Insurance Requirements · United States · 2026

Do food trucks need insurance?

Yes — in nearly every U.S. state. Most states require licensed food trucks to carry Commercial Auto, General Liability, Workers' Compensation before they can operate. Here's what to buy, what it costs, and which carriers serve the trade.

Coverage checklist

Coverage	Requirement	Annual cost
Commercial AutoCA	Required	$1500.00–$3500.00/yr
General LiabilityGL	Required	$450.00–$1100.00/yr
Workers' CompensationWC	Required	$1800.00–$5000.00/yr
Commercial PropertyCP	Recommended	$800.00–$2500.00/yr
Business Owner's PolicyBOP	Optional	$700.00–$1800.00/yr
Inland Marine / Tools & EquipmentIM	Optional	$300.00–$800.00/yr
Professional Liability / E&OPL/E&O	Optional	$400.00–$900.00/yr

SOURCE · National carrier filings · BLS labor statistics · Updated 2026

Cost breakdown

Commercial Auto

$1500.00–$3500.00/yr

Cost factors

·Truck value
·Driving radius

Required — a food truck is a commercial vehicle and needs commercial auto.

General Liability

$450.00–$1100.00/yr

Cost factors

·Locations served
·Revenue
·Events

Required by most event organizers and commissary kitchens before you can operate.

Workers' Compensation

$1800.00–$5000.00/yr

Cost factors

·Payroll
·Crew size

Required once you have employees; burns, slips, and lifting injuries are common.

Commercial Property

$800.00–$2500.00/yr

Cost factors

·Truck/equipment value

Often rolled into commercial auto or a BOP; covers the kitchen equipment and truck improvements.

Business Owner's Policy

$700.00–$1800.00/yr

Cost factors

·Commissary/storage

If you lease a commissary kitchen or storage.

Inland Marine / Tools & Equipment

$300.00–$800.00/yr

Cost factors

·Equipment portable value

Covers portable equipment used off the truck.

Professional Liability / E&O

$400.00–$900.00/yr

Cost factors

·Allergen claims

Relevant for food-safety and allergen claims; sometimes included in food liability.

Best carriers for food truck

Embroker

AM Best: A

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Hiscox

AM Best: A

CJ Affiliate

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NEXT Insurance

AM Best: A-

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Simply Business

AM Best: A

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Thimble

AM Best: A

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Requirements by state

State	Coverage	Required?	Notes
Alabama	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Alaska	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Arizona	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Arkansas	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
California	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Colorado	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Connecticut	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Delaware	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
District of Columbia	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Florida	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Georgia	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Hawaii	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Idaho	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Illinois	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Indiana	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Iowa	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Kansas	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Kentucky	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Louisiana	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Maine	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Maryland	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Massachusetts	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Michigan	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Minnesota	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Mississippi	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Missouri	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Montana	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Nebraska	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Nevada	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
New Hampshire	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
New Jersey	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
New Mexico	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
New York	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
North Carolina	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
North Dakota	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Workers' comp is purchased through the state fund (monopolistic state).
Ohio	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Workers' comp is purchased through the state fund (monopolistic state).
Oklahoma	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Oregon	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Pennsylvania	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Rhode Island	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
South Carolina	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
South Dakota	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Tennessee	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Texas	Workers' Compensation	Optional	Statutory — Texas is the only state where workers' comp is optional for private employers.
Utah	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Vermont	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Virginia	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Washington	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Workers' comp is purchased through the state fund (monopolistic state).
West Virginia	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Wisconsin	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Wyoming	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Workers' comp is purchased through the state fund (monopolistic state).

Frequently asked questions

Does a food truck need insurance?+

Yes. General liability is required by most event organizers and commissary kitchens, commercial auto is required for the truck itself, and workers' comp is required once you have employees.

How much does food truck insurance cost?+

A small food truck typically pays $450–$1,100 for general liability, $1,500–$3,500 for commercial auto, and $1,800–$5,000 for workers' comp. Total annual coverage often runs $4,000–$9,000.

Does food truck insurance cover food poisoning claims?+

General liability typically covers third-party food-poisoning claims, and many policies include product liability. Check that your policy explicitly includes food-borne illness coverage.

Related professions

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