What Insurance Do You Need For a Garage?

First thing’s first, though - did you know that when you rent out your garage for storage with us, we’ll cover your Renter’s belongings to the tune of up to £1,000 whilst it’s staying in your space (excluding cars). But for everything else, well, we’ve got you covered - just read on.
 

What is Garage Insurance?

Garage insurance does exactly what it says on the tin. It offers financial compensation for the structure and contents of your garage, protecting it against flood and fire damage, as well as theft.

The type of insurance you get will depend on what you plan on storing in your garage.

Do I Need Garage Insurance If I Have Home Insurance?

The general rule of thumb is that your garage will be protected by your home insurance policy, once it is within the boundaries of your property. However, be sure to check what your home insurance covers, as there might be a limit on the amount of cover your garage receives.

On the other hand, if your garage is a separate structure (ie: a lock-up garage), it might not be covered by your home insurance. Be sure to let your insurance provider know the location of your garage, as they’ll be able to advise on what cover you’ll get.
 

Should I Insure My Garage Contents Separately?

If you plan on storing high-cost items in your garage, it is probably best to insure its contents independently from your garage insurance policy itself. Some policies will cover the contents of your garage up to a certain value. As you could be keeping belongings which are worth thousands of pounds - from sports equipment to major household items - it’s worth calculating the value of it all to make sure your policy covers everything, should you ever need to make a claim.

Insurance for vehicles

If you’re storing a car or motorbike in your garage, they’ll be covered by your car or motorbike insurance, rather than any insurance you have for the garage.

Insurance for bikes

Sometimes there could be particular rules around bicycles. For instance, your insurer might expect your bike to be secured, even whilst in a locked garage. In addition, your insurer might also want you to take out a separate insurance policy to cover your bicycle, especially if it’s a particularly valuable model.

Remember: contents insurance for your garage will cover your bike if it’s stolen or damaged whilst it’s sat in the garage. You’ll most likely need extra cover to protect it when you're using it outside of your home.

Insurance for other individual items

When storing other important items in your garage - from musical instruments, to sports and workout equipment, household appliances etc - they’ll all need to be insured. That way, should you encounter any problems like theft or damage, you’ll be able to make a claim as your items are protected - phew!

How to Improve the Security of Your Garage

Did you know that investing in the security of your garage or lock-up will be beneficial when it comes to your insurance? Simply put, improving the security of your space could lower the cost of your premiums and boost your cover.

And be warned: if your garage isn’t locked, insurers won’t provide cover for theft, so it’s important to make sure you take the necessary precautions when securing your garage. You could improve the locks or, depending on what the entrance to your garage looks like, you might consider door bolts, defenders, or a mortice deadlock if you have a side door. A smoke detector and burglar alarm can be handy against fires and theft, whilst security lights might ward off intruders if you can’t hear them yourself.
 

Using a garage adds another level of security when it comes to storing your valuables and, while upping your security can take this even further, having the correct garage and garage contents insurance in place means you can keep your possessions safe under all circumstances.

When you rent out your garage with Stashbee, you’ll want to make sure you’ve taken all the precautions you can to ensure the safety of your space. And to help you out, we’ll insure your Renter’s belongings up to £1,000. Likewise if you’re looking to rent a garage or lock-up to store your stuff, you can be safe in the knowledge that your things will be secure. Peace of mind, guaranteed.