Container insurance
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Discussion

Drawweight

Original Poster:

3,338 posts

132 months

Monday 16th December 2024
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I’m not sure if this is the correct part of the forum. Mods move if necessary.

Our archery club has obtained a 40ft container partly storage and partly workshop. It’s sited at a local leisure centre where we are building a field course.

We’ve looked for quotes for insurance and the only one we’ve had so far is for £600 which seems a bit steep. Does this sound reasonable and can anyone recommend any companies we can try.

It will contain club bows and power tools so possible £3k max value.

Paul Drawmer

5,056 posts

283 months

Tuesday 17th December 2024
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I worked in insurance before I retired. The underwriters do not like storage container risks.
I would have thought you've done well to actually get a quote.

PT1984

2,934 posts

199 months

Tuesday 17th December 2024
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Ensure a good quality closed shackle padlock is installed with a protective shroud. Probably another two locks on the levers too.

eein

1,502 posts

281 months

Tuesday 17th December 2024
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A hazardous chemical sticker on the door that says "Anthrax storage". So long as your local criminals can read that'd be pretty cheap insurance!

andy43

11,784 posts

270 months

Tuesday 17th December 2024
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We store paperwork in 40 foot containers on a professional storage site - they must have insurance - might be worth asking self store type places who they use?

MOMACC

519 posts

53 months

Tuesday 17th December 2024
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That's reasonable.

However in 5 years you'll have paid more in premium than the contents value.

I'd be self insuring for such a low total sum insured.

What is the excess?

Drawweight

Original Poster:

3,338 posts

132 months

Tuesday 17th December 2024
quotequote all
MOMACC said:
That's reasonable.

However in 5 years you'll have paid more in premium than the contents value.

I'd be self insuring for such a low total sum insured.

What is the excess?
I’m tempted to go that way but others in the club I suspect are more risk averse. I don’t know any details about the policy itself, just the total cost. As someone said above I think we’re struggling to get quotes.

The container itself is not visible to anyone just passing and has 2 good locks on it so is probably pretty safe. I’ll raise the subject of just doing without and see how it’s received.

alscar

6,666 posts

229 months

Tuesday 17th December 2024
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Drawweight said:
I’m not sure if this is the correct part of the forum. Mods move if necessary.

Our archery club has obtained a 40ft container partly storage and partly workshop. It’s sited at a local leisure centre where we are building a field course.

We’ve looked for quotes for insurance and the only one we’ve had so far is for £600 which seems a bit steep. Does this sound reasonable and can anyone recommend any companies we can try.

It will contain club bows and power tools so possible £3k max value.
A 20% rate sounds pretty expensive.
I would try a local Insurance broker and get them to do the work.

Neptune188

330 posts

193 months

Tuesday 17th December 2024
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I'm in the "good locks and self insure" camp.

The container I used to use that housed a small fortune worth of aircraft spares (and now plays host to a de-rigged aircraft worth multiples of your kit) had a shield over the lock which meant short of an angle grinder and a lot of patience you weren't getting in (There was no access to the locking bar - you could only get access for the key). No pictures to hand unfortunately.

PT1984

2,934 posts

199 months

Tuesday 17th December 2024
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Neptune188 said:
I'm in the "good locks and self insure" camp.

The container I used to use that housed a small fortune worth of aircraft spares (and now plays host to a de-rigged aircraft worth multiples of your kit) had a shield over the lock which meant short of an angle grinder and a lot of patience you weren't getting in (There was no access to the locking bar - you could only get access for the key). No pictures to hand unfortunately.
As said. Exactly this. Steel protective shroud over a suitable padlock.

Thats you there

25 posts

68 months

Tuesday 17th December 2024
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The trouble is thieves ignore the lock and just cut a hole in the wall

eliot

11,917 posts

270 months

Tuesday 17th December 2024
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eein said:
A hazardous chemical sticker on the door that says "Anthrax storage". So long as your local criminals can read that'd be pretty cheap insurance!
i would go for “asbestos changing room” myself

MOMACC

519 posts

53 months

Tuesday 17th December 2024
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The market for stand alone contents insurance in a steel shipping container in the open is slim - one or 2 specialist MGA's will likely write the business.

It doesn't fit on a combined policy which also has liability insurance, you could look to go down this route via a specialist I.e. sports cover but you'll probably find they want proper club house type buildings and would maybe cover the container if you were also insuring a club house / bar etc.

£600 is cheap
£120 commission to the broker
Admin costs of the insurer, reinsurance and funds into the claims pot it's not necessarily profitable and a total loss rather than a partial loss is more likely.
Actually if a broker approached me asking to underwrite I'd want a grand minimum premium.

OP you need to understand the excess and terms
Certain locks may be required
An alarm may be required
Always understand the small print as it can catch you out.

Drawweight

Original Poster:

3,338 posts

132 months

Wednesday 18th December 2024
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£500 excess on any one claim.

Me, I wouldn't bother but I think I'll have push back.

MOMACC

519 posts

53 months

Wednesday 18th December 2024
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Total sum insured - £3,000
Cost - £600
Excess - £500

If you have a total loss of the £3,000 insured you'll receive £2,500.
Subtract the premium and you're left with £1,900.

Seriously self insure it and put the £600 into a pot each year.

Griffith4ever

5,717 posts

51 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
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Ex firework display company owner here. I know about container security.

You NEED a shrouded lock cover, as mentioned above, and a decent appropriate lock. Below has a pic of the exact type of shroud and lock you want:

https://www.padlocks.co.uk/products/shipping-conta...

With a shroud lock they now look at cutting to gain entry.

Also use a normal padlock on the bottom door clasp thing. This stops the casual observer from pulling the bottom of the door out (bending it) to take a peek inside - though in your case - you might actually want them to see.

MOST importantly, if you want to stop theives getting in the most common way, you need to hire a welder to come and drill 4 holes and weld 4 bars in place. You are basically putting holes inside the door jams, and metal bars welded to the door inside edge - so when the doors close, the metal bars go into the holes. (might be the other way round with the bars and holes).

You do this because THE most common way for container theft is cutting the 4 door hinges with an angle grinder. They are soft steel and easy to cut. The doors just fall off. But, with the metal pins in place they don't.

Just ake sure your container never looks like its a firework store (very common - how 99% of shops and display companies store them - in containers at least 80m from public paths). If crims think it's a pyro store you become a hot target. They will go to extraordinary lengths.

Still, I kept mine discreet and told as few people as possible of its contents and worst that happened is someone stole the solar panel off the roof.

Drawweight

Original Poster:

3,338 posts

132 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
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That’s exactly the kind of lock we have on as well as this one


So there’s 2 locks to cut through.