Frequently Asked Questions

A safety deposit box is an individually stored container held within a high secure safe or vault which is only accessible to the key holder. A safety deposit box is used to store valuable possessions that an individual may not wish to store at home or at their place of work. The renter agrees to pay an annual fee for using the box, which can only be accessed and opened by successfully navigating a number of security levels including bio-metric security.

If you are concerned about the security of your valuables at home or in the workplace, you should consider renting a safety deposit box. The installation of home security provides only limited protection, since Homeowners can be forced to open safes under threat of physical violence. In addition, your home contents insurance costs can be reduced by the use of a safety deposit box.

You will be issued with two identical keys at the time of rental. If you lose one or both keys, you should inform Long Island Vaults immediately. You will then need to make an appointment with us, to ensure you are present when our company locksmith drills open your box. You will be responsible for the cost of the locksmith and any subsequent repairs that may be required.

Replacement Lock – engineer required: $350.

If you lose your access card, a new card will be issued at a replacement charge of $35. Access to your box will not be granted without the appropriate access card.

Jewelry

Cash

Diamonds

Gemstones

Data Storage

Back up discs

Wills

Birth certificates

Precious metals e.g. gold, silver etc.

Passports

Property deeds

Rare coins / stamp collections

Military medals

Artwork

Important keys

Home inventory lists/video

Marriage certificate

Wedding video

Tax returns

Family photographs

Share certificates

Insurance contracts

Yes. You are not permitted to store any items that are illegal or controlled e.g. firearms, explosives, gas canisters, liquids or perishable items. See our terms and conditions for a list of additional prohibited items.

You can visit us in-person any day during our opening hours, call us to book an appointment or reserve a box online. We will require you to prove your identity using an acceptable form of photographic identification (a valid passport or driving licence) and a proof of address (a utility bill or bank/card statement less than 3 months old).

Only people registered to use your box with Long Island Vaults will be allowed to access the vault area and your box. No more than three people can be registered to access one safety deposit box at any given time. No person under the age of 18 years will be permitted to register for or to access a safety deposit box.

Prices start from less than a $8 per week. A once-off $125 key deposit is required to open a new account. The deposit is refundable when the contract ends with the return of the keys and access cards. Our minimum rental period is 1 month.  We accept cash, credit/charge cards, PayPal, ACH and checks. For payments via check, keys will only be released upon cleared funds into our account. Please click here for box sizes and prices.

We are open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6:00 pm and 12 noon to 4 pm on Saturday & Sunday.

We are Situated in Manhattan, on 47th Street. Full address released upon facility opening – check the homepage.

A comprehensive insurance policy is available for the contents of your safety deposit box.

Approximately one month before your contract expires, Long Island Vaults will contact you to renew your contract. If you do not wish to renew, both keys and access cards must be returned to us in person before the date on which your contract expires. Late renewals will incur a charge of $50. Please see our terms and conditions for further information.

No. You will be issued with the only 2 keys which will open your box.

Each box is opened using a dual-lock system. The ‘customer’ key which unlocks the box and a ‘House-Key’ held by ‘Long Island Vaults which simply allows the customer key to be inserted in the lock. Each box requires both keys to gain access, neither Long Island Vaults or the customer can open the box alone.

If there is no ‘specified person’ registered on your account at the time of your death, then normal legal processes will prevail. Once the estate has been granted probate, the executor of the estate will be assigned access to the box. The person reporting your death should bring a certified copy of the death certificate to our office. Access will be allowed to the box for the purposes of probate valuation only. No items may be removed until such time as a relevant grant of probate has been shown.

Yes – Long Island Vaults are the only safety deposit box facility in NY to offer private high security walk-in vaults.  These walk-in vaults are 5 feet wide by 10 feet long and 9 feet tall.  They are ideal for the secure storage of paintings, sculptures and other fine art as well as valuable furniture.  Our private walk-in vaults are kept at a constant temperature for optimum storage of your valuables.  Pre-booking is advised as there are a limited number available.