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Self Storage Insurance Australia (SSIA)
Get A Quote (Goods in Storage)

Is my storage unit insured?

Many people assume their self-storage facility automatically covers the contents inside their unit. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Here's how to check.
See what to check
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The short answer

Usually, no. A storage facility's own insurance is generally there to protect the facility and its business. It is rarely set up to pay for the belongings customers keep in their units.

That leaves three places to check: your storage agreement, your home and contents policy, and whether you have cover of your own.

Check your storage agreement

Start with the agreement you signed when you took the unit. It may explain what the facility is responsible for, and whether you are expected to arrange insurance for your own goods.

If the facility mentions insurance, ask what it actually covers. The facility's policy protects the facility. It is generally not arranged for the belongings each customer stores.

Check your home and contents policy

Some home and contents policies extend to goods kept in commercial storage. Others do not. Where they do, the cover often has limits, such as a lower maximum amount or extra conditions.

Look for the part of your policy wording that deals with contents away from home, or ask your insurer directly. The checklist below lists the questions worth asking.

Consider cover of your own

If neither covers your goods, or the cover is limited, you can arrange insurance yourself. SSIA Storage Insurance is designed for people who have goods in storage and either have no insurance for them or only limited cover.

The policy is in your name, as shown in your policy schedule. It does not cover the storage facility.

At SSIA, we believe you're the best judge of what protection your stored items need.

Two guides go further

What to check, in one list

Work through these before you rely on any single policy.

  • Your storage agreement

    What the facility says it is responsible for, and whether you are expected to insure your own goods.

  • The facility's own insurance

    Ask whether it covers customers' goods at all. It is generally there to protect the facility's business.

  • Your home and contents policy

    Whether it extends to goods in commercial storage, the most it will pay, and any conditions that apply.

  • Which events are covered

    Every policy lists the events it covers and the ones it excludes. Check how each treats flood, theft and accidental damage.

  • What your goods are worth

    Keep an up-to-date list of what you have stored, so any sum insured is enough to repair or replace it.

  • Where and when cover applies

    Some cover stops when goods leave the unit. SSIA Storage Insurance does not cover goods in transit, or during loading and unloading.

Cover of your own,
in brief.

SSIA Storage Insurance covers your household goods, personal effects and contents while they are in storage at an SSIA approved self-storage facility.

Get A Quote (Goods in Storage)Goods in Storage insurance

General advice only. It does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDF, opens in a new tab) and Target Market Determination (PDF, opens in a new tab) before deciding if Goods in Storage insurance (called SSIA Storage Insurance in the PDS) is right for you. The quote button opens the SSIA quote portal.

Where
Inside your locked unit or secured area at an SSIA approved facility. Not in transit, or during loading and unloading.
What
Physical loss or damage directly caused by one of the insured events listed in the policy schedule:
  • Accidental damage
  • Fire
  • Lightning
  • Impact
  • Explosion
  • Earthquake
  • Tsunami
  • Aircraft
  • Riots and strikes
  • Malicious damage
  • Rainwater
  • Storm or tempest
  • Theft following forcible entry
How long
A set number of months, up to 12 months, bought through the SSIA online portal. Policies are not renewable, so for longer storage you take out a new policy.
Not covered
Flood from rivers, lakes or dams, wear and tear, pests and mould, poor packing and unexplained loss, among other exclusions.
Not insurable
Vehicles, fuel and chemicals, cash and bullion, perishables, and jewellery or artwork above set values, among other items.

These are the insured events listed in the policy schedule. Your own schedule confirms your cover. Theft is covered only following forcible entry. Rainwater is not flood, and flood is excluded. This is a summary. The Product Disclosure Statement (PDF, opens in a new tab) and Target Market Determination (PDF, opens in a new tab) set out the full terms, conditions, limits and exclusions.

Questions about storage cover

What should I ask my home insurer?

Ask whether your policy covers goods kept in a commercial storage unit, the most it will pay for them, which events are covered and excluded, and whether any other conditions apply. You can also find these answers in your policy wording.

Are my goods covered while I move them into storage?

Not under SSIA Storage Insurance. Cover applies while your goods are inside your locked storage unit or secured area at the facility. It does not cover goods in transit, or while they are being loaded or unloaded, so check what other cover you have for moving day.

How much should I insure my goods for?

It is up to you. Choose a sum insured that is enough to repair or replace your goods, and keep an up-to-date, itemised list of what you have stored. Under SSIA Storage Insurance, items that are not individually listed are settled at their market value immediately before the loss.

Is SSIA Storage Insurance right for me?

It is designed for people who have goods in storage at an SSIA approved facility and either have no insurance for them or only limited cover. Read the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination before you decide whether it suits your needs.

Know where
you stand.

Once you've checked what you already have, choose your next step.

General advice only. It does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDF, opens in a new tab) and Target Market Determination (PDF, opens in a new tab) before deciding if Goods in Storage insurance (called SSIA Storage Insurance in the PDS) is right for you. The quote button opens the SSIA quote portal.