---
title: "What insurance riders and deductibles should self-storage owners consider?"
description: "**Short answer:** Riders Mark considers must-haves: wrongful disposition (claims related to auctions), environmental hazard (cleaning up something a tenant left behind) and cyber coverage. On deductibles, a rule of thumb he heard from an insurance specialist: don’t file a claim…"
url: "https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.com/docs/insurance-riders-and-deductibles-self-storage/"
updated: "2026-10-16"
category: "Operations & Management"
---

# What insurance riders and deductibles should self-storage owners consider?

**Short answer:** Riders Mark considers must-haves: wrongful disposition (claims related to auctions), environmental hazard (cleaning up something a tenant left behind) and cyber coverage. On deductibles, a rule of thumb he heard from an insurance specialist: don’t file a claim unless it is at least three times your deductible.

## Riders

- **Wrongful disposition.** Covers claims and lawsuits arising from auctions. Make sure you are covered whether you followed the process correctly or made a mistake; even a baseless suit can raise rates. Some carriers split this across two riders.
- **Environmental hazard.** Covers cleanup when a tenant leaves hazardous material in a unit, which can’t simply be thrown away.
- **Cyber.** Newer to Mark, but facilities have been hacked, and the cost of the rider is small compared with the exposure.

## Deductibles

Mark has long favored the highest deductible an owner can comfortably afford. The “3x rule” from insurance specialist Terry Campbell: claims smaller than about three times the deductible are often better paid yourself, because the premium increases that follow a claim can cost as much over the next few years. That can also help you decide what deductible to carry.

Check whether your deductible applies per claim or per building; many owners are surprised. Review coverage with a licensed insurance professional.

## Related answers

- [How can self-storage owners lower their property insurance costs?](/docs/lower-self-storage-property-insurance-costs/)
- [Should self-storage facilities make tenant insurance mandatory?](/docs/mandatory-tenant-insurance/)
- [Why should self-storage owners auction delinquent units promptly?](/docs/when-to-auction-delinquent-units/)

**Source:** Mark’s post [Insurance Shock: How Self-Storage Owners Can Fight Back in 2026](/insurance-shock-how-self-storage-owners-can-fight-back-in-2026/)

**Want Mark’s full system?**Get his free 3-part video series on finding, analyzing and buying self-storage.

[Watch the free series](https://thequickstartacademy.com/p/free-3-part-video-series)