Non-Standard Commercial Vehicle Insurance in Ireland: A Guide for Christmas Market Vendors

What is Non-Standard Commercial Vehicle Insurance, its not something you hear or see advertised in Ireland. As the festive season approaches, food trucks, drink carts, waffle vans, and coffee horse boxes are becoming a common sight at Christmas markets in Ireland. These vendors bring a unique charm to markets across the country, offering delicious treats and drinks to holiday-goers. However, insuring these mobile businesses requires more than standard commercial vehicle coverage. Let's explore the ins and outs of non-standard commercial vehicle insurance, focusing on the specific needs of Christmas market vendors, including food trucks, modified vans, and even drink carts.

Why Non-Standard Commercial Vehicle Insurance is Essential

Non-standard commercial vehicle insurance is designed for vehicles that don’t fit the typical commercial vehicle mold. Whether you operate a food truck, waffle van, or even a converted coffee horse box, standard vehicle insurance often doesn’t cover these modified or specialised vehicles. As these vehicles are built for specific purposes, their insurance needs are unique.

For Christmas market vendors, it’s crucial to find the right policy that covers both the vehicle and the business operations. Fortunately, non-standard policies are tailored to meet these needs, providing coverage for everything from product liability to equipment damage.

Food Trucks: Insuring Your Mobile Business

Food trucks are one of the most popular types of non-standard commercial vehicles at Christmas markets. Take a drive through the Phoenix Park in Dublin or the Kilarney and Galway chirstmas markets, you'll see them in all shapes and sizes. They allow vendors to serve delicious meals, snacks, and drinks to large crowds of people. However, insuring a food truck isn’t as simple as insuring a regular van.

Food truck insurance covers the vehicle itself, any equipment used, and liability for accidents. This includes any commercial cooking equipment such as ovens, fryers, and grills. Additionally, policies often cover theft, vandalism, and damage to goods that are being served. Since food trucks are used on public roads and at bustling events, ensuring that all aspects of the business are protected is essential.

Drink Carts: A Specialised Coverage Need

Drink carts are another common sight at Christmas markets. These compact, mobile units are designed to serve a wide variety of beverages, from hot chocolates to mulled wine. Despite their smaller size, drink carts require a specific type of non-standard commercial insurance.

Most drink cart policies will include coverage for property damage, public liability, and theft. Some policies may also cover equipment used for making drinks, including dispensers and refrigerators. When running a drink cart at a busy Christmas market, having the right insurance ensures that you are protected against accidents, injuries, and other unexpected events.

Waffle and Ice-Cream Vans: Ensuring Sweet Success

Waffle and ice-cream vans are staples at many Christmas markets. While these vans often serve sweet treats, their insurance needs are far from sweet. Non-standard commercial vehicle insurance for these vans typically covers vehicle damage, third-party accidents, and public liability.

Insurance policies for waffle and ice-cream vans should also account for the special equipment they use, such as waffle irons, ice cream machines, and refrigerators. In addition, since food trucks and vans frequently operate in crowded areas, insurance should cover any damage caused to other vendors or market-goers.

Modified Vans: Custom Coverage for Custom Vehicles

Modified vans are another category of non-standard commercial vehicles that require specialised insurance. Many vendors at Christmas markets choose to modify their vans to suit their business needs. This could include adding kitchen equipment, creating an open counter for customer service, or installing custom signage.

If your van has been modified, you’ll need to ensure that your vehicle insurance policy reflects these changes. Whether you’ve installed a kitchen, altered the interior layout, or made other significant modifications, it’s vital to have coverage that protects these changes. Failure to inform your insurer about modifications may result in your policy becoming invalid, leaving you at risk if an incident occurs.

Drivers with Convictions: How to Get Insurance

For some vendors, finding non-standard commercial vehicle insurance can be even more complicated if the driver has past convictions. Many insurers view drivers with convictions as high-risk, which can make it harder to find affordable coverage.

However, it’s not impossible to get insurance as a driver with convictions. Certain insurance providers specialise in covering high-risk drivers. These policies may be more expensive, but they are available for those who need them. It’s essential to fully disclose any driving convictions to your insurer so that your policy remains valid.

Coffee Horse Box: Insuring a Unique Business Model

A growing trend among Christmas market vendors is the coffee horse box. These charming, converted horse boxes are perfect for serving coffee in a unique and picturesque way. However, like food trucks and other modified vehicles, coffee horse boxes have unique insurance needs.

Non-standard insurance for coffee horse boxes should cover the vehicle, equipment, and any public liability. Additionally, since these boxes are often parked at crowded events, coverage for theft, vandalism, and damage is essential. Ensuring that both the vehicle and the business operations are adequately protected can give you peace of mind during the busy Christmas season.

Get the Right Non-Standard Commercial Vehicle Insurance

Non-standard commercial vehicle insurance is essential for Christmas market vendors who operate food trucks, drink carts, modified vans, and coffee horse boxes. These specialized vehicles require tailored coverage to ensure both the vehicle and business are protected. Whether you're serving delicious food or hot beverages, the right insurance policy will give you peace of mind as you focus on making the most of the festive season.

If you're unsure which insurance policy is right for your vehicle, it's always best to consult with a professional insurance broker. With the right coverage, you can continue serving customers with confidence and enjoy a successful Christmas market season.

Get in touch with our insurance experts today to ensure your Christmas market vehicle is properly covered.

Email: info@dolmen-insurance.ie
Phone: 01 867 2121