Damage Waiver Fee vs Security Deposit at KBM Rentals
No, KBM does not hold a traditional refundable security deposit. Instead, your stay includes a small non-refundable damage waiver fee, around $129 plus tax, that covers accidental damage up to $3,000. Because no deposit is held on your card, there is nothing to wait on after checkout.
The short answer: a waiver, not a deposit
Many vacation rentals place a hold on your card at booking and release it days after you leave. KBM works differently. There is no refundable security deposit to hold, track or wait for. In its place, your reservation includes a small damage waiver fee. The fee is non-refundable, and it is the reason you can unpack, cook, swim and settle in without a pending charge hovering over your trip.
What the damage waiver fee is
The damage waiver fee is around $129 plus tax, and it covers accidental damage up to $3,000. The amount may vary, and the exact figure for your unit is shown at checkout before you pay. It appears as its own line on your invoice, which you can view in the Guest Portal, so you see precisely what you are paying for. KBM adds no separate booking or service fee on top of it. Think of it as a flat, known cost included up front, rather than an open-ended hold that stays uncertain until after you fly home.
If damage goes beyond the waiver amount
In most stays the question never comes up. If damage ever exceeds the $3,000 the waiver covers, KBM reaches out to you to discuss any additional cost. That conversation happens directly with our team, who know the property and the island. Because there is no refundable deposit in the first place, nothing is held back from you after checkout and there is no deposit refund to chase.
Two things that are easy to confuse
A few other charges sound similar but are separate from the damage waiver. Your booking deposit is one of them. Under the cancellation policy, a reservation deposit is refundable only if you cancel more than 90 days before arrival, forfeited when you cancel 45 to 90 days out, and non-refundable within 45 days. It is part of your reservation payment, not a damage hold. The full schedule is in our cancellation policy guide, linked below. A rental car company's deposit is also separate: any hold it places on your card belongs to that company, and damage to a rental car goes to the rental car agency directly.
Protecting the rest of your trip
The damage waiver is not trip insurance. If you want protection for the trip itself, KBM offers CSA travel insurance as a separate, optional product, and it must be added at the time you book. Our travel insurance guide, linked in the Guest FAQ, explains the plan. For anything about your specific reservation, reply to your confirmation email and our team will help.
The exact fee and terms for your unit appear at checkout and in your confirmation, and policies can change, so please confirm them before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you require a security deposit?
No. KBM does not hold a traditional refundable security deposit. Your stay includes a small non-refundable damage waiver fee instead, around $129 plus tax, shown at checkout.
What is the damage waiver fee?
It is a small non-refundable fee, around $129 plus tax, that covers accidental damage up to $3,000. The amount can vary, and the exact figure appears at checkout before you pay.
What happens if damage exceeds $3,000?
If damage exceeds the amount the waiver covers, KBM reaches out to you to discuss any additional cost. The conversation is direct and personal with our local team.
Will anything be refunded to me after checkout?
No deposit is held, so there is nothing to refund after you leave. The damage waiver fee itself is non-refundable.
Is the damage waiver the same as my booking deposit?
No, they are different. Your reservation deposit follows the cancellation policy: refundable only when you cancel more than 90 days before arrival, forfeited 45 to 90 days out, and non-refundable within 45 days.
Does the waiver apply to a rental car?
No. Any deposit a rental car company holds on your card is separate, and damage to a rental car goes to the rental car agency directly. You can see the waiver itemized on your invoice in the Guest Portal.
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Have a question we haven't answered here? Visit our Hawaii & Park City vacation rental FAQ.