Hospitable offers different ways to help hosts manage guest-caused damage: Guest Damage Insurance, Security Deposits, and Direct Premium Damage Protection.
These products work differently. Guest Damage Insurance provides host-paid insurance for eligible reservations, Security Deposits reserve funds from a guest's payment method, and Direct Premium Damage Protection provides damage protection for eligible Direct Premium bookings through Truvi.
This article explains which reservations each product supports, how damage is reported, and the main differences between them.
Compare Hospitable's Protection Options
| Guest Damage Insurance | Security Deposits | Direct Premium Damage Protection |
How it works | Host pays an insurance premium per covered reservation | Hospitable places a hold or charge on the guest's payment method | Damage protection is included with eligible Direct Premium bookings |
Eligible bookings | Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and Hospitable Direct | Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo Partner, and eligible Direct bookings | Direct Premium bookings only |
Who provides or manages protection? | Insurance through Tint | Hospitable manages deposit collection and release | Truvi handles damage protection |
Damage reporting | Submit and track insurance claims in Hospitable | Submit a charge request against the secured deposit | Submit a damage claim from the Direct Premium reservation |
Reporting deadline | No fixed claim filing window | Charge request must be made before the deposit is released | Within 30 days of checkout |
Guest involvement | Guests do not need to purchase insurance | Guests may need to provide payment details for the deposit | Managed as part of the Direct Premium booking process |
Guest Damage Insurance is currently available only to US-based hosts with properties located in the United States. Security Deposits and Direct Premium Damage Protection have their own eligibility requirements.
Guest Damage Insurance
Guest Damage Insurance is a host-paid insurance product available through Protect in Hospitable.
You select a contents coverage limit and choose which eligible properties and booking channels to include.
Guest Damage Insurance includes:
Accidental damage coverage with a host-selected limit of $1,500, $3,000, $5,000, $10,000, or $25,000.
Real property liability coverage up to $1,000,000.
General liability coverage up to $1,000,000.
Bed bug remediation coverage up to $15,000.
Limited coverage for smoking-related damage and excess cleaning.
All eligible hosts receive the same coverage terms, except for the selected contents coverage limit.
How claims work
You can submit a claim from Protect → Claims or from the covered reservation.
Tint reviews claims, communicates with hosts, and handles approved payouts.
There is no fixed maximum claim filing window, although submitting claims promptly is recommended.
Guest Damage Insurance claims are reviewed under the applicable insurance policy. Hospitable does not determine whether a claim qualifies for coverage or approve payouts.
Security Deposits
Hospitable Security Deposits allow hosts to collect a refundable deposit from guests before check-in.
A security deposit can be used to address issues such as:
Accidental or intentional damage.
Missing or stolen items.
Excessive cleaning.
Unlike Guest Damage Insurance, a security deposit uses funds secured from the guest's payment method rather than an insurance payout.
How Security Deposits work
For eligible reservations, Hospitable automatically attempts to secure the deposit two days before check-in.
Depending on the reservation length and the guest's payment method, the deposit may be:
An authorization hold: Funds are reserved on the guest's card but not withdrawn.
A charge: Funds are collected and held by the payment processor until they are released or used to settle a charge request.
If no charge request is submitted, the deposit is automatically released approximately two days after checkout.
Security Deposits are supported for Vrbo Partner connections, but not Vrbo Legacy connections. Manual reservations are also excluded.
How much can hosts collect?
Hosts can configure an automatic security deposit between $100 and $5,000 for eligible properties.
Hospitable charges a processing fee equal to 2% of the successfully secured deposit amount.
For example, a $500 deposit results in a $10 processing fee.
How to use a deposit for damage
If damage occurs, hosts can submit a charge request from the reservation in Hospitable.
The approved amount is settled against the secured deposit, whether it was originally collected as a hold or a charge.
Security Deposits have a limited collection and release window. Hosts should submit charge requests promptly after checkout, before the deposit is released.
For setup instructions, supported plans, and deposit management, see Hospitable Security Deposits: Overview.
Direct Premium Damage Protection
Direct Premium Damage Protection is included with eligible bookings made through Hospitable Direct Premium.
It is provided through Truvi and is separate from Guest Damage Insurance.
This protection applies to eligible reservations made through:
A Hospitable Direct booking website.
Direct Premium custom quotes.
It does not apply to Direct Basic, Direct Lite, or bookings made through online travel agencies such as Airbnb and Vrbo.
What damage may be covered?
Direct Premium Damage Protection may cover:
Accidental or intentional guest damage.
Damage to property contents.
Theft or missing items.
Smoke damage in non-smoking properties.
Damage from unauthorized parties.
Damage caused by service animals.
Excessive cleaning.
Replacement of damaged household items, linens, and towels.
Coverage is subject to Truvi's terms and the evidence submitted.
Direct Premium Damage Protection does not cover all types of loss. Exclusions include general wear and tear, pet damage other than service-animal damage, authorized parties, liability claims, and certain cosmetic damage.
How to report damage
For an eligible Direct Premium reservation:
Open the reservation in your Inbox.
Click Submit damage claim.
Follow the prompts to report the incident and provide supporting evidence.
Claims must be submitted after checkout and within 30 days of checkout.
Direct Premium Damage Protection claims submitted more than 30 days after checkout will not be accepted.
A Direct Premium reservation in the Hospitable Inbox showing the Submit damage claim button used to report guest-caused damage through Truvi.
For the full reporting process and evidence requirements, see How to Report Damage for Direct Bookings.
Which Protection Option Should I Use?
The appropriate option depends on the reservation and the type of protection you want.
Guest Damage Insurance: For eligible US-based hosts who want host-paid insurance on selected supported booking channels.
Security Deposits: For hosts who want to secure a refundable amount from guests and submit charge requests if damage occurs.
Direct Premium Damage Protection: For damage reporting under the protection included with eligible Direct Premium bookings.
Security Deposits and Direct Premium Damage Protection have separate workflows and eligibility requirements from Guest Damage Insurance.
Having access to more than one protection product does not guarantee that the same loss can be reimbursed more than once. Coverage decisions and payment amounts depend on the applicable product terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Guest Damage Insurance the same as a security deposit?
No. Guest Damage Insurance is a host-paid insurance product. Security Deposits secure funds from a guest's payment method that may be used to settle eligible charge requests.
Is Guest Damage Insurance included with Direct Premium?
No. Guest Damage Insurance and Direct Premium Damage Protection are separate products.
Direct Premium Damage Protection is included with eligible Direct Premium bookings and handled through Truvi.
Guest Damage Insurance requires separate activation through Protect.
Can Guest Damage Insurance cover Direct bookings?
Yes. Eligible Hospitable Direct reservations can be included in Guest Damage Insurance when the property and booking channel are selected under an active policy.
Manual reservations and owner stays are not eligible.
Are claim deadlines the same for all three products?
No.
Guest Damage Insurance: No fixed maximum filing window.
Security Deposits: Charge requests must be submitted within the deposit's collection and release window.
Direct Premium Damage Protection: Claims must be submitted within 30 days of checkout.
Who handles claims for each product?
Guest Damage Insurance: Tint reviews claims and handles payouts.
Security Deposits: Hospitable manages deposit collection, release, and charge requests.
Direct Premium Damage Protection: Truvi handles the damage protection process.
Can I use Guest Damage Insurance instead of collecting a security deposit?
Guest Damage Insurance is a separate protection option that does not require collecting a guest security deposit.
Whether you also use Security Deposits depends on your property's needs and the eligibility requirements of each product.