Airbnb Insurance: What Hosts and Guests Need to Know | Insurify (2024)

If you own property and plan to rent it out on Airbnb, it’s important to have insurance coverage to protect you from liability and property damage caused by guests. Airbnb provides its own host liability insurance policy as well as damage protection insurance through AirCover. AirCover also provides insurance for guests that covers cancellations and issues your host can’t solve.

AirCover may not be the best option for everyone, so it’s important to compare home insurance rates from multiple companies. Here’s what you need to know about how Airbnb AirCover can protect you as a host or a guest during an Airbnb stay.

Understanding Airbnb insurance for hosts

AirCover for Hosts is Airbnb’s insurance policy for people renting their property through the app. It provides thorough protection, including $1 million in host liability coverage, $3 million in host damage protection, and $1 million in experiences liability insurance. It also includes things like guest identity verification, reservation screening, and a 24-hour safety line.

You don’t need to opt in, either. Airbnb will automatically enroll you. But it’s not mandatory in the U.S. You can opt out of Airbnb AirCover liability insurance, but you shouldn’t unless you have sufficient alternate coverage.

If you don’t want AirCover insurance for any reason, email Airbnb at [emailprotected] to request its removal from your account.^[1] If you don’t reach anyone at that email address, you can also call Airbnb to speak with a representative.

Host liability insurance

Host liability insurance is a main part of AirCover. Airbnb hosts automatically have $1 million of host liability coverage, which protects you if a guest has an accident resulting in injury or has their property damaged or stolen while staying in your Airbnb.^[2]

Here’s a breakdown of exactly what it covers:

• Bodily injury to a guest

• Theft or damage of a guest’s property

• Damage caused by a guest to common areas like lobbies

It doesn’t cover the following:

• Intentional damage or injury

  See Also

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• Damages to property or belongings caused by a guest covered by host damage protection

Host damage protection

Host damage protection is the other key component of AirCover. Hosts automatically have $3 million of coverage, which protects you if an Airbnb guest damages your property during their short-term vacation. It also covers cleaning fees in some instances.^[3]

• Damage to your property or belongings caused by guests

• Damage to vehicles caused by guests

• Loss of income due to necessary cancellations

• Extra cleaning services resulting from guests’ actions

It doesn’t cover the following:

• Normal wear and tear

• Currency loss

• Property damage or injury to guests

• Acts of God or natural disasters

• Check-out tasks such as cleaning and laundry

Limits of Airbnb insurance

In some cases, you may want to purchase an insurance policy for your short-term rental property in addition to the insurance provided by Airbnb. Though Airbnb has high coverage limits, you may want to look into other insurance products for more protection, depending on your situation.

Airbnb isn’t a traditional insurance company, so it may not be as reliable as more established insurers. Ask your home insurance company if it offers short-term rental insurance. This can provide an extra layer of coverage to protect your property and finances and provide peace of mind.

Does standard homeowners or renters insurance cover Airbnb properties?

No. Standard homeowners or renters insurance doesn’t cover Airbnb properties. Because renting your home out qualifies as a business activity, insurers won’t cover any damages resulting from guests like they would for your primary residence.

You may be able to get an Airbnb host insurance endorsem*nt or a home-sharing endorsem*nt from your current insurer for an additional cost, though not every company offers one.

You can also consider short-term rental insurance. It covers liability damage, property damage, theft, and burglary. However — like AirCover — it doesn’t cover intentional damages, your Airbnb guests’ personal property, or regular wear and tear.

Risks of renting out your property

Renting out your property increases the risk of damages and thus needing to file a claim. This is why insurance companies won’t cover home-sharing under standard homeowners insurance policies. Having coverage protects you from these additional risks, including:

• Inconsiderate guests

• Property damages

• Misuse of appliances

• Theft of personal belongings

• Water damage and stains

How to file a claim with AirCover

To file a claim with AirCover, you’ll first need to document the subject of the claim with photos, videos, repair estimates, and any other relevant information. You’ll then need to file a reimbursem*nt request through Airbnb’s online resolution center.

Your guest will then have one day to respond to the request. If they don’t pay for the damages, you can officially submit a reimbursem*nt request for Airbnb to review.

Many hosts report that the process of filing a claim is straightforward but can be frustrating. They don’t always get the results they want and often the money from damages isn’t worth it because it results in guests leaving bad reviews, thus damaging their Airbnb ratings.

It’s up to you as the host to decide if the monetary damages are worth the risk of a difficult guest who might choose to leave a bad review.

Does Airbnb have insurance for guests?

Yes. Airbnb has insurance for guests. AirCover is one of the automatic benefits Airbnb guests receive during booking, similar to AirCover for Hosts. This includes reservation insurance in some scenarios, host cancellations within 30 days, and falsely advertised conditions of an Airbnb rental property.

Airbnb insurance FAQs

1. Airbnb. "Getting protected through AirCover for Hosts."
2. Airbnb. "Host liability insurance."
3. Airbnb. "Host damage protection."
4. Airbnb. "Host Guarantee Terms and Conditions."

Danny is a Brooklyn-based writer with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance. A former editor at Insurify, he specializes in auto, home, and pet insurance. He works to translate his insurance expertise into digestible, easy-to-understand content for drivers, homeowners, and pet owners alike.