(760) 487-8268
Get a Quote
AirCover is Airbnb’s free protection program — and it’s better than nothing. But it’s not insurance, and the gaps are significant. Here’s an honest comparison.
Airbnb itself states that AirCover “is not a substitute for personal insurance.” It was built to protect Airbnb’s platform from disgruntled hosts — not to protect your business from every risk it faces. When those interests overlap, you benefit. When they don’t, you’re on your own.
| Coverage Area | AirCover | VIFO |
|---|---|---|
| Airbnb bookingsCovered up to $3M damage, $1M liability | Fully covered |
|
| Vrbo bookingsNot covered — AirCover is Airbnb-only | Fully covered across all platforms |
|
| Booking.com bookingsNot covered | Fully covered |
|
| Direct bookingsNot covered — zero protection off-platform | Fully covered |
|
| Assault & battery liabilityExplicitly excluded | Covered under liability policy |
|
| Loss of rental incomeOnly if guest damage cancels upcoming Airbnb bookings | Covered for any covered loss that makes property uninhabitable |
|
| Earthquake damageNot covered | Available as part of VIFO program |
|
| Service line damageNot covered | Underground pipe, wiring & valve coverage included |
|
| Bed bug infestationNot covered | Covered — extermination, lost income & liability, no deductible |
|
| Equipment breakdownNot covered | Covered — appliances, HVAC, and more |
|
| Property manager commissionNot covered | PMC coverage protects your manager’s income too |
|
| Structural damage (the building itself)Not covered — AirCover covers contents only | Covered |
|
| Wear & tearExcluded | Excluded (standard across all insurance) |
|
| 6+ listing hostsAs of March 2025, AirCover becomes excess-only for hosts with 6+ listings | Primary coverage regardless of portfolio size |
|
| Claims controlled byAirbnb — decisions, timelines & payouts set by the platform | Independent insurance carrier — you have a real policy |
|
| 14-day reporting deadlineStrict — miss it and the claim is denied | Standard insurance timelines |
Every booking from Vrbo, Booking.com, or your own website gets zero AirCover protection — even if it’s the same house, the same rules, the same risk. If you’re multi-platform, most of your calendar may be unprotected on any given night.
AirCover covers contents and liability — not the structure. If fire, flooding, or an earthquake damages the actual building, AirCover won’t pay a cent toward repairs or replacement. That gap could be your entire investment.
AirCover isn’t backed by a regulated insurance policy — it’s a platform program. Airbnb sets the rules, controls the timeline, and makes the payout decision. You have no independent policy, no independent adjuster, and no legal recourse if they say no.
Takes 5 minutes. Protects everything you’ve built. You’ve got this.