Garage Insurance

Ever wondered if your garage and everything in it is properly protected? Whether you’re storing a classic car, tools worth hundreds of pounds, or just using it for general storage, garage insurance might be more important than you think. 

Let’s break down what it covers, when you need it, and how to get sorted.

What is garage insurance?

Garage insurance is specialist insurance cover designed to protect your garage and its contents. Think of it as a safety net for everything from your motorbike to your power tools, plus the garage structure itself.

Most people assume their home insurance policy covers everything on their property, but that’s not always the case. If your garage is detached from your house, used for business purposes, or contains high-value items, you might need separate garage insurance to ensure you’re properly covered.

Types of garage insurance cover

Contents insurance for garages

Contents insurance covers the belongings you store in your garage. This includes:

• Tools and equipment
• Bicycles and motorbikes
• Garden furniture
• Sports equipment
• Personal possessions
• Valuable items like vintage car parts

Most contents insurance policies have a single item limit, so if you’ve got expensive tools or a valuable bike, check whether they’re fully covered or if you need extra cover for high-value items.

Buildings insurance for garage structures

If your garage is detached or you’re responsible for its structure (common with lock-up garages), you’ll need buildings insurance to cover:

• The garage structure itself
• Garage doors
• Damage from storms, fire, or vandalism
• Accidental damage to the building

Specialist garage insurance

Some situations need more specific cover:

• Motor trade insurance: If you run a car repair business from your garage, you’ll need motor trade insurance that covers customer vehicles and provides public liability insurance.
• Commercial garage insurance: For business premises, standard home contents insurance won’t cut it. You’ll need business insurance that covers your equipment and liability.

What does garage insurance typically cover?

Most garage insurance policies protect against the usual suspects that could damage your garage or nick your belongings.

What’s covered	Details
Theft and break-ins	Contents stolen by a burglar
Fire damage	Damage to garage and contents from fire
Storm damage	Weather-related damage to structure and belongings
Vandalism	Malicious damage to your garage or contents
Accidental damage	Some policies cover accidental damage to contents

Common exclusions to watch for

Not everything’s covered under garage insurance. Here are typical exclusions you should know about:

• Wear and tear: Normal deterioration over time
• Poor maintenance: Damage from neglect
• Items left outside: Things not actually stored inside the garage
• Business equipment: Unless you have commercial cover
• Unattended vehicles: Some policies exclude cars left in garages long-term
• Detached garage damage: If your detached garage is damaged by covered perils but your main dwelling isn’t affected, many policies won’t cover it
• Single-peril claims on detached garages: Some insurers only cover detached outbuildings when the main house is also damaged by the same incident

This detached garage limitation is particularly important for storm damage, fire, or flood claims where the garage might be affected but your house escapes unharmed.

Always read the policy documents to understand exactly what’s excluded from your garage insurance cover.

How much does garage insurance cost?

The insurance cost for your garage depends on several factors. At Lemonade, insuring both the contents inside your garage and the structure itself starts at just £14/mo.

Factors affecting your insurance premiums

Location matters: Garages in areas with higher crime rates or flood risks will cost more to insure. Postcodes in major cities or high-risk areas can see insurance premiums increase by 20-50%.

Contents value: The more valuable your garage contents, the higher your premium. Insurance providers calculate risk based on potential payout amounts.

Security measures: Good security can significantly reduce costs:

• Basic security: Standard premium
• Enhanced security (alarms, CCTV): 10-20% discount
• Professional monitoring: Up to 30% discount

Garage type and construction:

• Attached garage: Generally cheaper
• Detached garage: Higher premiums due to increased risk
• Lock-up garage away from home: Most expensive option

What are the security requirements for garage insurance claims

When you need to make a claim, your insurer will check whether you’ve met their security requirements. Fail these standards, and your claim could be rejected.

Minimum security standards

Most garage insurance policies require basic security as a condition of cover:

• Five-lever mortice locks on all external doors
• Window locks on accessible windows
• Always locked when unattended – even briefly
• No keys left in obvious hiding spots

What happens if security fails?

Unlocked garage: If a burglar walks into an unlocked garage, most insurers will refuse the claim. You must take “reasonable care” to protect your belongings.

Poor maintenance: Broken locks, rotten door frames, or damaged windows that make forced entry easier could invalidate your cover entirely.

Enhanced security benefits

Going beyond minimum requirements could reduce your insurance cost and strengthens your claim position:

• Professionally installed alarms
• CCTV with recording capability
• Motion-activated lighting
• Window bars or security film

High-value contents: Expensive tools or vehicles often require enhanced security measures like monitored alarms.

Keep evidence

Document your security measures with photos, receipts, and maintenance records. Insurers investigate thoroughly – proper security with evidence of forced entry gets treated very differently from basic security failures.

The bottom line: invest in proper security measures, maintain them, and always use them. Your insurance depends on it.

Do I need standalone garage insurance?

When your home insurance might not be enough

Your standard home insurance policy might not provide adequate cover if:

• Your garage is detached from your house
• You use it for business purposes
• You store high-value items that exceed your policy limits
• You rent a lock-up garage away from your property
• Your garage doesn’t meet the security measures required by your insurer

Assessing your garage contents

Take stock of what you’re actually storing. Common garage contents and their typical values:

• Basic tools: £200-500
• Professional tool kit: £1,000-3,000
• Mountain bike: £500-2,000
• Motorbike: £2,000-10,000+
• Classic car: £5,000-50,000+

If the total value exceeds your home contents insurance limits, or you’ve got individual items worth more than your single item limit, you’ll need additional cover.

How to reduce your garage insurance cost

Security measures that make a difference

Insurance providers love good security. Here’s what can help reduce your insurance premiums:

• Proper locks: Five-lever mortice locks on doors
• Window security: Bars or security film on windows
• Alarm systems: Monitored alarms for high-value contents
• CCTV: Visible cameras as a deterrent
• Lighting: Motion-activated security lighting

Other cost-saving tips

• Shop around: Get multiple insurance quotes to compare prices
• Increase your excess: Higher voluntary excess can lower premiums
• Bundle policies: Some insurance providers offer discounts for multiple policies
• Annual payments: Paying yearly instead of monthly often saves money

How to get a garage insurance quote

Getting a garage insurance quote is straightforward, whether you’re adding cover to your existing home insurance policy or looking for standalone protection. Here’s how to get sorted:

If your garage is attached to your home

Most attached garages can be covered under your standard home insurance policy. When getting a home insurance quote, you’ll need to tell them:

About your home:

• Your postcode and property type
• Whether you have a garage and other outbuildings
• Construction details like what it’s built from

About your contents:

• Total replacement value of everything in your home and garage
• Expensive garage items like tools, bikes, or gym equipment
• Whether you need extra cover for high-value items that exceed the single item limit

About your usage:

• Whether it’s just domestic storage or if you run any business activities

For detached or commercial garages

You’ll likely need a specialist garage insurance policy. When getting quotes, insurers will ask for:

• Garage location: Exact postcode and distance from your main home
• Construction details: What the garage is built from and roof type
• Security measures: What locks, alarms, or CCTV you have in place
• Contents value: Detailed list of what you’re storing and its total worth
• Usage: Personal storage, business use, or motor trade activities
• Claims history: Any previous insurance claims you’ve made

Choosing the right insurance provider

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates all insurance providers and brokers, so check they have proper authorisation before buying. Look for insurers who specialise in garage cover if you need more than basic protection.

Many comparison sites can help you get multiple quotes quickly, but for specialist cover like motor trade insurance or high-value contents, speaking directly to insurance experts often gets you better deals.

Bottom line

Garage insurance fills important gaps that your standard home insurance policy might leave. Whether you need contents cover for your belongings, buildings insurance for the structure, or specialist motor trade insurance for your business, the right level of cover protects you from unexpected costs.

Before assuming your home insurance covers everything, check your policy documents and assess what’s actually in your garage. A quick call to insurance experts or getting a few quotes online can help you understand exactly what protection you need.

The insurance cost is typically modest compared to replacing everything if the worst happens. Plus, knowing your garage and its contents are properly protected gives you proper reassurance.

Garage insurance FAQs