VRBO takes your payment when you book, holds it until after you check out, then sends it to the property owner

When you book a rental through VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner), you pay VRBO directly at the time of booking — not the property owner. VRBO collects your full payment, including the nightly rate, cleaning fees, and any service fees they charge. The money stays in VRBO's account until after your stay ends and the checkout process is complete. Then VRBO transfers the funds to the property owner, usually within a few days.

This system protects both you and the owner. You know your money is held by a large company with fraud protections rather than going straight to an individual. The owner knows the payment has cleared before you arrive. If something goes wrong during your stay — you cancel, the property is unavailable, or there's a dispute — VRBO can refund you or adjust the payment without the owner having already spent the money.

Key Takeaways

  • You pay VRBO at booking time, not the property owner, and VRBO holds the money until after checkout.
  • VRBO charges a service fee on top of the nightly rate and cleaning fees, and this fee is non-refundable even if you cancel.
  • If you cancel before the owner's cancellation important date, you get a refund of the nightly rate and cleaning fee, but the service fee stays with VRBO.
  • VRBO transfers money to the owner several days after your checkout, so the owner does not receive payment until your stay is complete.
  • Payment methods accepted include credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal, depending on your location and the property.

What VRBO charges you at booking

Your total VRBO bill includes three separate charges. The first is the nightly rate set by the property owner — this is what you see when you search. The second is the cleaning fee, which the owner sets and which covers the cost of preparing the property after you leave. The third is VRBO's service fee, which is a percentage of your nightly rate plus cleaning fee combined.

The service fee percentage varies by location and property type, but typically ranges from 5% to 16% of your subtotal. VRBO does not refund this service fee if you cancel, even if the owner would refund your nightly rate. This is how VRBO makes money — the service fee is their commission for running the platform, processing your payment, and handling customer support.

Before you complete your booking, VRBO shows you a breakdown of all three charges. The total you see at checkout is what you will pay. Some properties also charge a damage deposit, which VRBO holds separately and returns to you after checkout if no damage is reported.

How cancellation refunds work

Whether you get money back depends on the owner's cancellation policy, which you can see before you book. VRBO offers several standard policies: flexible (refund up to 7 days before arrival), moderate (refund up to 14 days before arrival), strict (refund up to 30 days before arrival), and non-refundable (no refund at any point).

If you cancel within the refund window, VRBO returns the nightly rate and cleaning fee to your original payment method. The service fee does not come back — VRBO keeps it. If you cancel after the refund important date, you lose the entire booking cost except for any damage deposit. If the owner cancels on you, VRBO refunds everything including the service fee.

Refunds typically take 5 to 10 business days to appear in your account, though the exact timing depends on your bank or credit card company. If you do not see the refund within two weeks, contact VRBO's customer service with your booking confirmation number.

Payment methods VRBO accepts

VRBO accepts most major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), debit cards, and PayPal. The payment method you use at booking is the same one VRBO will refund to if you cancel. If you paid with a credit card and later request a refund, the money goes back to that credit card account, not to a different payment method.

Some countries and regions have additional payment options. In Europe, for example, VRBO may accept bank transfers or local payment systems. When you enter your payment information, VRBO shows you which methods are available for your location and the specific property you are booking.

VRBO uses encryption to protect your payment information, and your card details are not shared with the property owner. The owner only sees that payment has been received; they do not see your card number or other sensitive details.

When the owner receives the money

VRBO does not send money to the property owner until after your checkout date has passed. This means if you book a property for five nights starting on the 10th, you check out on the 15th, and VRBO sends the payment to the owner sometime between the 16th and 20th. The exact timing depends on VRBO's processing schedule and the owner's payout method.

Property owners can choose how they want to receive payouts — direct deposit to a bank account, check by mail, or VRBO credit (which they can use to book other properties). Direct deposit is the fastest method and usually clears within a few business days of VRBO sending it. Checks take longer because they have to be mailed and deposited.

If there is a dispute during your stay or shortly after checkout — for example, you report that the property was not as described — VRBO may hold the payment longer while they investigate. Once the dispute is resolved, they release the funds to the owner or refund you depending on the outcome.

What happens if there is a problem with your payment

If your credit card is declined at booking, VRBO will ask you to enter a different payment method. You will not be charged multiple times for a single booking attempt. If you see duplicate charges on your statement, contact your bank when ready and then contact VRBO with your booking confirmation number so they can investigate.

If you notice an error in the amount charged — for example, you were charged twice or the service fee seems wrong — contact VRBO within 30 days of the charge. VRBO can review the booking and issue a correction if there was a mistake. After 30 days, disputing the charge through your bank or credit card company becomes more difficult.

If you paid with a credit card and the property owner later tries to charge you directly (which should not happen), do not pay them. Report this to VRBO when ready. All payments for VRBO bookings go through VRBO's system; the owner should never ask you for additional payment.

Currency and exchange rates

If you are booking a property in a different country, VRBO converts the price to your home currency at the time of booking. The exchange rate VRBO uses is typically close to the market rate, but it includes a small markup — this is how payment processors cover the cost of currency conversion.

The exact exchange rate and any conversion fee will be shown to you before you complete your booking. You can see the price in both the property's local currency and your home currency so there are no surprises. If you want to avoid conversion fees, some credit card companies offer cards with no foreign transaction fees, though VRBO's conversion markup still applies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay VRBO in installments instead of all at once?

VRBO does not offer installment plans for most bookings. You pay the full amount at the time of booking. Some properties may offer payment plans through a third-party service, but this is rare and would be clearly labeled during the booking process.

What if I want to change my payment method after I have already booked?

You cannot change the payment method for an existing booking. If you need to cancel and rebook with a different payment method, you would have to cancel the original booking (and may lose money depending on the cancellation policy) and make a new reservation. Contact VRBO support if you have concerns about the payment method you used.

Does VRBO charge a fee if I pay with a debit card instead of a credit card?

No, VRBO charges the same total price regardless of whether you use a credit card, debit card, or PayPal. The service fee and other charges are the same. However, your bank or card issuer may charge you a foreign transaction fee if you are paying in a currency different from your account currency.

How do I know if my payment went through successfully?

After you complete your booking, VRBO sends a confirmation email to the address you provided. This email includes your booking confirmation number, the property details, your check-in and checkout dates, and the total amount charged. If you do not receive this email within a few minutes, check your spam folder or contact VRBO support with the email address you used to book.

What if the property owner asks me to pay them directly instead of through VRBO?

Do not do this. All VRBO bookings must be paid through VRBO's platform. If an owner asks you to pay them directly, report this to VRBO when ready. This is against VRBO's terms of service and puts you at risk because you lose the protections that come with booking through the platform.