VAKA Shield is the name of the protection process behind every rental. It is not a money fund or insurance: it is a chain of steps that documents the rental from start to finish and defines who answers if something goes wrong.

The 4 pieces of the process

1. Security deposit. It is charged to the renter at the item handover, proportional to the declared value. If the rental closes without a claim, it is returned in full after the 48-hour claim window.
2. Evidence with date and GPS. The app requires photos at handover and at return, with timestamp and location. That evidence is the basis of any resolution.
3. Claim with review. The owner has 48 hours after the return to report damage. The renter has 72 hours to respond with their version. The VAKA team resolves it with the evidence from both sides.
4. Neighbor Backer. If the claim goes ahead, the deposit isn't enough and the rental has a Neighbor Backer, the Backer answers for the difference up to the amount they consented to.

The limits of the process (read them)

• Normal wear and tear from use (expected stains, surface scratches) is not claimable damage.
• Damage not reported within 48 hours after the return no longer enters the claim process.
• If you listed with a misleading description (you said "like new" and it was already damaged), the claim does not go ahead.
• Rentals arranged outside the platform are left out of the process entirely.
• VAKA does not put up its own money. What answers for damage is the renter's deposit and, if there is one, their Neighbor Backer. If the damage exceeds both, the process documents the debt, but there is no VAKA fund to cover the difference. For very high-value items (professional drones, film equipment, jewelry), consider your own insurance.

How to file a claim if you're the owner

1. Before: document the handover with the app camera (automatic timestamp + GPS).
2. When you get it back: document the return condition the same way.
3. If there's damage: tap "Report damage" within 48 hours, upload evidence and describe the incident.
4. VAKA mediates: the renter responds with their version and the team resolves it with the evidence from both sides.

Important: it is NOT insurance

VAKA Shield is not insurance or a policy, and it is not regulated by any insurance supervisory authority. It is the platform's protection process: deposit + evidence + claim + Neighbor Backer.

Learn more about VAKA Shield.