Rover Fees and the Rover Guarantee Explained (2026)

If you book a sitter on Rover in the U.S., you pay the sitter's rate plus an 11% booking fee, and the stay is backed by the Rover Guarantee. The Guarantee isn't insurance. It can reimburse up to $25,000 in vet costs if your dog is hurt during a booking, but it has a $250 minimum you pay first and a long list of exclusions (Rover fees, Rover Guarantee terms). Here's what that means before you book.

What you pay

Fee	Amount	Notes
Owner booking fee	11% of the booking	Shown and finalized at checkout. Refunded if the booking is canceled under the cancellation policy. California fees differ.
Sitter's service fee	20% of the sitter's earnings	Paid by the sitter, not you, but it's one reason sitters set the rates they do. Rover says some U.S. sitters are in a pilot with different rates.

Example: a $40-a-night stay for 5 nights is $200, plus an 11% fee of $22, so about $222 before any extras the sitter charges. Our math, from Rover's stated percentage.

The Rover Guarantee: the parts that matter

Item	What the terms say
What it is	A reimbursement program, not insurance. Rover first tries to have the responsible party (usually the sitter) pay.
Minimum	In the U.S., you cover the first $250 of a claim.
Vet care for your pet	Up to $25,000 per incident, for injury during the booking. Only treatment within 30 days of the injury is covered.
Your property	Up to $100,000, excluding collectibles, heirlooms and similar items.
Injury to someone else	Up to $100,000 for third parties.
To qualify	Book and pay through Rover, and the booking has to be more than $10 per service date. Meet-and-greets aren't covered.
Deadlines	Tell Rover during the booking or within 48 hours after it ends: +1 (888) 727-1140 or trust@rover.com. Send vet records within 14 days.

What it doesn't cover

Pre-existing, chronic, breed-specific or orthopedic conditions, and illness with an undetermined cause.
Preventable illnesses, which Rover's terms say include kennel cough, parvovirus and canine influenza. That's a strong reason to keep vaccines current: see vaccines for boarding and the dog flu shot.
Fleas, ticks and other parasites.

Before you book

Always pay through Rover. Paying the sitter directly takes you out of the Guarantee.
Ask the sitter whether they carry their own pet-care insurance. Rover doesn't check this for you.
Do a meet-and-greet, but remember the Guarantee doesn't cover it.
Leave your vet's number and your dog's microchip number with the sitter. Escapes happen at new homes; see Lost Dog Help and how to update your microchip info.
Already have pet insurance? Check what it covers while your dog is with a sitter: pet insurance basics.

Sitter or kennel? See pet sitter vs kennel and hidden boarding fees.

Sources (checked Oct 30, 2026): Rover Help Center: service fees, Rover Guarantee terms (effective Sept 28, 2026). This page is a summary. The terms decide what's covered. We're not affiliated with Rover.

Info may be outdated. Verify with the source.

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