Question 1

Do you need a licence to run a food truck in the UK?

Accepted Answer

A food truck registers with the council where the vehicle is kept, free, at least 28 days before trading. Trading in the street needs street trading consent or a licence from each council where it trades, and selling hot food between 11pm and 5am needs a late night refreshment licence in England and Wales, or a late hours catering licence in Scotland.

Question 2

How much does it cost to start a food truck business?

Accepted Answer

No official average exists. Used catering trailers sell for about £6,500 to £12,000, new trailers from about £17,000 and converted vans from about £22,500, while new pipework with a gas certificate was quoted at about £1,000 to £1,050 in 2026. Street trading consents add about £517 to £8,219 a year.

Question 3

How much is a street trading licence for a food van?

Accepted Answer

Councils set their own fees. For 2026/27, Hart charges £987 for a new annual consent, Birmingham £3,512 a year outside the city centre and £8,219 in it after a £754 application fee, and Camden up to £13,636 for a permanent pitch. North West Leicestershire charged £517 for a food consent in 2025/26.

Question 4

Does a food van need a gas safety certificate?

Accepted Answer

Yes, where it uses LPG. The van needs an annual CP44 mobile catering gas safety record from a Gas Safe engineer qualified for LPG and commercial mobile catering, and event organisers and councils ask to see it.

Question 5

How much does a food truck make in the UK?

Accepted Answer

It varies widely. Food van businesses offered for sale report turnovers from £37,000 to about £162,000 a year. On illustrative figures, a van taking £1,500 a week on a private pitch leaves its owner about £804 a week before tax.

Question 6

How much do festivals charge food trucks?

Accepted Answer

Terms vary: a council street food market in Richmond charges £200 plus VAT or 15% of takings, whichever is greater; one street food organiser charges £110 plus VAT a day plus 5% of turnover; and some corporate festivals take up to 35% of takings.

Question 7

Can you tow a catering trailer on a car licence?

Accepted Answer

Since 16 December 2021, drivers with a standard car licence can tow a trailer of up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass without a separate test. A converted van above 3,500kg needs a C1 entitlement.

Question 8

Where do you register a food van?

Accepted Answer

With the council for the area where the vehicle is normally kept or garaged, at least 28 days before trading. That council inspects the van and gives it a food hygiene rating, which follows it to every pitch.

Question 9

Do food trucks have to charge VAT?

Accepted Answer

Only once registered. Registration is compulsory above £90,000 of taxable turnover a year, about £1,731 a week. Once registered, hot food is standard-rated at 20%, while most cold takeaway food is zero-rated.

Question 10

Can you park a food truck anywhere?

Accepted Answer

No. Trading in a street needs consent from the council, some streets are prohibited, and private land open to the public can also need consent. Regular trading from one private site can need planning permission, and the landowner's permission is always needed.

Question 11

How much is food truck insurance?

Accepted Answer

One broker's 2026 data shows 10% of catering vans paying £134.07 a year or less for employers' and public liability, with quotes from £74.07 a year for a new sole trader to £1,242.32 for a wedding and functions van. Motor insurance for the vehicle is separate.

Question 12

Is a food truck franchise worth it?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the uplift. Mobile coffee franchises such as Cafe2U, with £15,000 of liquid capital and £42,500 total investment, and Really Awesome Coffee, with £10,000, supply a van, brand and suppliers. At 6% royalty and 2% marketing, a franchised van needs about 14% more takings to leave the owner the same as an independent one.

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