Self storage is an affordable, user-friendly service. Whether you need a storage unit while moving or remodeling, or you decide to rent one long-term to keep some of your belongings, you’re going to want to get insurance for your stored goods.
So where do you get storage insurance, and how much coverage do you need? We’ve got you. Here’s what you need to know about self storage insurance:
1. Most self storage facilities require that renters have insurance
Most self storage facilities make insurance mandatory for their customers. This rule benefits both customers and facilities––Facilities take precautions to ensure your things are well protected, using security cameras, controlled access, and making sure the units are clean and pest-free. However, there’s always the possibility that unexpected and unwanted events can occur, so it’s better to be fully covered.
Self storage facilities do have insurance policies that cover their liability. If they’re negligent and that causes damages to your belongings, they use their insurance to compensate you. However, this type of insurance doesn’t cover for dangers unrelated to facility upkeep, such as natural disasters.
For that, you need a separate insurance policy covering your stored goods. Make sure you get one that covers risks such as floods, storms, fire, earthquake, but also moth and vermin damage. Read your insurance policy carefully and follow all of the requirements. If the policy says to store your things in waterproof containers, and you disregard that requirement, your insurance could be invalidated.
2. Your existing homeowner or renter insurance might cover for the stored goods
You might not have to purchase a separate policy if you plan to keep your goods in storage. Homeowner or renter policies typically cover for off-premises personal property. However, you should read your policy carefully to determine which risks are covered.
Some policies provide coverage for your belongings while moving and while in temporary storage, but there’s a time limit for benefiting of that coverage–usually no longer than one month.
Other policies don’t have a time limit, but instead have a maximum amount of money the insurance company will pay for your losses. Usually, the cap for belongings kept outside the home will total about 10% of the policy’s dwelling coverage. In other words, if you have $50,000 in personal property coverage for belongings kept at home, the maximum coverage for the goods in a storage unit will be $5,000.
Read your existing homeowner or renter policy to determine whether it covers off-premises property, what risks you’re protected from, and your maximum coverage limit. Contact your insurance company if you need help understanding the details of your policy.
3. You can purchase an insurance policy tailored to your unit
If your existing insurance policy doesn’t cover belongings in a storage unit, you can purchase a separate one. There are plenty of companies that offer standalone self storage insurance policies.
It’s important to purchase a policy that covers for a wide variety of risks, including natural disasters, fire and explosion, falling trees or poles, collision by vehicles, water damage from leaking water, theft and vandalism, etc. Also, it’s important to pay attention to the possessions covered in a potential policy. Most policies cover electronics, furniture appliances, machinery, collections, sport equipment, but won’t cover for currency, for example.
4. Storage companies provide their own insurance
Storage companies usually offer their own insurance policies when renting a self storage unit. That’s a good option, especially if you don’t want to waste time shopping around for offers. A great advantage of these policies is that you don’t have to worry about renewing them – the facility will make sure you’re up to date with your insurance.
Ask the facility manager to explain their insurance policies. You’ll want to know the risks and the possessions that are covered, to make sure it suits your needs. If you’re not happy with the terms, you can keep looking for a better one with an outside source. But make sure you settle on a policy before you begin storing your things—it’s essential to have an insurance policy in place as soon as you begin using your unit.
5. The insurance policy should cover the actual value of your belongings
Evaluate your stored belongings properly and get an insurance policy that covers for their actual value. If you’re planning to store high value property, such as jewelry, art, antiques or collections, it’s a good idea to have them insured separately. The standard self storage insurance policy doesn’t have a coverage limit that would compensate for such expensive items.
The best course of action is to take your valuable items to be appraised by professionals, and then shop around for a suitable insurance policy to match. If you’re going to store personal or business vehicles—cars, motorbikes, etc.—in your unit, double check if your existing car insurance or commercial vehicle insurance covers them.
Do you have any other questions about self storage insurance? Let us know in the comments!
RV Storage Ideas: Smart Solutions for Every Space
The best RV storage ideas work by finding space you already have but aren’t using — under beds, inside cabinet doors, on walls, above entry steps and in the overhead bunk. Most RV owners run out of obvious places quickly, but the real storage capacity in a typical trailer or motorhome comes from vertical surfaces, divided compartments and rethinking what each space was designed for.
Kitchen Cabinet Organization Ideas for Less Chaos
The best way to organize kitchen cabinets is to store items where you actually use them: mugs near the coffee maker, plates close to the dishwasher, spices next to the stove. Small placement decisions like these turn crowded cabinets into functional ones, and they cost nothing to implement.
Where to Donate Clothes in NYC: From Pickup to Mutual Aid
Every year, 200,000 tons of clothing end up in NYC landfills — but yours doesn’t have to. Your unwanted clothes have a real second life waiting. Whether it’s a low-income family needing affordable basics, a woman reentering the workforce looking for interview wear, or an undocumented resident accessing free community support, the donation method you choose matters. Plus, there are plenty of convenient ways to go about it. Local mutual aid groups, free pickup services, mail-in programs, workforce nonprofits, and textile recycling — each one routes your clothes to neighbors and causes that need them most. Here’s where to donate clothes in NYC, according to your plans.
The Best U.S. Metros To Own A Boat
Boating is one of America’s favorite pastimes. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, nearly 100 million Americans go boating each year, and recreational boating contributes over $230 billion annually to the U.S. economy. It’s a lifestyle deeply shaped by geography, climate, and local culture.
Packing Tips for Moving in a Hurry: 5 Ways to Speed Things Up
Sometimes a move sneaks up on you and you wind up having to move in a hurry. A job starts sooner than expected, a lease ends abruptly, a sale closes fast, or life simply throws a curveball and suddenly you’re staring at a full house with only days or weeks to empty it. That short timeline can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to mean chaos. With a focused plan and a few smart shortcuts, you can pack up quickly, protect your belongings, and land in your new home without losing your mind.
How to Store Tools Properly: Keep Equipment Rust-Free and Tidy
Good tool storage saves you time, money and the very specific rage of finding a rusted drill you paid good money for. Cleaning, drying and organizing your tools properly keeps them rust-free and findable — and it takes less effort than most people assume. True, nobody wakes up thrilled to organize their tools; it ranks somewhere between cleaning the gutters and reading the terms of service. But here’s how to do it right without the hassle.
Drive-Up Storage Units: Pros, Cons and When They’re Worth It
A drive-up storage unit is a ground-level space with an exterior roll-up door, a lot like a detached garage. Units are usually arranged in rows with wide, paved aisles between them, so you can pull a car, van, or moving truck directly up to your door during access hours. The key feature is the access, and it comes in a few forms:
2026’s Best Cities for Roommates: Irvine, CA And Atlanta, GA, Lead In Shared Living Gains
Americans sharing a two-bedroom apartment instead of renting a one-bedroom alone can save, on average, about $6,700 per year. In some of the country’s most expensive cities, including Irvine, California, or Jersey City, New Jersey, the savings gap widens to around $13,000. For a growing share of renters, living with roommates is less of a lifestyle arrangement and more a conscious financial strategy.
How to Organize Your Kitchen Drawers: Smart, Practical Ideas That Make a Real Difference
The best way to organize your kitchen drawers boils down to a few core principles: give each drawer a specific role, store items close to where you use them, and choose organizers only after you’ve decluttered. Most kitchen drawers aren’t cluttered because of a genuine lack of space but because no one decided what belongs where. Fix that first, and the rest becomes much easier.