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Renting and rent to own

Is there a deposit on container rentals?

Updated August 23, 2026 · Answered by Containers Delivered, Woodlawn VA
The short answer

Usually not a large security deposit, just the first month's rent up front, plus any delivery charge if your address falls outside our free 75-mile zone. The exact number depends on the size you pick and where the container is going, so we lay it out in full before the truck ever leaves the yard. Ask for the specific terms when you call.

The number you are actually planning for

Before you book a rental, the real question is not whether a deposit exists in the abstract, it is how much cash you need to have ready before the truck shows up. For most local rentals, that is the first month's rent and nothing more. There is no separate deposit sitting on top of it in most cases.

That is the plain answer people are usually trying to get to when they ask about deposits: what do I need in hand on day one, and is there a second number hiding behind the first.

What tips that number up or down

Two things move the total you owe before delivery, and both are knowable ahead of time rather than a surprise on the invoice:

  • Container size: the 20 ft and the 40 ft carry different monthly rates, so the starting figure differs by size alone
  • Delivery distance: inside our free 75-mile ring from Woodlawn, delivery costs nothing extra; past that ring, the mileage gets quoted up front and added to what you owe before the truck goes out

Both of those get settled on the phone before anything is scheduled, so the figure you agree to is the figure you pay.

What that first payment covers

The first month's rent is exactly what it sounds like, payment for the first month you have the container on your property, not a refundable hold-back sitting separate from the rent itself. If you are inside the free delivery zone, that first payment is typically the whole of what changes hands before delivery.

There is no large security deposit tacked on for most local rentals. Ask us to walk through the exact terms for your situation when you call, since they are set per agreement.

Getting the exact figure before the truck rolls

None of this is guesswork on our end. Give us the container size and the address the box is headed to, and we will tell you the monthly rate, whether you fall inside the free delivery ring, and what you owe before delivery, all in one call. Nothing about the number changes after the truck is already loaded.

Key takeaways

  • Most local rentals need only the first month's rent, not a large separate deposit.
  • Container size and delivery distance are the two things that move the total.
  • Delivery inside our free 75-mile zone from Woodlawn costs nothing extra.
  • Beyond that zone, mileage is quoted up front and added before delivery.
  • Call with your size and address to get the exact figure before anything is scheduled.
There is generally no separate deposit to refund on a local rental, since the first payment is simply the first month's rent rather than a hold-back.
Terms can vary by job, so ask us directly when you call and we will spell out what applies to your situation.
No surprise number

Get the exact figure before the truck rolls

Tell us your size and address and we will lay out what you owe upfront.

or (276) 237-6144