A food truck is two risks in one: a kitchen with open flame and hot oil, and a vehicle driven into a crowded event. Venues require insurance that covers both.
What venues typically require from food trucks
| Coverage | Typical requirement | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial general liability | $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate | Always |
| Commercial auto liability | Required | The truck is a vehicle |
| Additional insured | Venue named on the GL policy | Always |
| Liquor liability | Required | If serving alcohol |
| Workers' compensation | Required | If the truck has employees |
These are common requirements, not advice — see the full vendor insurance requirements.
Why food trucks need two kinds of coverage
General liability covers a guest burned by hot food or tripping near the truck. Commercial auto covers the truck as a vehicle — driving in, parking, maneuvering near guests. "Commercial food truck insurance" is usually a package combining both, plus property coverage for the truck and its cooking equipment. Venues should see both the GL and auto lines on the certificate.
For the food truck: what to send
Ask your insurer for a certificate showing $1M/$2M general liability and commercial auto liability, naming the venue as additional insured at its address, covering the event date. Add liquor liability if you serve alcohol.
What this means for your venue
The food-truck-specific check is easy to miss: it's not enough to see general liability — confirm the auto line is there too, plus liquor liability if they're serving alcohol. VenueCOI checks each line against your rules automatically. You can also check a food truck's COI free.