Mobile self storage vs Safestore. Which is cheaper for a house move in Oxfordshire?
For a 1-bedroom flat’s worth of storage in Oxfordshire or west Berkshire, Faringdon Removals mobile self storage costs £30 per week + £99 one-off collection. Safestore Oxford and Safestore Swindon typically charge £30–£50 per week for a comparable 25–35 sqft unit, plus mandatory insurance of around £6–£10/month, plus £80–£120 in van hire to fill it. Safestore wins if you genuinely need 24/7 access to your stuff. We win on total cost and on your time, which is almost always the bigger number.
The comparison table
Prices typical, verified May 2026. Safestore hides unit pricing behind postcode quote forms. Ranges below are from Oxford OX2 and Swindon SN1 lookups.
| Faringdon Removals (mobile) | Safestore Oxford / Swindon | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Pod delivered to your driveway | Drive-up warehouse unit you fill yourself |
| 250cuft / ~30sqft weekly rent | £30/wk inc VAT | ~£35–£50/wk |
| 125cuft / ~15sqft weekly rent | £20/wk inc VAT | ~£25–£35/wk |
| 35cuft / 1m³ weekly rent | £10/wk inc VAT | n/a (minimum unit ~15–25 sqft) |
| Collection fee | £99 one-off | £0 (you drive there) |
| Required insurance | Included up to £5,000 | ~£6–£10/month added to bill |
| Van hire to fill unit | Not needed | £80–£120 typical |
| Driving days for you | 0 | 2 (load + unload) |
| Minimum term | 4 weeks | 1 month (paid upfront) |
| Access during storage | Return delivery £99 | 24/7 drive-up access |
| Total 12-week cost | £459 | £604 |
Safestore’s listed price almost never includes their store insurance fee, which is mandatory. Always ask for the total including insurance before you compare.
When Safestore wins
- You genuinely need to drop in 2+ times a week to add, remove, or check items. Daily/weekly access is their core advantage and we can’t match it. Every retrieval from us costs another £99 collection.
- You’re storing a business inventory that needs frequent picking (e.g. e-commerce stock).
- Your home has no driveway, no front parking, and no agreeable on-street space for an 8m × 3m trailer to sit for a day.
- You live walking distance from a Safestore branch and value the convenience over the price difference.
Their 24/7 drive-up access is real and useful for the right job. We don’t pretend otherwise.
When mobile wins
- You’re moving house (the universal case: load once, gone).
- You’re renovating and need rooms cleared for weeks or months.
- You’re decluttering or downsizing and want to make decisions at leisure.
- You’re putting student gear away for the summer.
- You don’t want to spend two Saturdays driving carloads to a warehouse.
- You want one published, all-in price with no insurance surprises.
The honest trade-offs
- Access: Safestore wins on access, full stop. If that’s your priority, choose them. We need 24–48 hours’ notice and a £99 return delivery fee for each retrieval.
- Driveway dependency: Our trailer needs ~8m × 3m of accessible standing space at your address. No driveway and no available on-street space means mobile won’t work. Safestore will.
- Insurance handling: We include £5,000 goods-in-storage cover in the rent. Safestore quotes it separately and it’s typically £6–£10/month on top. Easy to miss when comparing headline weekly figures.
FAQ
What does Safestore charge for a small unit in Oxford?
Based on Safestore Oxford OX2 quotes pulled May 2026: ~£25–£35/week for 15 sqft, ~£35–£50/week for 25–35 sqft, plus the mandatory store insurance fee (~£6–£10/month). Re-verify quarterly. Safestore raises prices roughly annually.
Is Safestore insurance really mandatory?
Yes. You can sometimes use your own household contents policy if it explicitly covers off-site self storage, but most don’t. Safestore will sell you their cover by default. Our £5,000 cover is included in the rent at no extra charge.
How much van hire am I really looking at for Safestore?
A Luton from Enterprise or a one-day SWB Transit from Hertz is typically £80–£120 inc insurance and fuel, plus your time driving. Two trips (load and unload) is the minimum, often three for a 1-bed.
Can I get 24/7 access with Faringdon Removals?
No. Our pods live on pallet racking at our depot. They’re not designed for walk-up access. You book a return delivery (£99) to bring the pod back to your driveway when you need it. If you need daily/weekly access, Safestore is the right tool.
How does the 12-week total work out?
Us: £99 + (£30 × 12 weeks) = £459 all in. Safestore Oxford typical 25 sqft: (£40 × 12) + £100 van hire + ~£24 insurance over 3 months = £604. We’re ~24% cheaper on cash before counting your driving time.