Should I get extra insurance outside of Aircover?

Question

Question - besides my homeowners policy, should I also get additional STR insurance outside Aircover?   Does Aircover actually cover broken/damaged household items?  If a guest destroys my place, how do I get reimbursed??

Collin Hays · Answer

I would never count on any insurance policy covering a broken item in the home. The wrestling and wrangling you would have to do to collect would never be worth your time.  I've been investing in STRs since 2005, and I have only had a handful of items of any value that were broken, and I would rate these as probably from lots of use.  It's just the cost of doing business.

John Underwood · Answer

Don't depend on Aircover.

Homeowners policy will not protect you if your renting as a STR.

You need the correct STR policy to protect your property.

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

What they said ^^^^^

I just called my Homeowner's Company (State Farm) and told them EXACTLY what I was going to do with the STR house(s). They wrote me Commercial policies with high limits....only $100 mo roughly, never had a problem.

I would just ask the company that handles your current home's insurance....some will do STR insurance, some won't. Then you go to Proper or Foremost. But tell them what you are doing precisely - vacation rentals, not regular rentals.

Lauren Kormylo · Answer

If you only have a homeowners policy, and something happens like a fire or a guest gets injured, and the insurance company finds out you're renting out the house, you're in deep trouble.  They will not cover you at all for anything, it'll be in the fine print of your contract that they don't cover rentals.  Like everyone else says, you need specific STR, MTR or LTR coverage.

Aircover is a mild form of property damage insurance where they MAY cover a guest's damage at their discretion, and you will have to fight for it.  It is not real insurance, it doesn't cover things not caused by guests, and can't be depended on.  The other groups I'm in are always reporting the difficulties of getting claims paid for.

Michael Baum · Answer

Hey @Marc Shin, yes yes yes yes yes.

Like @John Underwood said, a homeowners policy does not protect you and Aircover is not insurance.

You need a correct STR policy. Foremost, Proper are 2 big ones.

Don't skimp and get the place insured properly.

Trent Reeve · Answer

Waivo is Guest/Damage protection. OwnerRez, which i use, has their own product for guest damage.

Trent Reeve · Answer

you will hear different opinions. I say yes. Aircover does not always agree with you and pay out. Also make sure your home owners is not just a regular policy. make sure it is a STR HO policy. If it isnt and damage occurs from guests, they may  not pay out. I also have separate damage protection from my channel manager (OR), but you can get it from Waivo and some others. ive just heard too many horror stories and i bake the price of coverage into my rental costs.

Josh Sedivy · Answer

I don’t depend solely on Airbnb’s AirCover for protection. I use Safely for additional short-term rental insurance. To cover potential damages, I collect a Safely fee from guests as part of the booking process.

The SafelyStay, Inc. Trust and Safety Fee provides:

• Up to $10,000 in accidental coverage for contents damage (such as broken furniture, appliances, or decor).
• Up to $100,000 for accidental property damage and bodily injury (for incidents like structural damage or guest injuries on the property).

Up to $10,000 in accidental coverage for contents damage (such as broken furniture, appliances, or decor).

Up to $100,000 for accidental property damage and bodily injury (for incidents like structural damage or guest injuries on the property).

This additional coverage ensures that I’m not left covering unexpected damages out of pocket. If a guest causes damage, I can file a claim through Safely and have a higher chance of reimbursement without depending on Airbnb’s claims process.

Josh Ball · Answer

Yes & be sure they know it is for rental reasons. Always keep record of where you told your insurance company that the property was being used for STR. Should anything happen down the road, you don't want them telling you that normal homeowners insurance doesn't cover STR.

Andrew Street · Answer

Hi Marc - Aircover offers some protection for damages caused by guests, but it’s limited and doesn’t replace having dedicated STR insurance. STR insurance provides broader coverage, including liability, property damage (even non-guest-related), and gaps Aircover might not cover.For damages caused by guests, document everything (photos, receipts, estimates) and file a claim through Airbnb. However, for major issues, STR insurance ensures you're fully covered. It’s a good idea to have both for peace of mind!I'd be happy to connect for more ideas!

Should I get extra insurance outside of Aircover?

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