We are all taught to share minimum personal information online to avoid fraud and scams. That’s why an Airbnb host asking for a driver’s license or ID may cause suspicion. Is it normal for an Airbnb host to ask for ID? Why does Airbnb need my ID, after all?
Providing some personal data for verification is normal, but you must do it carefully. Find guidelines on sharing an ID and safety rules in our post.
Does Airbnb require a photo ID?
Before discussing host inquiries for IDs, let’s recap Airbnb ID verification. The platform does ask both guests and hosts to verify their identity. That’s the standard procedure for any app with online payments to minimize fraud and protect users.
To complete the identity verification process, you will need to provide:
- Legal name, address, and other personal information as the first step of verification.
- Your government ID photo if the information provided at the first step is not enough. A government ID is a national identity card, driver’s license, passport, state identification card, tribal Identification card, and/or residence permits.
- Selfie that matches your government ID.
Therefore, Airbnb asking for a driver’s license or any other kind of ID is a normal step of Airbnb guest screening. Just make sure to upload it straight through the platform.
Can an Airbnb host ask for ID individually?
What if you have already verified yourself at Airbnb, but a host is still asking to send an ID and doesn’t accept your booking without it? Is it normal for an Airbnb host to ask for ID in such cases?
Yes.
The thing is, hosts cannot see your government ID details when you book. However, Airbnb allows hosts to ask for a government ID for legal or compliance reasons after booking. They just need to mention it beforehand. So if a host directly states that guests must provide a government ID and specifies why in their listing description, they have all the rights to do it.
Some regions require hosts to register short-term rentals and collect guest details for reporting. These are legal requirements hosts can do nothing about and must follow. When you share your ID in such cases, it’s all about meeting the law.
Why do Airbnb hosts check ID
Short-term rentals are a relatively high-risk business. As a property owner, you let strangers live in your house, and you never know if they are good people. Renters may severely damage property and leave without notice, do unlawful chargebacks, throw parties, and misbehave in many other ways. When a host at Airbnb is asking for ID, it protects them against such mishaps.
Here are the main reasons why do Airbnb hosts check ID:
- Verifying guest identity. The primary reason to ask for ID is identity verification. Hosts want to be sure a guest who books their property and enters it is the same person for safety reasons.
- Meeting local regulations and legal requirements. In certain regions, hosts are legally required to register guests for short-term rentals and need their personal details for it.
- Protecting property. When guests share their details, they feel more responsible for keeping the property intact. It reduces the risks of property damage for hosts and allows them to solve disputes more easily.
- Avoiding fraud. ID verification allows hosts to spot untrustworthy guests and avoid Airbnb scams.
Read also how old do you have to be to rent an Airbnb?
Superhog is a safe way to share personal details
Superhog is an all-in-one platform for guest verification and damage protection for hosts. It provides an API that integrates with Airbnb, Vrbo, and other booking platforms for secure ID checks. It’s an add-on a host may ask guests to use for a smooth verification process. You only need to fill out basic personal information using a unique verification link and upload a government ID card or passport photo and a real-time selfie.
Superhog doesn’t share or sell any personal information and follows strict data protection measures as described in our Privacy Policy.
Safety considerations
Even though giving Airbnb and connected platforms like Superhog your ID is safe, you should always be alert when sharing personal data. These are the main rules to follow online:
- Use a secure platform to share personal details. Never upload your ID outside Airbnb, Vrbo, or the legit third-party platforms they support.
- Share only the necessary information. Understand what information is essential and why before sharing. Provide the minimum information required for identity verification.
- Verify the legal status of the company. Make sure the company is legit and officially registered.
- Be cautious of phishing attempts. Since most phishing attacks use emails, never follow suspicious links from your inbox.
- Double check the website URL before sharing. Check whether the website URL where you upload the personal information matches the official website and doesn’t include any extra characters.
- Read the Privacy Policy. Learn how the company collects and processes your personal information before sharing anything.
- Contact the company directly with any concerns. If you have a gut feeling that something is wrong or have doubts, contact the company directly to ask why they need specific information. If you don’t get a response or the answer is unclear, think twice before providing personal details.
Vrbo ID verification and other platforms
Airbnb is not the only platform asking for guests and hosts’ IDs. Verification is a basic procedure used across all online travel platforms, including Vrbo. Does Vrbo ask for a photo ID? Yes. A Vrbo host asking for a driver’s license has the same reasons and rights to request personal details as a host at Airbnb. Vrbo does background checks and takes other steps to fight Vrbo scams, and must verify guest identity for it.
Conclusion
So, is it normal for an Airbnb host to ask for ID? Yes. ID verification is essential to make online bookings safe and avoid fraud. Guests must share their personal information during registration and may be additionally asked to verify their identities by hosts. Such extra verification by hosts is usually required for guest screening or legal and compliance reasons.
There is nothing wrong about sending your ID to a host as long as you do it for the right reasons. Good hosts are always ready to explain why they need some information from you. Feel free to ask.
