Trip insurance for vacation rental

Question

We've been visiting Anna Maria Island for the last 8 years, and have driven down for the last 3. Next year we are planning to drive down, staying all of Feb. and March, and will be renting from a company we've used before. Seems like standard practice for the rental companies is to specify no refunds in the even of the property being damaged by a hurricane, and all recommend getting trip insurance. My questions are:

Is it possible to get insurance only for the rental, since we don't need air, baggage, trip delay, medical evacuation etc and if so do you have a recommendation? and

Is it worthwhile? Cost appears to be about 10% to 15% of the rental cost.

Answer

When renting a vacation property, especially in hurricane-prone areas like Anna Maria Island during February and March, trip insurance for the rental can provide peace of mind. While many policies bundle air, baggage, and medical coverage, there are options focused solely on vacation rental protection.

Rental-Only Insurance:

Yes, it is possible to get insurance that covers just the rental property. These policies typically protect against financial loss if the property becomes uninhabitable due to natural disasters like hurricanes, fire, or other covered perils.
Companies that specialize in vacation rental insurance include CSA Travel Protection, Allianz Vacation Rental Protection, and Generali Global Assistance. They often allow you to select coverage for only the rental portion of your trip.
Coverage usually includes reimbursement for pre-paid rental fees if the property is damaged or declared unsafe, up to the policy limit.

Is it Worthwhile?

Cost typically ranges from 10% to 15% of the rental cost, which is substantial, but it can be worthwhile given the financial risk of losing an entire month or more of rental payments.
If you have a history of safe travel and the property company has good hurricane protocols, the risk is lower, but a long rental period during a hurricane season—even late winter—still carries some potential risk.
Consider your comfort level with risk: the insurance essentially acts as a safety net against a large unexpected financial loss, which for a multi-week rental could be significant.

Additional Tips:

Read the policy details carefully—some policies have strict time frames for hurricanes, e.g., coverage only if a named storm is within a certain distance.
Compare deductibles and limits; a lower premium may come with a higher deductible or lower coverage limit.
Check if the policy covers extra costs such as temporary lodging if the property is uninhabitable.

In summary, rental-only trip insurance is available and can be a sensible investment for a long stay at a vacation property, especially in an area vulnerable to hurricanes. While it adds 10–15% to the rental cost, it mitigates the risk of losing your prepaid vacation entirely.

Trip insurance for vacation rental

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