What Insurance Does a Brisbane Food Truck Business Need?
- Tim Jones
- Jun 29
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 30
So you've locked in your truck, sorted your permits, and nailed your menu. The last thing standing between you and your first service is making sure you're properly covered.
Food truck insurance isn't a single policy, it's a package of covers that protect different parts of your operation. And if you're setting up in Brisbane for the first time, getting this right before your first event matters more than most people realise.
The Core Covers Every Brisbane Food Truck Needs
Public Liability Insurance
This is non-negotiable. Public liability covers you if a customer, bystander, or property owner suffers injury or property damage because of your business activities.
Think: a customer burns themselves on your fryer lid, someone trips over your gas hose at a market, or your truck's exhaust damages a venue's awning. Without public liability, you're covering those costs personally.
Most Brisbane market operators, councils, and event organisers will ask for a minimum $20 million public liability before you're allowed to trade on their site. Some require $50 million. Always confirm the requirement before signing an event agreement.
Commercial Vehicle Insurance
Your truck is your business. Commercial vehicle insurance covers the vehicle itself, not just for accidents on the road, but while it's parked at a trading location.
Key things to check:
Business use — standard comprehensive car insurance usually won't cover a vehicle used commercially. You need a policy specifically rated for business use.
While stationary at events — confirm the policy covers the vehicle while you're trading, not just while driving.
Agreed value vs market value — agreed value policies pay out a fixed amount if the truck is written off, market value pays what it's worth at the time of the claim (which could be significantly less if depreciation has kicked in).
If you have a separate trailer, check whether it's included or needs to be listed separately. Many policies cover trailers attached to the vehicle but not when they're unhitched.
Contents and Equipment Insurance
Your fit-out is likely your biggest capital investment; fryers, grills, refrigeration, generators, POS systems, signage, serving equipment. Contents insurance covers this equipment for events like fire, storm, theft, and water damage.
For food trucks specifically, ask your broker about:
Equipment breakdown — covers mechanical or electrical failure of fridges, freezers, and cooking equipment (not included in standard contents)
Transit cover — whether your equipment is covered while the truck is moving between locations
Glass — internal glass display cases (sneeze guards, display windows) are often excluded from contents and need to be specifically covered under a glass section
Glass Insurance
If your truck has a serving window with glass, or internal display glass, you'll want to confirm this is covered within your policy.
Glass insurance typically covers:
Serving hatch glass
Internal display case glass
Signage glass panel
Standard contents cover often excludes accidental glass breakage. Glass needs to be specifically scheduled or covered under a glass section of your policy.
Goods in Transit / Stock Cover
Your ingredients, packaging, and stock are exposed every time you move. Goods in transit covers loss or damage to stock while the truck is on the road, whether that's a full stock run or your weekly market circuit.
Some contents policies extend to cover stock in transit; others don't. Worth clarifying with your broker exactly where your stock cover starts and stops.
What can go wrong and what it costs
Scenario | Likely claim type | Ballpark exposure |
Customer scalded by hot oil splash | Public liability | $20,000–$150,000+ |
Truck written off in accident | Commercial vehicle | $40,000–$150,000+ |
Generator stolen overnight at event | Contents / theft | $3,000–$8,000 |
Fridge breaks down, lose full stock | Equipment breakdown | $1,500–$5,000 |
Serving window glass shattered at market | Glass | $500–$2,500 |
Fire damages truck fit-out | Contents | $20,000–$80,000+ |
One thing food truck owners get wrong
Assuming their personal vehicle insurance covers the truck.
A surprising number of new operators don't realise that a standard comprehensive car policy doesn't cover a vehicle used for commercial food service. If you're involved in an accident while trading or even just driving to an event, a personal-use policy can void the claim entirely.
The same applies to trailers. If your truck tows a separate trailer (whether for equipment, refrigeration, or additional prep space), that trailer needs to be specifically listed on your policy. Cover doesn't automatically follow the vehicle.
Sort your commercial vehicle cover before your first run, not after your first incident.
What does food truck insurance cost in Brisbane?
Every truck is different, but here's a rough guide for a Brisbane-based operator:
Cover | Approximate annual cost |
Public liability ($20M) | $800–$2,000+ |
Commercial vehicle (truck) | $2,000–$6,000+ |
Contents and equipment | $600–$2,000+ |
Glass | $200–$600+ |
Goods in transit | $300–$800+ |
Premiums depend on your truck's value, the types of events you attend, your annual turnover, and your claims history. A mobile wood-fired pizza oven at weekend markets carries different risk to a refrigerated seafood truck operating at CBD lunch spots every day.
A broker can package these covers together and approach multiple underwriters to get you competitive pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need insurance before I get my food business licence?
You'll typically need public liability in place before you can trade at any licensed market, council event, or private venue. Many licencing applications also ask for evidence of coverage. Sort your insurance early, it's usually one of the first things an event organiser asks for. (They may also ask to be noted as an Interested Party on your Policy).
**Does my public liability cover food poisoning claims?
It depends on the policy. Some public liability policies extend to product liability (covering claims from goods you supply, including food), while others require it to be added or listed separately. Make sure your policy explicitly covers products liability and not just liability arising from your presence at a location.
Can I get cover for a food trailer only (no truck)?
Yes, we have insurer's available to us who are able to insurer Food Trailer, without an attached towing vehicle and also without Public Liability if you already have it covered. Ask one of our Brokers for a Food Trailer only Quote.
What if I hire casual staff for busy periods?
Workers compensation is a separate obligation. In Queensland, if you engage workers including casual staff, you're generally required to hold a workers compensation policy through WorkCover Queensland. This sits outside your standard insurance package and is a statutory requirement. Talk to your broker or visit the WorkCover Queensland website for your obligations.
Talk to a Brisbane Food Truck Insurance Expert
Setting up the right package from day one is a lot easier than trying to fix it after something goes wrong.
At Monarch Insurance Brokers, with years of experience working with this exact risk, we work with Brisbane food trucks, trailers and mobile catering operators to build coverage that actually fits how you trade, whether you're at weekend markets, private events, or a regular CBD spot.
Get a quote or ask a question → or alternatively Call us today 1300 130 463
This content is general advice only and does not consider your individual circumstances. Please contact us to discuss your specific needs.
