Most people choose a container provider on price, then find out the real cost later. A door seal that leaks. A depot four hours from the site. A delivery truck that can’t get down the driveway. A cheap weekly rate doesn’t help much when your stock is sitting in a damp box.
Choosing a reliable container hire and storage provider comes down to five checks: the condition of the container, where the depots are, how the container gets to you, what the contract and insurance cover, and whether the provider can adjust when your plans change. This guide walks through each one for households between moves, builders who need site storage and businesses managing overflow stock.
Start with the container itself
A container is only as good as its seals. Before you hire, ask for photos of the actual unit you’ll get, or inspect it at the depot. Check the door rubbers, the floor and the roof for rust holes, and make sure the doors open and lock without a fight.
Then look for the safety approval plate, usually fixed near the doors. Containers approved under the International Convention for Safe Containers carry this plate, which records the unit’s tested technical data. A missing or unreadable plate means you know very little about the container’s history.
Size matters too. A good provider asks what you’re storing before recommending a size, rather than sending whatever is sitting in the yard. Moving Containers stocks units from 10ft right up to 40ft, including high cubes, side-opening containers and refrigerated units for temperature-sensitive goods.
Check where the depots actually are
Depot location affects cost more than most people expect. Delivery is usually priced on distance, so a provider with one yard in a capital city may charge a lot to reach a regional town.
Moving Containers runs 21 depots across Australia, so your container is likely to be collected and stored close to where you need it. You can find the nearest one on our depot locations page.
It’s also worth asking where your container will sit between jobs. Depot storage is often the better choice for container hire and storage during an interstate move. Plenty of our customers have a gap between leaving the old place and getting the keys to the new one, so we hold the packed container at a depot and deliver it when they’re ready.
Ask how the container gets to you
Hiring a container is the easy part. Moving it is where providers really differ.
Ask whether the company runs its own trucks or hands transport to a subcontractor, because every extra party in the chain is another place for a delivery date to slip. Check site access before delivery day too. The truck needs clear room to set the container down, and soft ground, low branches or a tight driveway can stop a delivery cold. Measure the space and tell the provider about it when you book.
Moving Containers moves containers by road with our own fleet of trucks and trailers, and by rail across Australia’s network for longer interstate runs. Our depots also handle late bookings and emergency transport requests, which helps when a builder’s schedule moves or a settlement date shifts.
Read the contract and insurance before you sign
Get three answers in writing: the minimum hire period, the cost of extending, and who is responsible if your goods are damaged. Don’t assume the provider’s insurance covers your contents. Insurance cover may differ depending on whether your belongings are at your property, stored at a depot or in transit, so check each situation.
We publish our insurance policy online so you can read it before you book, rather than after something goes wrong.
Choose a provider that can grow with you
Needs change halfway through a hire more often than you’d think. A renovation runs over. A business takes on extra stock before Christmas. An event decides it wants a branded container instead of a plain one.
A company that only rents boxes will send you elsewhere when that happens. Moving Containers handles container hire, sales, storage, interstate removals, commercial freight and container modifications under one roof, so the same team can adjust the plan without you starting again.
Ready to book your container?
Finding the right provider takes a few phone calls and some pointed questions, and it saves a lot of hassle later. If you’re after container hire and storage backed by a national depot network and an own transport fleet, Moving Containers is ready to help. Contact our team for a quote, or call 1300 588 115.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I hire a shipping container for storage?
Hire periods vary between providers. Moving Containers offers short-term and long-term container storage, from a few weeks during a renovation to several months between homes. Ask for the minimum hire period and the cost of extending before you book.
Is it better to store a container on my property or at a depot?
On-site storage suits renovations and building projects where you need daily access. Depot storage suits moves, where a packed container needs somewhere secure to wait between homes. Moving Containers can deliver to your property or hold the container at one of 21 depots across Australia.
What size shipping container do I need for storage?
A 20ft shipping container suits smaller moves and general storage, while a 40ft container suits larger relocations and commercial freight. Moving Containers stocks sizes from 10ft to 40ft, so tell our team what you plan to store and we’ll recommend a size.
