HOW TO HIRE · EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a food truck in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A food truck hire in Ireland costs €300–€1,200 per event, typically around €600. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a food truck in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers food truck work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — customisation Options — many food trucks offer customisation for events, allowing you to create a unique dining experience.
- How does menu selection change the price?It decides whether the work can be done in one go. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of the event change the price?The duration you choose is the main thing you control. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does number of guests change the price?Numbers decide whether one person can manage it alone. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Typically, food truck hire does not cover venue rental, permits, or additional equipment outside of the truck — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a food truck job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Public liability insurance at the level YOUR VENUE requires — ask the venue first, then the supplier, because the venue sets the number; For anything with a structure or a ride, the inspection or test certificate; A written contract with the date, the hours, the set-up time and the overtime rate; What happens if they are ill — a named arrangement, not reassurance; Whether they have played your venue before, and what the power and access are like; PAT testing on their equipment, which many venues ask to see.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers food truck work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — customisation Options — many food trucks offer customisation for events, allowing you to create a unique dining experience.
A good answer: It decides whether the work can be done in one go. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The duration you choose is the main thing you control. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Numbers decide whether one person can manage it alone. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Typically, food truck hire does not cover venue rental, permits, or additional equipment outside of the truck — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a food truck job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew — equipment and Setup — the hire includes the food truck itself, equipped with all necessary cooking equipment and supplies.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the food truck starts, and an itemised invoice after — staffing Services — most food truck hires come with trained staff who manage cooking, serving, and clean-up.
Getting the quote right
- Menu selection — it decides whether the work can be done in one go.
- Duration of the event — the duration you choose is the main thing you control.
- Number of guests — numbers decide whether one person can manage it alone.
- Travel distance — travel is the difference between two otherwise identical quotes.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: menu selection — it decides whether the work can be done in one go
- They will not talk about it: duration of the event — the duration you choose is the main thing you control
- They will not talk about it: number of guests — numbers decide whether one person can manage it alone
- A price for the food truck before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the food truck has begun
What a food truck costs: €300–€1,200 per event
The figures are for the job, per event, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Wedding catering and Corporate events each carry their own band. Food Truck Hire price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Food truck operators near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstMenu selection — it decides whether the work can be done in one go — that is what the food truck is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneDuration of the event — the duration you choose is the main thing you control — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfNumber of guests — numbers decide whether one person can manage it alone — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherTravel distance — travel is the difference between two otherwise identical quotes — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the food truck is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, check that the food truck has the necessary health and safety certifications.
- Staffing Services
- Most food truck hires come with trained staff who manage cooking, serving, and clean-up.
- Equipment and Setup
- The hire includes the food truck itself, equipped with all necessary cooking equipment and supplies.
- Customisation Options
- Many food trucks offer customisation for events, allowing you to create a unique dining experience.
- Corporate Events
- Catering for business functions, offering quick service and a variety of meal choices for employees and guests.
- Birthday Parties
- Customised food truck services for birthday celebrations, featuring fun and festive menu options.
- Festivals and Fairs
- Serving large crowds at public events with diverse food offerings to cater to different tastes.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a food truck: questions people ask
The cost of food truck hire can vary based on factors such as the menu selection, duration of the event, number of guests, and travel distance. Premium ingredients or specialised cuisine may also increase the overall price.
You can typically hire a food truck for a few hours to a full day, depending on your event's needs. Most services have flexible packages that can accommodate short events or longer celebrations.
Many food truck services offer emergency or same-day availability, but this can depend on their schedule and demand. It's best to contact them directly to check availability for last-minute bookings.
Yes, many food truck services can coordinate multiple trucks or related services, such as dessert carts or beverage stations, to create a comprehensive catering solution for your event. Check that the food truck has the necessary health and safety certifications.
Typically, food truck hire does not cover venue rental, permits, or additional equipment outside of the truck. It's important to clarify what is included in your package to avoid unexpected costs.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
MORE GUIDES