Policy

You can investigate an umbrella insurance policy that will cover extreme situations that go beyond the limits of commercial auto, property, and liability insurance.

If you do catering work or take your truck to many locations, an umbrella policy could add the insurance coverage you need.

Consider Bundling Insurance For Your Food Truck

Some insurance companies specialize in insurance packages or bundles for food trucks. You won’t necessarily save money by bundling different types of insurance together.

An insurance bundle designed for your Florida food truck could be cost-effective. Consider truck and equipment replacement costs, your assets, and how many employees you have before shopping for individual policies or bundled food truck insurance.

Do food trucks and food trailers use the same insurance?

Food trucks and food trailers may have some insurance policies that overlap. Since a food trailer is towed by a vehicle, the trailer and vehicle will need to be separately insured, while food trucks would only need one auto insurance policy for their vehicle. An extended commercial auto and property coverage is typically needed to ensure that food trailers are fully protected from collision damage and liabilities. Be sure to ask your provider for more information about how to protect your mobile food business properly.

Some Florida cities require a certificate of insurance along with the city’s application for a food truck license. St. Petersburg requires $300,000 in combined single – limit automobile liability insurance.

Case Studies: Insurance Coverage for Food Trucks in Florida

Case Study 1: The Tasty Tacos Food Truck

The Tasty Tacos food truck in Florida recognized the importance of having comprehensive insurance coverage for their business. They obtained commercial car insurance and a business policy to ensure they were protected in various situations. By bundling their coverage, they were able to save up to 25% on their monthly rates, making insurance more affordable.

The Tasty Tacos food truck understood the licensing requirements and regulations specific to Florida and ensured they met all necessary criteria. With a well-rounded insurance portfolio, they could operate their food truck business with confidence.

Case Study 2: The Rolling Delights Food Truck

The Rolling Delights food truck in Florida invested in the right equipment to comply with safety and health regulations. They understood that their food truck could be a towed trailer, mobile truck, van, or even a boat as long as it met state health requirements. They ensured their food truck had the necessary equipment for safe storage, cooking, and water and wastewater disposal.

Additionally, they recognized the importance of insurance coverage for their business. They obtained commercial vehicle insurance to cover work-related driving and liability, as well as business liability insurance and property insurance to protect against potential claims and damages.

Case Study 3: The Savvy Bites Food Truck

The Savvy Bites food truck in Florida understood the significance of having the right insurance coverage to protect their business assets and operations. They recognized that commercial auto insurance was essential for their food truck, covering liability, physical damage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

They also considered additional insurance types such as hired and non-owned car insurance, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage to ensure comprehensive protection for their food truck. The Savvy Bites food truck also recognized the importance of business liability insurance to cover potential claims from customers and property insurance to protect their equipment.

What is required to insure my food truck in Florida? The Bottom Line

Florida food truck insurance is an essential business expense for all types of concession trailer businesses, including food trucks, hot dog carts, flea market vendors, swap meet vendors, and concession stand operators at county or state fairs. Retailers who operate from kiosks in malls, Christmas tree lots, and newsstands can also benefit from business insurance. Florida food truck insurance should cover your business in the various concession locations.

Food truck operators often make the mistake of thinking that their businesses are too small to get sued, but in fact, small businesses take the most heat from litigious clients.

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