SHORT-TERM RENTAL INSURANCE

Short-term rental insurance for Georgia Airbnb and VRBO hosts.

Airbnb's AirCover and VRBO's coverage programs provide some protection but they are not insurance policies. Both have exclusions and claim processes that regularly leave hosts with gaps. A dedicated short-term rental policy covers your property commercially from the first night of your first guest.

Short-Term Rental Insurance

What it covers

What short-term rental insurance covers

What it covers

Property Damage Coverage

Covers the physical property during guest stays and between rentals.

What it covers

Host Liability Coverage

Pays if a guest is injured on the property. Most home-sharing platforms provide some liability but limits are often lower than they appear.

What it covers

Lost Rental Income

Pays lost rental income if the property is damaged and unavailable for booking during repairs.

What it covers

Guest Theft Coverage

Standalone short-term rental policies cover theft of host belongings by guests, a risk most homeowners policies exclude when the home is rented.

Where policies have edges

What short-term rental insurance does not cover

Not covered

Uncovered personal homeowners policy

Most homeowners policies exclude short-term rental activity entirely. The property must be disclosed as a rental.

Not covered

Guest personal property

Guest personal property and belongings are not covered by the host's policy.

Not covered

Intentional guest damage

Intentional damage by guests may be subject to different claims handling.

Not covered

Platform Protection Gaps

Hosting platform guarantees from major booking apps are limited programs, not insurance policies, and do not replace dedicated coverage for significant losses.

Who needs this

Who needs Short-Term Rental Insurance.

Any Georgia property owner renting their home or a room on Airbnb, VRBO, Hipcamp, or any other short-term rental platform.

What it costs

What you can expect to pay.

$1,500 to $5,000 per year for most short-term rental properties

If You Need to File a Claim

Claims tips

First Steps

Report the loss to your carrier immediately. Short-term rental claims often involve damage by guests, theft, or liability when a guest is injured. Take photos or video of the property damage before allowing any cleanup or repairs. If a guest caused damage, preserve the booking record and any communication with the guest, the carrier may pursue subrogation against the guest or their platform coverage.

What to Document

Photograph all damage from multiple angles. Pull the booking record showing check-in and check-out dates. Save any communication with the guest about the property or the damage. If you used a platform like Airbnb or VRBO, document whether you filed a platform protection claim and what the outcome was, since some carriers require you to exhaust platform coverage first.

Common Mistakes

Assuming the rental platform's host guarantee covers all property damage, platform protections have significant gaps and sublimits. Assuming a standard homeowners policy covers short-term rental activity, most do not, and a guest injury at a rental property can be denied under a homeowners policy. Not reporting a guest injury claim promptly even if the guest says they are fine.

When to Call Us

Any time a guest is injured, any time property damage exceeds what the platform will cover, or any time you are unsure whether your current policy covers short-term rental use.

OUR CARRIER PANEL

Carriers We Work With

The carriers we compare are licensed and regulated in your state. We shop these markets and present the options that match your situation; a licensed advisor reviews the fit with you in a free coverage review.

GEORGIA · STATE NOTES

Georgia STR: local permits in Atlanta, Savannah, Tybee; no statewide rule

Georgia has no statewide short-term rental regulation, but several cities have local STR ordinances. City of Atlanta requires a short-term rental license. Savannah requires an STVR (short-term vacation rental) permit in most residential zones. Tybee Island has strict occupancy and permit requirements. Blue Ridge, Helen, and Lake Lanier area counties generally allow STR with a business license.

Georgia hospitality-heavy STR markets include Blue Ridge (North Georgia mountains), Helen (Alpine theme town), Lake Lanier (boating/vacation), Savannah historic district, Tybee Island beaches, and St. Simons Island. Each has different local permit and insurance requirements.

Steadily is our primary GA STR market (non-admitted surplus lines with Guaranty Fund disclosure).

  • Atlanta, Savannah, Tybee have STR permit requirements

If you have a claim in Georgia

Your insurer must acknowledge a claim within 15 days and decide it within 30 days.

Your rights as a Georgia policyholder during a claimGeorgia is governed by the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act (O.C.G.A. Section 33-6-30 to 37) and rules issued under Ga. Comp. R. and Regs. 120-2-52. These give you specific timelines and rights when you file a property and casualty claim.Acknowledgment. Your insurer must acknowledge receipt of your claim within 15 calendar days. They must also provide proof of loss forms within 15 days of your notification.Decision. For first-party property damage claims, the insurer must affirm or deny coverage within 15 days of receiving a completed proof of loss, or within 30 days of the claim being reported if proof of loss is not required. If they need more time, they must tell you within 5 business days and give a reason.Written denial. A denial must be in writing and must explain the specific policy provisions the carrier is relying on.Bad faith remedy. Under O.C.G.A. Section 33-4-6, if the carrier refuses to pay a covered claim, you may make a written demand for payment. If they fail to pay within 60 days and a court later finds the refusal was in bad faith, the carrier owes a penalty of up to 50 percent of the claim plus reasonable attorney’s fees.How to escalate. If you cannot resolve a dispute with your insurer, file a complaint with the Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire. Filing is free. They investigate and can require corrective action against the carrier. A complaint is regulatory and does not directly compensate you, but it creates a record and applies pressure.What an independent agent adds. Olive Cover reads your policy with you, helps you document the loss, follows up on stalled timelines, and pushes back when the carrier’s position does not match the policy. We are not your lawyer or the public adjuster, and we will tell you when one of those is the right next step.

Georgia Department of Insurance: (800) 656-2298 · File a complaint

Common Short-Term Rental Insurance Questions

Explore Short-Term Rental Insurance facts and statistics, each cited to a government or research source →

Common Questions

Short-Term Rental Insurance: frequently asked questions

Does Airbnb’s AirCover replace the need for STR insurance?

AirCover (from Airbnb) and the Book With Confidence Guarantee (from VRBO) are platform-provided supplemental protection, not insurance.

Read the full answer →

Do I need a special permit to run an Airbnb in Georgia?

Georgia has no statewide STR permit requirement, but cities and counties can impose their own rules.

Read the full answer →

What type of insurance do I need for a Georgia Airbnb or VRBO?

STR-specific policies cover the property as a business, not a residence.

Read the full answer →

What does short-term rental insurance cover that my homeowners policy does not?

STR insurance covers short-term rental activity that standard homeowners and landlord policies exclude.

Read the full answer →

Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Georgia?

Georgia has no statewide STR permit requirement, but local rules vary significantly.

Read the full answer →

Hosting on Airbnb or VRBO in Georgia?

Airbnb and VRBO coverage has significant gaps that most hosts don't discover until they file a claim. Send us your property details and hosting arrangement and we will show you what actual coverage looks like.