Insuring a mobile sales vehicle

The gas installation is the strictest condition

Propane or butane in a van with a fryer makes fire the dominant cause of loss. Insurers therefore include an inspection requirement for the gas installation, with a fixed interval and a certificate from an approved fitter. They often also require thermal protection on the fryer, a fire blanket and an approved fire extinguisher. If the valid inspection is missing at the time of the fire, that is a warranty not complied with and not a question of contributory fault.

Stock and spoilage are two different things

You insure the trading stock in the refrigeration as goods, but the usual cover concerns fire, theft and collision damage. Spoilage through failure of the refrigeration is a separate extension and is not included as standard. If the generator fails or an organiser cuts the power, the batch you throw away is your own loss without that extension. Also ask whether spoilage through a breakdown of the refrigeration unit itself is covered or in fact excluded.

On the pitch you are a guest, not the owner

At a market, festival or event site you stand on someone else's ground. Damage you cause there, to the paving, to a building or to the neighbour's stall, does not fall under the third-party liability cover of the vehicle once the van is not taking part in traffic. That is business liability. Also check what the pitch conditions of the municipality or the organiser require of you in terms of insurance, and whether they contain an indemnity.

What is structurally not included

Three items almost always remain outside cover. Cash and the day's takings, unless you take out separate money insurance with requirements for the safe. Spoilage and loss of turnover after a power failure, without a specific extension. And fire damage where the inspection has expired on the gas installation, or where an extinguisher is missing. Wear and tear to cooking and refrigeration equipment, and an inherent defect in that equipment without fire or collision, also fall outside cover.

From 750 kilos a registration number is required

A heavier trailer has its own registration number. Also check that the driving licence is adequate for the combination.

Uncoupled is the moment of risk

As long as the item is coupled, liability runs through the towing vehicle. Once uncoupled that no longer applies, and damage to the item itself was never covered in any case. Insurers therefore require an approved coupling lock and a declared storage location. For higher values, a tracker as well.

Business trailer