Airbnb promotes its AirCover program as comprehensive protection for hosts and guests. The materials highlight $1 million in liability coverage and suggest that guests can book with confidence knowing insurance is in place. After an injury at an Airbnb property, guests often assume this coverage will take care of them.
The reality is more complicated. AirCover is primarily designed to protect hosts, not injured guests. The coverage has significant limitations, exclusions and procedural requirements that can reduce or eliminate what injured guests ultimately receive.
This article breaks down how Airbnb’s insurance actually works, what it covers, what it excludes and what injured guests in Florida need to know when pursuing a claim.
What Is AirCover and How Does It Work
AirCover is Airbnb’s umbrella term for the protections it offers hosts who list properties on the platform. The program includes several components: Host damage protection for property damage caused by guests, Host liability insurance for third-party injury and property damage claims and Income loss protection in certain circumstances.
For injured guests, the relevant component is Host Liability Insurance. This coverage provides up to $1 million per occurrence to cover claims by guests or third parties who suffer bodily injury or property damage related to an Airbnb stay.
The coverage is automatic for hosts, provided at no additional cost when they list on Airbnb. It is underwritten by third-party insurance carriers and administered through Airbnb’s resolution process.
Important Limitations of Host Liability Insurance
The $1 million headline number creates an impression of robust protection. However, several key limitations affect how this coverage applies in practice.
Secondary Coverage
Airbnb’s Host Liability Insurance functions as secondary coverage. This means it only kicks in after the host’s personal insurance has been exhausted or has denied the claim. If a host has homeowner’s or renter’s insurance that covers the incident, that policy pays first.
Many personal homeowner’s policies exclude short-term rental activity or have reduced coverage for business use of the property. This can create gaps where neither the personal policy nor Airbnb’s coverage applies, leaving injured guests with limited options.
Claim Process Requirements
Injured guests cannot file claims directly with Airbnb’s insurance carriers. Instead, claims must go through Airbnb’s Resolution Center, where Airbnb staff investigate the incident and determine whether coverage applies. This process puts Airbnb in a gatekeeping role, with discretion over how claims are handled.
The investigation process can be lengthy, and injured guests may find their claims delayed, disputed or denied based on Airbnb’s interpretation of the policy terms and circumstances.
Coverage Exclusions
Host Liability Insurance excludes various categories of incidents. While the complete list of exclusions is lengthy, some notable ones include intentional acts by the host, injuries arising from certain recreational activities, pre-existing hazards the host knew about and failed to disclose, injuries related to illegal activities on the property and damages covered by other insurance policies.
The specific exclusions can vary by jurisdiction and may change over time. What matters for injured guests is understanding that the $1 million coverage is not a guarantee that all claims will be paid.
What AirCover Does Not Cover
Understanding what falls outside AirCover helps set realistic expectations about available compensation.
AirCover does not provide coverage for injuries that occur outside the listed property, even if they happen during activities recommended by the host. It does not cover claims related to experiences or activities booked separately through Airbnb Experiences. It does not cover injuries resulting from conditions the host disclosed in the listing, on the theory that guests assumed the risk by booking anyway.
The program also does not guarantee that injured guests will receive the full $1 million limit. Coverage limits are per occurrence, meaning multiple claims from the same incident may share a single pool of coverage. If several guests are injured in the same accident, the available coverage gets divided among all claimants.
How Claims Against AirCover Actually Work
When you’re injured at an Airbnb and want to pursue a claim through their insurance, the process typically unfolds as follows.
First, you report the incident through Airbnb’s platform. The Resolution Center allows you to document what happened, upload photos and communicate with the host about the incident.
Airbnb then investigates the claim, reviewing the circumstances and determining whether coverage may apply. This investigation happens outside of your control and with limited transparency about the decision-making process.
If Airbnb determines the claim may be covered, it gets referred to the insurance carrier for evaluation. The carrier conducts its own review and decides whether to accept or deny the claim.
Throughout this process, injured guests often feel they are dealing with a bureaucracy designed to minimize payouts rather than help them recover fair compensation. The platform’s incentives align with protecting hosts and limiting claims, not with maximizing what injured guests receive.
Why AirCover Is Not a Substitute for a Legal Claim
Some injured guests assume that AirCover is their only avenue for compensation. They file a claim through Airbnb’s process, accept whatever settlement is offered and move on. This approach often leaves significant compensation on the table.
Filing a legal claim against the negligent property owner provides several advantages over relying solely on AirCover. You gain access to the full range of compensation under Florida law, including pain and suffering damages that insurance adjusters try to minimize. You can pursue the host’s personal assets and other insurance policies beyond Airbnb’s coverage. You have legal leverage to force fair settlement negotiations rather than accepting Airbnb’s internal determination.
An attorney can pursue AirCover and other insurance coverage as part of a comprehensive legal strategy while preserving your right to sue if the insurance process does not produce fair results.
Other Insurance That May Cover Your Injuries
AirCover is just one potential source of compensation. Other insurance policies may also provide coverage for your injuries.
The host’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance may cover premises liability claims, though many policies exclude or limit coverage for short-term rental activity. Some hosts purchase specialized vacation rental insurance policies that provide broader coverage.
If the property is part of a condominium or homeowners association, the HOA’s master policy may provide additional coverage for common area injuries or certain building defects.
If a property management company operates the rental, they may have their own commercial liability insurance that covers guest injuries arising from their negligence.
Identifying all available insurance coverage is a critical part of maximizing recovery in vacation rental injury cases. An experienced attorney knows how to locate and stack these policies to build the strongest possible claim.
The Florida Statute of Limitations Applies Regardless of Insurance
Whatever path you pursue for compensation, Florida’s two-year statute of limitations applies to personal injury claims. Under Florida Statute 95.11, you must file a lawsuit within two years of your injury or lose your right to pursue compensation through the courts.
This deadline does not pause while you work through Airbnb’s claims process. If you spend months negotiating with AirCover administrators and then receive a denial or inadequate offer, you may have less time to pursue a legal claim. Starting the legal process early preserves all your options.
What to Do If You’re Injured at an Airbnb
If you suffer injuries at an Airbnb in Florida, take steps to protect both your health and your legal options.
Get medical attention promptly. Document the hazard that caused your injury with photographs and video. Report the incident through Airbnb’s platform and directly to the host. Save all communications and booking records.
Before accepting any settlement from Airbnb or their insurance carrier, consult with an attorney who handles vacation rental injury cases. A quick settlement offer is often a sign that your claim is worth more than they are willing to pay voluntarily.
Get Legal Guidance on Your Airbnb Injury Claim
AirCover may provide some compensation for your injuries, but it should not be the beginning and end of your claim. At Mausner Group Injury Law, attorney Eric Mausner has the experience as a former Miami-Dade County prosecutor to cut through insurance company tactics and fight for the full compensation injured guests deserve.
Our firm handles Airbnb and vacation rental injury cases throughout Florida. We understand how to navigate platform insurance, identify all available coverage and build strong legal claims against negligent property owners.
Contact us for a Free Case Review. Call 305-344-4878 to discuss your Airbnb injury and learn about your options for compensation.
Call Mausner Group Injury Lawyers today
Free consultation available statewide
Offices in Miami, Doral, and Palmetto Bay
600+ 5-Star Google Reviews
Last Updated Wednesday, February 25th, 2026
