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What Food Hygiene Certificate Do I Need to Run a Food Truck or Street Food Stall?
Mobile catering is one of the fastest-growing corners of UK food business, and it comes with a few extra questions on top of the usual ones — mainly: which council do you register with if you’re moving around? Here’s the full picture.
The short version
- You register your mobile food business once, with the local authority where your vehicle or unit is based — not with every council area you trade in.
- That registration is then recognised UK-wide, so you can legally trade at markets and events in other areas without re-registering each time.
- The training expectation is the same as any other food business: Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety for anyone preparing and cooking the food.
Registering a mobile food business
Just like a fixed premises, you must register your food truck, trailer or stall with your local council at least 28 days before you start trading — free, done online. The key difference for mobile catering is which council: you register with the authority covering wherever your unit is normally kept or based, and that single registration is what you carry with you when trading elsewhere, thanks to mutual recognition between UK local authorities.
Do you need to tell other councils when you trade there?
You don’t need to separately register your business with every area you visit, but market and event organisers will usually still ask to see proof of registration and training before granting you a pitch — it’s their own due diligence, not a legal re-registration. Keep your registration confirmation and training certificate easy to produce.
The training and hygiene standard is the same
A mobile unit isn’t held to a lower food safety standard just because it moves. You need the same core things as any kitchen: safe temperature control, proper cleaning, cross-contamination prevention, and clear allergen information — and the same practical baseline of Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety for anyone actually preparing and cooking the food. Councils inspect mobile units too, usually where the vehicle is based, checking layout, equipment and hygiene standards in the same way they would a fixed kitchen.
Gas, electrical and vehicle safety — a separate set of rules
Worth flagging honestly: food hygiene training covers food safety, not the gas safety certification (if you’re cooking with LPG), electrical checks, or vehicle roadworthiness a mobile catering unit also needs. Those sit under separate regulations entirely and are worth checking with your local authority or a qualified gas engineer before you start trading.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register separately in every town I trade in?
No — one registration with your home local authority covers you nationwide, thanks to mutual recognition between UK councils. Event organisers may still ask to see proof, but you don’t need to re-register.
Is there a different food hygiene certificate specifically for mobile catering?
No — the same Level 1, 2 and 3 Food Hygiene qualifications apply, regardless of whether you’re working from a fixed kitchen or a mobile unit.
What food hygiene rating will my food truck get?
The same Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (England, Wales, NI) or Food Hygiene Information Scheme (Scotland) applies to mobile units as fixed premises, assessed by the council where your vehicle is based.