If you’ve ever needed to rent a car, you may have come across Turo.
It’s an online platform that connects drivers needing a rental car with people who have cars to share.
It sounds like a great idea, right?
But is Turo worth it for drivers and hosts?
In this Turo review, we’ll break down all the pros and cons of using Turo, so you can decide whether or not it’s the right choice for you.
Table Of Contents
What Is Turo?
Turo is a car-sharing app that lets car owners rent their vehicles to rental drivers.
It’s an alternative to traditional car rental companies.
How Does Turo Work?
Turo works by connecting drivers who need a rental car with people who have cars to share.
Once you create an account, you can browse through the available vehicles in your area and book one that suits your needs.
You can filter by vehicle type, price, amenities, and more.
Where Is Turo Available?
Turo is currently available in select cities across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
List of Cities of Operation
Similar to rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber, you’ll find that using Turo works best in more populated cities.
In the United States, here are a few of the best Turo cities.
- Washington D.C.
- New York City
- Seattle
- Philadelphia
- Chicago
- Houston
- Dallas
- Minneapolis
- San Jose, CA
- San Francisco
You can also find Turo readily available in university cities such as the following.
- New Haven, CT (Yale)
- Princeton, NJ (Princeton)
- Pasadena (California Institute of Technology)
- Cambridge, MA (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
- Durham, NC (Duke University)
In Canada, Turo operates mainly out of these provinces.
- Quebec
- Ontario
- Nova Scotia
- British Columbia
- Alberta
Who Can Use Turo?
The Turo platform consists of two parties: drivers and hosts.
Drivers are people who need to rent a car for a short period.
Hosts are people who have vehicles that they’re willing to share with drivers.
Turo Driver Requirements
To become a driver on Turo, you must meet the following requirements.
- Be at least 21 years old
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Reveal your Social Security Number
- Have a clean driving record
- Show personal automobile insurance coverage
If under the age of 25, show proof that you’ve driven for more than two years
In the United States, all drivers must meet a specific benchmark Turo uses for its car insurance scoring system.
Turo calls this system its auto insurance score (AIS).
It reveals how much risk you present from an insurance perspective.
Turo uses it to assess how likely you are to file an insurance claim.
TransUnion provides the required data about your auto insurance score to Turo.
Turo Host Requirements
To become a host on Turo, you must meet the following requirements.
- Be at least 21 years old
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Own a car that meets Turo’s vehicle requirements
One of the best ways to understand vehicle requirements on the Turo platform is to look at the vehicles you can’t list.
These include the following types of cars.
- Farm equipment
- Box trucks
- Recreational vehicles
- Construction equipment
- Limousines
- Off-road use vehicles
- Motorcycles
Your vehicle must meet all registration requirements in the U.S. state, Canadian province, or U.K. area in which you live.
The only state that Turo excludes in the United States is New York.
Turo requires all hosts to keep their vehicles well maintained.
Therefore, the platform makes sure that all newly-listed cars go through a maintenance inspection checklist process.
In addition, each vehicle owner must also perform an annual inspection on their vehicle.
How Much Does Turo Cost?
Turo is a market-based platform, which means that prices for cars vary depending on the vehicle you want to rent, where you want to rent it, and when you want to rent it.
Average Rates
On average, you can expect to pay 20-35% less than what you would pay at a traditional rental car agency.
So, for example, a Toyota Camry that costs $50/day to rent from Hertz might only cost around $30-$40/day on Turo.
Here are other examples of popular cars and their average daily rates on Turo.
- BMW 2-Series: $108
- Jeep Grand Cherokee: $72
- Tesla Model 3: $90
- Porsche Boxster: $99
As you can see, there’s a pretty big range in prices.
The best way to find out how much it will cost you to use Turo is to enter your rental dates, location, and car preferences into the Turo search engine.
To rent a car on Turo, you must pay a security deposit.
The security deposit amount varies depending on the vehicle you want to rent and the country in which you live.
For example, if you’re renting a car in the United States, your security deposit will be between $500 and $1500.
However, if you’re renting a car in Canada and under 30, your security deposit will come to $1500.
In the United States, anyone under 30 must pay a security deposit of $750.
All guests trying to rent a Super Deluxe Class car will also pay the $750 security deposit.
You might get the deposit lowered by $250 if you submit additional insurance information.
The Turo system also flags some trips for an additional $200 deposit.
Turo customers in the United Kingdom will pay a £500 security deposit when renting a Deluxe Class car.
If you want a Super Deluxe Class car, you will pay a £1000 security deposit.
Some United Kingdom trips will get flagged for an additional £250 deposit.
Turo also charges other fees.
One fee is the service fee to cover customer support, insurance, and fraud protection.
All Turo rentals come with liability coverage.
The minimum amount of coverage is $750,000.
In addition, you can add in 24/7 roadside assistance on some insurance plans with Turo.
Overall, Turo offers you a choice between five Turo insurance plans.
How Much Can Hosts Make From Turo?
The amount you can make from hosting your car on Turo varies.
It depends on the vehicle you’re renting, where you’re renting it, and when you’re renting it.
Turo takes a 15%-40% commission from every rental.
So if you charge $100/day for your car, Turo will keep $15 to $40.
Try using the Turo calculator to understand better how much you can expect to earn.
Is Turo Worth It?
At the end of the day, you’re probably wondering if it’s worth it to rent a car from Turo.
You also might want to know the pros and cons of listing your car on the platform to earn extra money each month.
Is Turo Worth It for Drivers?
Let’s first discuss the situation from the perspective of renting a Turo car.
Pros
The biggest pro of using a Turo car rental is saving some money on rental cars.
If you’re looking for a specific type of car or want to rent a luxury car, then Turo will probably have what you’re looking for.
Turo also offers more flexible rental terms than traditional car rental agencies.
For example, you can rent a car for just a few hours if you need it for a short trip.
You also don’t have to worry about returning the vehicle to the same location you picked it up from.
Cons
The cons of using Turo as a driver are that there’s always the possibility that something could go wrong with the car.
For example, you could get into an accident, or the car could break down.
Turo expects their hosts to maintain their vehicles.
However, you probably won’t get a car as well maintained as you would from a traditional car rental company.
Another con is that you might not be able to find a Turo car when and where you need it.
Indeed, you might not find what you need if you’re trying to rent a car during peak times like holidays.
Conclusion
We think the pros outweigh the cons, and overall, it’s a great platform to use.
However, we recommend reading the reviews of any car you’re thinking about renting before you book it.
Is Turo Worth It for Hosts?
Now let’s discuss the situation from the perspective of listing as a car owner.
Pros
The biggest pro of listing your car on Turo is that you can earn extra money each month.
Another pro is that you get to choose who rents your car.
You can also set the rental price and decide how long people can rent your vehicle.
Cons
The cons of listing your car on Turo are that you’re responsible for maintaining it.
You also have to worry about things like accidents and breakdowns.
If something happens, you might have to pay for repairs or replacement out of pocket.
Conclusion
Again, we think the pros outweigh the cons.
However, set realistic expectations and carefully screen renters before handing over the keys.
Outro
Overall, Turo is a great platform to use whether you’re a driver or a host.
Drivers can save money on rental cars and have more flexibility regarding rental terms.
Hosts can earn extra money each month by listing their vehicles on the platform.
Take action by reviewing available vehicles or listing your car on the Turo app.
“On average, you can expect to pay 20-35% less than what you would pay at a traditional rental car agency.” So, AFTER all the fees involved, it is difficult to save money over a car rental agency. However, my wife and I have used Turo on about 10 occasions over the past 5 years and we like it for one reason: you can choose a different type of car to drive…a BMW hardtop convertible 4 series to drive from Ft Lauderdale down to the Florida keys. This type of car was easily found on Turo, but VERY difficult to find on Priceline etc. When you rent a car from a rental agency, the extra fees are around 25%, but on Turo, they are close to 50%. Example: I was looking to pick up a car for 4 days in Sacramento. The best price I found on Priceline was $318, all inclusive. THE CHEAPEST I found on Turo for the same vehicle (year and model) was around $400 (all inclusive). Now this was based on “$56” per day for both companies. The upcharge from the car rental agency was approx $95. The upcharge on Turo: approx $180 (and that was with “free” delivery). I like Turo. I’ve even considered renting my Tesla on Turo where I live (near Asheville, NC), but I think it’s a gross misrepresentation to say that it’s cheaper by 20%, let alone 35%, one you’ve added in all the fees. Again, I like Turo and will continue to use it for the reason stated above. Finding a “better” deal than Priceline (for example) on Turo for the same vehicle (model and year), ONCE ALL FEES are included, is next to impossible. You MIGHT come close to matching it, but in 5 years I have yet to find a better price. It’s not my intention to discourage anyone from renting on Turo, but expecting to save 20% over a traditional car rental company when using Priceline (for example) is setting potential renters up to be very disappointed. On a different note, Turo needs to adjust what they call “approximate final price”, because it’s ALWAYS at least 25% more than they say it will be. I know that you are not the CEO of TURO, but Mr. Haddad should change the way this is written as you never see the hidden extra fees until you are about to hit the final rent button. I appreciate your knowledge about ridesharing. It has helped us and several other people to decide whether or not to rent a vehicle on Turo. Thanks, Matt
You did not mention that with Turo the driver is responsible for washing, literally detailing, the car at the end. I have rented from Turo twice and yes it is less cost than traditional car rental agencies, slightly. But having to find a car wash and get the car cleaned a the end of the vacation has been a real pain.
If I put my car on toro as a host how often can I expect it to get rented out throughout the month as long as I do what I have to do on my end.