Inland Marine Insurance for Food Carts
The property coverage that protects your cart, trailer, and equipment — grills, fryers, refrigeration — when general liability and auto insurance don't apply.
If you own a food truck, the vehicle itself is protected by a commercial auto policy — it has to be, since it's licensed and driven. A food cart is different. It's usually towed on a small trailer, wheeled into place, or set up by hand, which means it typically isn't a “vehicle” under any insurance policy at all. Without a dedicated property line, a fire, theft, or vandalism claim against the cart itself has nowhere to go.
That's exactly the gap inland marine coverage fills. It's a property insurance category designed for equipment that moves — and it's the coverage most food cart owners add alongside General Liability to fully protect the business.
Why the cart itself needs its own coverage
General Liability protects you when a third party is hurt or their property is damaged. It says nothing about damage to your own equipment. A commercial auto policy only applies to a licensed, registered vehicle. A food cart usually falls into neither category — which is why inland marine exists as its own, separate line specifically for property like this.
What inland marine typically covers
- The cart or trailer structure — the frame, counters, service window, and shell
- Cooking equipment — grills, griddles, fryers, and steam tables
- Refrigeration — coolers, reach-ins, and ice machines mounted to or used with the cart
- Generators and power equipment
- Signage and branding fixed to the cart
Covered causes of loss commonly include theft, fire, vandalism, and certain weather and in-transit damage — the actual list of perils and any limits or deductibles are set by the policy you're issued, not by this page.
How it works on our quote form
When you request a quote, we ask a simple yes/no question: “Do you want to purchase coverage for the cart or trailer itself (inland marine)?” If you say yes, we ask for the year, make, and value of the cart or trailer so it can be priced and scheduled correctly.
Inland marine and food trailers
The same gap applies to food trailers towed behind a personal or work vehicle — the towing vehicle may have its own auto policy, but the trailer and everything built into it usually needs its own coverage too. See our food trailer coverage guide for more.
Frequently asked questions
What is inland marine insurance?
Inland marine is a property insurance category built for equipment and goods that move or aren't tied to a fixed building — think mobile equipment, tools, and yes, food carts. For a food cart owner, it's the policy that insures the cart itself and everything mounted to it.
Why doesn't my auto insurance cover the cart?
A food truck is a registered, driven vehicle, so commercial auto insurance covers the vehicle itself. A cart is different — it's typically towed, wheeled, or set up by hand, and it's not a licensed vehicle. That means there's usually no auto policy protecting it at all, which leaves a gap unless you add inland marine coverage.
What does inland marine cover on a food cart?
Typically the cart or trailer structure itself, plus the equipment attached to or used inside it — grills, griddles, fryers, refrigeration units, steam tables, generators, and signage — against covered causes of loss like theft, fire, vandalism, and certain weather and transit damage.
Do I need inland marine if my cart is inexpensive?
Even modest carts represent thousands of dollars in equipment once you add cooking gear and refrigeration, and a single theft or fire can put you out of business for weeks. Most operators find the coverage well worth it relative to the replacement cost.
Is inland marine required, like general liability often is?
Inland marine usually isn't required by cities, malls, or event organizers the way General Liability and a COI are — it's optional property protection. But because it's the only coverage protecting the cart itself, most owners choose to add it.
Get your free inland marine quote
Takes about 3 minutes. No obligation.