Airbnb & VRBO Friendly

Insurance Built for Airbnb & VRBO Hosts

Standard homeowners policies exclude short-term rental use. Get purpose-built coverage for guest damage, host liability, and lost booking revenue — annual or per-stay.

Most policies bind in under 60 seconds.

Licensed Agents
A+ Rated
Secure & Private
No Spam
Free Quotes

Coverage Options

Single Room / Suite

Coverage for hosts renting one room of an owner-occupied home.

From $20/mo

Entire Home

Whole-property coverage for non-owner-occupied vacation rentals.

From $35/mo

Multi-Unit / Portfolio

Bundle multiple STR properties under one policy.

From $75/mo

Per-Booking Only

Pay only when guests check in — ideal for occasional hosts.

From $28/stay

Comprehensive

Liability + property + lost income + business contents.

From $55/mo

Add-On: Loss of Income

Reimburses booking revenue during a covered outage.

Add ~$10/mo

Why Act Now

$1M standard host liability limit needed for Airbnb/VRBO
60 sec typical bind time for online STR policies
$3,200 average reported guest-damage claim (2025 industry survey)
0% of standard homeowners policies cover STR commercial use

Compare Top Providers

Provider rate comparison
Provider
Proper
Safely
Safely (per-booking)
CBIZ

How It Works

  • Guest Damage Protection Covers accidental and intentional damage to your property and furnishings caused by short-term guests — far beyond what platform "host guarantees" actually pay.
  • $1M Host Liability Defends and pays for guest injury claims that happen on your property — the single largest exposure most hosts ignore.
  • Lost Booking Income Reimburses the rental income you would have earned if a covered loss makes the property unavailable for guests.
  • Per-Stay or Annual Choose annual coverage if you rent year-round, or per-booking coverage that activates only when guests check in.
1

Tell Us What You Need

Answer a few quick questions about your coverage needs. Takes less than 2 minutes.

2

Compare Top Quotes

We match you with A-rated carriers and show you side-by-side comparisons.

3

Choose & Save

Pick the plan that fits your budget. Most customers save 20-40% vs. their current policy.

What to Look For

What Good Carriers Offer
  • A.M. Best "A" rating or higher
  • Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
  • Fast claims processing (under 48 hours)
  • 24/7 customer support
Red Flags to Avoid
  • No financial strength rating listed
  • Unusually low quotes with exclusions buried in fine print
  • Pressure tactics or "limited time" pricing
  • Poor BBB rating or excessive complaints

What Is Short-Term Rental Insurance?

Short-term rental (STR) insurance is a specialty property and liability policy designed for properties rented through platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com. It is separate from both homeowners insurance (which excludes commercial use) and standard landlord insurance (which assumes long-term tenants on a lease).

A typical STR policy bundles four things: building and contents coverage, host liability ($1M is the industry-standard limit), loss of rental income if a covered event makes the property unbookable, and business personal property for the furnishings, linens, and amenities you supply guests. Some policies add identity-fraud and bedbug coverage as add-ons.

How Much Does STR Insurance Cost?

Most full-time hosts pay $35-$75 per month ($420-$900 per year) for an annual policy on a 1-3 bedroom property. Larger or higher-value homes can run $100-$200/month. Per-booking coverage starts around $28 per stay for hosts who only rent a few nights a year.

Five drivers move the rate:

  • Property type. Single rooms (~$20/mo) cost less than entire homes (~$50/mo) which cost less than multi-unit or luxury (~$100+/mo).
  • Location. Urban tourist markets and beach/ski destinations price higher than secondary markets.
  • Coverage tier. Liability-only is the cheapest. Comprehensive (liability + property + income + contents) costs ~2x.
  • Booking volume. Year-round commercial-grade hosting raises the rate vs. occasional hosting.
  • Rental nights per year. Some carriers charge by night-count tier; others by flat annual.

Do I Really Need STR Insurance?

If you host on Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, or any other short-term rental platform, the answer is essentially always yes. Three reasons:

  • Standard homeowners policies exclude commercial activity. Hosting paid guests is commercial activity by definition. Most policies will void coverage during active rental periods, leaving you fully exposed for guest damage and injuries.
  • Platform protection has gaps. AirCover and VRBO's liability protection routinely underpay or deny claims involving theft, intentional damage, shared-space injuries, or "wear and tear" disputes.
  • Liability is the silent killer. A guest injured on your property can sue for medical bills and lost income. Without $1M+ in host liability coverage, your other personal assets are exposed.

How to Buy Short-Term Rental Insurance Online

The buying flow has gotten dramatically simpler since 2022. Most hosts can bind coverage in under 5 minutes:

  1. Pick annual or per-booking. If you rent more than ~30 nights/year, choose annual. Otherwise, per-booking is cheaper.
  2. Enter property details. Address, size, year built, replacement cost estimate, and average nightly rate.
  3. Choose limits. $1M host liability is the industry standard and what most platforms recommend. Add loss-of-income coverage if rental income is a meaningful part of your finances.
  4. Review carriers. Compare quotes from Proper, Steadily, Safely, and CBIZ side by side — the rates often differ by 20-30%.
  5. Bind and download COI. Most carriers email a Certificate of Insurance within minutes. Keep a copy on your phone in case Airbnb or VRBO requests it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my homeowners insurance cover Airbnb?

No. Standard homeowners policies exclude commercial use of the dwelling, which includes short-term rental activity. Even occasional Airbnb hosting voids most homeowners coverage during the rental period. You need a dedicated STR policy.

Is Airbnb's AirCover enough?

AirCover for Hosts offers up to $3M in damage protection and $1M in liability — but with significant exclusions (no cash, no securities, no shared spaces, no normal wear and tear). Industry data shows AirCover frequently underpays or denies claims. A standalone STR policy is the primary coverage; AirCover is the backup.

How much does short-term rental insurance cost?

Most hosts pay $20-$75 per month. A single rented room runs about $20/month. An entire home (1-2 BR) runs $35-$50/month. Multi-unit and luxury properties go to $75+/month. Per-booking options start around $28 per stay.

Per-booking or annual — which should I choose?

Annual makes sense if you rent more than ~30 nights a year. Per-booking is cheaper for occasional hosts (under 20-30 nights/year). The break-even is roughly 30 booked nights at standard property rates.

Do I need this if I use a property manager?

Yes. Property manager liability coverage protects them, not you. As the property owner, you are still on the hook for guest injuries and damage if their policy declines a claim.

What about VRBO-specific coverage?

VRBO's built-in liability protection is limited to liability only — no property coverage. A real STR policy is still needed for guest damage, lost income, and host liability above the platform's limits.

Ready to Save on Short-Term Rental Insurance?

Standard homeowners policies exclude short-term rental use. Get purpose-built coverage for guest damage, host liability, and lost booking revenue — annual or per-stay.

Licensed Agents
A+ Rated
Secure & Private
No Spam

Simply Insurance is a licensed independent broker. We may receive compensation from carriers when you purchase a policy. This does not affect the rates you receive.