Short-Term Rental Insurance
Telluride's short-term rental market is one of the most active in Colorado. Standard homeowners policies exclude commercial rental activity — leaving Airbnb and VRBO hosts dangerously exposed. We write STR insurance designed for hosts renting anywhere from occasional weekends to 200+ days per year.
Telluride's combination of world-class skiing, summer festivals, and spectacular scenery makes it one of the most sought-after short-term rental destinations in Colorado. With nightly rates regularly exceeding $500–$1,500 for peak season, the financial stakes are high — and so are the insurance risks that standard homeowners policies leave uncovered.
Standard homeowners insurance excludes coverage for homes used as short-term rentals. When a guest is injured on your property during a rental period, your homeowners carrier can — and typically will — deny the claim on the grounds that the home was operating as a commercial enterprise. Airbnb's Host Guarantee and VRBO's protection programs are marketing tools, not insurance policies. They have limitations and exclusions that make them unreliable as your primary coverage.
What Short-Term Rental Insurance Covers: STR-specific policies are designed to cover the unique risks of the Telluride vacation rental market. Coverage includes commercial premises liability during guest stays, guest property coverage, loss of rental income when covered damage forces a cancellation, and specialized property coverage that extends to damage caused by guests.
Telluride STR Regulations: San Miguel County and the Town of Telluride have specific STR licensing requirements. As part of our service, we ensure your coverage meets any insurance requirements embedded in your STR permit — so you're not just protected, you're compliant.
What's Covered
- Commercial premises liability during guest stays
- Guest bodily injury and medical payments
- Property damage caused by guests
- Loss of rental income (business interruption)
- Theft and vandalism by guests
- Dwelling protection during rental periods
- Personal property and furnishings
- Liquor liability if alcohol is provided
- Bed bug liability coverage
- STR permit compliance endorsements
What's Covered
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my regular homeowners policy cover short-term rentals?
Almost certainly not. Standard homeowners policies exclude commercial rental activity. If you're renting through Airbnb, VRBO, or any platform, you need either a specialty STR policy or an endorsement to your existing policy — and most standard carriers won't add that endorsement.
Does Airbnb's Host Guarantee cover me?
Airbnb's protections have significant limitations and are not insurance. They require you to exhaust other options first, have coverage gaps for common risks, and provide no real liability protection equivalent to a proper insurance policy.
I only rent my home 8–10 weekends per year. Do I still need STR insurance?
Yes — standard homeowners policies typically exclude any commercial rental activity, regardless of frequency. Even occasional rental activity creates an uninsured exposure. Some carriers offer endorsements for lower-frequency rentals at modest additional premium.
Get Covered Today
Our mountain insurance specialists can review your current coverage, identify gaps, and bind a policy that actually protects your investment. No automated underwriting — real agents who know Telluride.