Vrbo

Is Vrbo worth it for vacation rental hosts and property owners?

Vrbo charges nothing to list. On the pay-per-booking plan it takes a 12% commission when a booking comes in. It accepts whole homes only, and payouts arrive after the guest checks in. If you only have a spare room, see renting out a spare room.

How much Vrbo takes from your pay

That 12% applies to more than the nightly rate: Vrbo charges it on the rental amount plus the fees you add, such as cleaning or pet fees. Cleaning, pet and boat fees you charge are included, so the cut comes off a bigger number than the rental amount alone. Guest service fees, taxes, refundable deposits and insurance are outside it. Vrbo's help page says that when you use its payment services there is no separate processing fee. If you use your own processor, you pay that processor's fees.

Two changes take effect on Oct 29, 2026. A payments agreement dated Sep 29, 2026 replaces the current one and sends the processing fee rate to a separate disclosure page. New host terms also give Vrbo commission on bookings made off-platform within 30 days of a Vrbo lead.

How and when Vrbo pays you

Vrbo pays after the guest arrives, not when they book, and the bank transfer is a second wait on top of that. Vrbo describes these timings as typical. A new host whose first booking is under 30 days away is paid later than that, and Vrbo's payments agreement keeps language allowing a risk delay of up to 30 days. Cancellation fees you owe, chargebacks and refunds paid to travelers after your payout come out of future payouts.

Vrbo requirements and how long approval takes

Vrbo's host page says signing up is free and starts with the List your property button, and it describes no waitlist or approval wait. Vrbo publishes no approval timeline in days and no list of restricted states or cities. It says it may decline to place a listing it believes could violate its terms.

Local rules are on you. Vrbo's host terms say hosts are responsible for taxes, permits and licensing, and that Vrbo assumes no liability for compliance. Vrbo says it hasn't determined whether your property qualifies and notes that many jurisdictions require a license. It may remove listings that lack a required registration number or that aren't legally allowed.

Can Vrbo deactivate your account?

Yes. Under the host terms effective Oct 1, 2025, Vrbo may suspend, amend or end a listing, or all of your listings, without refunding fees. It can do so if it determines, or someone alleges, that a listed violation occurred. Cancelling a booking you already accepted and double-booking are on that list, along with false identity, inaccurate information and missing permit or license numbers. Vrbo can also hide listings, block calendars, limit bookings, stop payments or cancel bookings to protect users. Your cancellation rate is a ranking factor in search results.

Those terms say Vrbo gives notice and a chance to fix a violation first, except for fraud, illegality, third-party liability or harm to users, where it may suspend immediately without notice. To appeal, you contact Customer Service. The terms give no deadline, reviewer or decision timeline.

On chargebacks, Vrbo's payments agreement leaves the decision to the card issuer and says Vrbo has no duty to pursue the guest. Vrbo's host terms also say commission on completed bookings isn't refunded to you, even when a guest disputes.

Vrbo's liability program covers third-party bodily injury and property damage claims against you, not damage to your own property. Its summary page is dated September 2023. Listed exclusions include properties ineligible under local short-term-rental rules, personal property in your care, pollution, and undisclosed or private-space cameras. Vrbo's page lists medical payments up to $5,000. Cover for your own building and contents is something you arrange separately.

Is Vrbo legit?

Vrbo is run by Expedia Group, a Delaware corporation with its principal executive office in Seattle. Expedia's annual report describes Vrbo as a marketplace for alternative accommodations and one of its three core consumer brands. It reports about 2.4 million online bookable alternative accommodations through Vrbo at the end of 2025, a company-reported figure for all markets. The filing also says Vrbo is subject to evolving short-term rental registration and data-provision laws. Vrbo's terms name HomeAway.com, Inc., an Expedia Group company, as the owner of the Vrbo content and trademarks. Vrbo's terms say it is a venue only, not a party to rental agreements, and that hosts are not its employees.

Taxes on Vrbo income

Vrbo says it makes no payouts until a valid tax form is on file. It releases 1099-K forms by the end of January and 1042-S forms in early March. Vrbo's help page gives the 1099-K threshold for U.S. persons for calendar 2025 as more than 200 transactions and over $20,000, and says state filings may apply where a state threshold is lower. Vrbo says the 1099-K reports the gross amount without deducting commission, refunds or fees, so your own records need to show what you kept.

Vrbo vs other vacation rental platforms

Vrbo takes whole homes only, so rooms and shared spaces belong on a platform such as Airbnb. Compare fees, payout timing and what each covers before you list in more than one place.