How do I choose a portable storage company?
Compare several written quotes, ask direct questions, and pick the company that is clear about price and terms. Price matters, but it is not the only factor. FMCSA warns that hiring on lowest price alone can cost you safety and on-time delivery.
Start with your needs: container size, delivery address, dates and how long you will keep the unit. Then contact more than one company. This guide gives you the questions to ask and what the answers should look like.
Who is NPSA, and what happens when I request a quote?
NPSA is the National Portable Storage Association. It is a trade association for companies that rent, sell or lease portable storage containers, trailers, mobile offices and mobile self-storage units, and for the suppliers who serve them. NPSA does not rent or sell storage itself. Its members do.
When you use the form at Request a quote, the request goes to NPSA member companies. A member company then contacts you. You deal with that company directly for price, delivery and the contract.
This matters for how you read the process. NPSA is not the company that signs your rental agreement. It also does not guarantee a member’s price, service, insurance or licensing. Treat the quote as a starting point and check any company the same way you would check one you found yourself. You can learn more about the group on our association page, or browse the find storage tool.
What should I ask before renting a container?
Ask the questions below and write down the answers. A good company answers plainly. If you get a vague answer, ask again.
| Topic | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Price | What is the total for my dates, with every fee? |
| Fees | What are the delivery and pickup fees, shown separately? |
| Term | What is the minimum rental term? What happens if I keep it longer? |
| Container | What size is it? What is its condition? Is it clean and dry? |
| Delivery | What is the delivery window? What if you are late? |
| Site | What space does the truck need? Who checks my spot? |
| Permits | Who handles a street or HOA permit? |
| Coverage | What does coverage include? What does it exclude? |
| Lock | Do I supply the lock? What kind is allowed? |
| Changes | What if I need to reschedule or cancel? |
| Pickup | How soon after I call will you pick it up? |
For the cost side, see how much portable storage costs so you know what a normal range looks like.
How do I compare quotes fairly?
Put each quote in the same table and add up the total for your dates. Do not compare the monthly rate by itself. PODS advises collecting specific quotes for your area and being clear about the terms and services included.
Use these columns:
- Monthly rent
- Delivery fee
- Pickup fee
- Coverage cost
- Lock or other required items
- Minimum term
- Total for your dates
U-Haul reports that delivery and pickup fees can be one combined charge or two separate ones. A quote that shows one low number may hide the second trip. PODS warns about “first month free” or very low promotions that raise the rent later. It advises reading the fine print.
Ask for the quote by email or text so you have a record. A verbal quote is hard to prove. FMCSA says movers should give a written estimate and that you should not accept verbal ones, which is a good habit for any move.
Is a local company better than a national one?
Neither is better by default. They differ in coverage and in how they handle your site. Compare them on the same terms.
Ask each company, local or national, the same things:
- How well do you know my city’s permit and HOA rules?
- Which areas do you serve, and do you offer one-way routes?
- Who answers the phone if something goes wrong?
- What is your fleet like, and can you swap a container with a problem?
Many companies do not fit a pattern. A local company can have poor service and a national one can have great service. Use the written quote, the agreement and reviews to decide.
For a long-distance move, you may need a company that can pick up in one city and deliver in another. See long-distance moves. For a local project, see portable storage on site.
What should the rental agreement include?
The rental agreement should state every cost and rule in plain words. Read the whole thing before you sign. Do not sign blank pages. FMCSA’s advice is the same for movers: do not sign blank documents, and check that each document is correct before signing.
Look for these items:
- Monthly rent and the billing date
- Delivery fee and pickup charge
- Minimum rental term
- Any security deposit
- Late fees and what happens if you miss a payment
- Cancellation and rescheduling terms
- Who may be on the property when the container is placed
- Damage to the container, your driveway or the lock
- Prohibited items, such as chemicals, perishables or batteries
- Coverage terms, if you buy it
Ask about anything you do not understand. If you have legal concerns about the contract, talk to an attorney.
What about insurance and coverage?
Ask what the company’s coverage covers, and what your own insurance already covers. PODS advises checking your homeowners or renters policy for off-premises coverage, because limits and exclusions vary. U-Haul says optional base coverage commonly costs $10 to $40 a month.
Do not assume. Call your insurance agent and ask whether stored items are covered at your driveway and at a storage center. Ask the provider for the coverage terms in writing. See contents coverage and damage waiver for plain definitions.
NPSA gives no insurance advice here. Your insurance agent can help you decide.
How do I check reviews and registrations?
Read recent reviews on more than one site, and look for patterns. A single bad review can be an outlier. Ten reviews that mention surprise fees or missed deliveries are a signal.
Look for how the company responds. A calm, specific reply to a complaint is a good sign. Silence or anger is not.
For an interstate household goods mover, FMCSA advises checking the company’s registration and complaint history in its mover search tool. It says a U.S. DOT number is required for interstate moves, and requirements for moves within a state vary, so check with your state or local consumer agency. That advice is about movers. A container company that ships your container across state lines may fall under different rules. Ask the company which federal and state rules apply to the service you are buying.
You can also contact your local Better Business Bureau or consumer protection agency, as FMCSA suggests. Check your state and local rules.
What are the red flags?
Walk away if the company will not put terms in writing. Be careful if the company rushes you. Other warning signs follow.
- No written, itemized quote
- Pressure to sign or pay right away
- A refusal to explain fees
- No U.S. DOT number in ads, where the service is an interstate move. FMCSA says to avoid movers and brokers that do not show one.
- Reviews that repeat the same complaint
- A contract with blank lines
What should I check about the container itself?
Ask about condition, size, door type and lock. A container should be clean, dry and in good repair. Ask whether the provider will swap it if you find a problem.
PODS notes that its containers are weather-resistant, not completely waterproof, and not climate-controlled. If you have items that are sensitive to heat or humidity, ask about options. See what not to store in portable storage.
Confirm the size too. Sizes vary by company, and weight limits matter. PODS lists limits of 5,200 pounds for an 8-foot container, 4,700 pounds for 12 feet and 4,200 pounds for 16 feet. Check what size container you need and ask for your provider’s limit. For product types, see portable storage containers and mobile self-storage.
What should I do on delivery and pickup day?
Be present if you can, and check the work. FMCSA advises watching the loading and unloading of a move, and asks you to have someone act for you if you cannot. The same sense applies to a container drop.
- Confirm the delivery window the day before.
- Walk the driver to the spot you chose.
- Inspect the container for damage and take photos.
- Check that the door opens and locks.
- Keep your paperwork and the driver’s name.
- On pickup, take photos again before the container leaves.
Prepare your site before the truck arrives. See how to prepare your site and permits and HOA rules.
Next step
Ready to compare? Send one request and an NPSA member company near you will contact you with a written quote. Then check the answers against the list above. Start at Request a quote.