Buy a coffee truck in United Kingdom? Start by choosing turnkey vs conversion: ready-to-trade vans run £18k–£45k used; quality new builds £35k–£90k; trailers £12k–£25k. Prioritize a Euro 6, sub‑3.5t chassis (Transit/Sprinter) with ≥1,000 kg payload to meet ULEZ/Clean Air Zones and avoid O‑licensing. Source from Auto Trader Vans, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and UK specialists like Coffee Latino and The Big Coffee—then inspect with a checklist: documented service history, rust (sills/chassis rails), watertight hatch, non‑slip/wipeable surfaces, separate handwash sink and hot water, extraction, LPG locker vented to floor, PAT and Gas Safe certificates, and a 16A/32A commando inlet. Power dictates service speed: a dual‑fuel Fracino 2‑group with LPG boiler plus 3kW electrics is reliable off‑grid; pair with a quiet 5–7kW inverter generator or 5–10kWh lithium pack; fit water filtration/softener and 40–100L tanks. Decide spec by your pitch: city commuting needs compact footprint and Euro 6; festivals need high throughput (two grinders, 2‑group, fast fridge, POS with 4G router). Before trading, register as a food business (28 days), secure street‑trading permission or private‑land agreements, and carry £5m public/product liability. Negotiate price on missing kit, request build photos/warranties, and consider asset finance and VAT status (invoice VAT vs margin scheme) to budget accurately.
