Best Per-Booking Insurance for Direct Bookings 2026?

Question

Running a few STRs and building out a direct booking site. With Airbnb/VRBO bookings I get their host protection, but direct bookings leave me exposed. Looking for recommendations on per-booking insurance that works well for direct bookings. Ideally something that:

Covers damage, liability (eg. stained linens, broken TVs, etc.)

Integrates easily (API or simple per-reservation purchase)

Reasonably priced per bookingOption for Guest Screening (ID Verification)

Anyone using Safely, Truvi, Proper Insurance with per-booking options, or something else? What's been your experience with claims?

Appreciate any insights.

John Underwood · Answer

You must have the correct STR insurance.  Not homeowners insurance.

This will cover you no matter where the STR booking comes from.

Insurance from the OTA should not be trusted or depended on.

Michael Baum · Answer

Hey @Ronit Lodd, tell me you DON'T rely on AirBNB and VRBOs "insurance"?

It isn't insurance. It is a maybe guarantee...maybe.

Make sure you have the correct STR insurance.

Like @Lauren Kormylo, we also use Proper for our STR insurance. It is very comprehensive but it is more expense. Foremost is another one for STRs.

They you will be covered no matter what.

Lauren Kormylo · Answer

I use Proper for my general STR insurance, but I would be hesitant to use them for per booking insurance, because if I had a few of those small claims, they might raise my general STR insurance, the same way calling your homeowner's insurance agent and merely asking about a claim can cause them to note it in your profile and your rates go up.  I use Generali which comes with Vrbo, it costs the guests $59, but I haven't had a claim against them yet.  I don't use anything with Airbnb and have never used Aircover.  I don't bother charging guests for stained linens (have had very little stains my cleaner can't get out), and haven't had much other damage besides some from dogs, and I charge a $150 pet fee to cover that.

Michael Koeplin · Answer

One thing I think operators sometimes underestimate with direct bookings is that once you move outside the OTA ecosystem, you’re no longer just replacing “marketing exposure” -  you’re also replacing several operational risk layers that the platforms partially handle.

That makes it important to think about protection in layers:

• primary STR property/liability policy
• guest screening / ID verification
• rental agreement enforcement
• security deposits or damage waivers
• payment fraud controls
• per-booking damage protection
• umbrella liability where appropriate

I also think it’s important to separate:

• liability exposurefrom
• guest-caused property damage

Those are often very different coverage conversations.

From a claims standpoint, the operators I see managing risk best long-term usually focus heavily on prevention:

• verified guests
• occupancy enforcement
• clear house rules
• exterior cameras/noise monitoring where legal
• strong documentation before/after stays

rather than assuming per-booking protection alone will solve the problem after damage occurs.

Direct booking can absolutely be worth it operationally, but the risk-management side tends to become much more important as platform protections are reduced.

Michael Koeplin

Andrew Steffens · Answer

There are different services that offer this but it is expensive.  I have done over 30k reservations in 10 years and have had claims against guests probably about 50 times.  If I had paid even $10 for per booking coverage it would have cost me $300k to recover maybe $20k.

As a PM I offer $1500 in coverage for my owners for each stay, this is in lieu of collective security deposits which is a hassle at scale.

If I were you for direct bookings I would have a guest agreement, ID verification, and security deposit.

Trent Reeve · Answer

you understand that VRBO's liability coverage does not cover property damage like Aircover, right?

Jacob Morgenstern · Answer

thehost.co partners with an insurance company and makes it quite affordable at $30 a booking. It's in the guestbook store and as a PM we make $7 on each purchase.

Jacob Morgenstern · Answer

I think Aircover is quite good. VRBO? Fuggedaboutit

Andrew Steffens · Answer

Unfortunately it is not on our site.  I have our reservations team conduct it manually which includes photo ID w/AI check, photo of card, selfie.  Just like airbnb does.

Ronit Lodd · Answer

How do you conduct the ID Verification on your direct site ? Thank you !

Best Per-Booking Insurance for Direct Bookings 2026?

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