For road trips, errands, or day-to-day life, cars are essential.
Turo is a revolutionary online platform where willing participants can rent their cars to others in a private arrangement.
This way, you, as a vehicle owner, can enjoy the convenience of a vehicle without heavy rental fees.
Here is all you need to know about Turo, including how it works and what it costs.
Interested in renting a vehicle on Turo?
A few reasons that Turo is a great option for renting a car:
- Great selection of vehicles
- Price points that meet any budget
- Easy and intuitive rental system & process
What Is Turo?
Turo is a car-sharing platform founded by Shelby Clark in June 2010.
It used the name RelayRides until 2015 but changed to Turo as it now focuses on long-term private rentals.
With Turo, anyone in 56 countries can share their vehicles.
Customers view the catalog of thousands of submitted vehicles and select one ideal for their trip or errand.
After insuring and contacting the vehicle owner, customers arrange for the car to be delivered or picked up.
They return the vehicle on the designated date.
Is Turo Safe?
Turo is relatively safe, though it does have certain risks.
Every rental on Turo is a private arrangement between the host and the guest.
Thankfully, the company does protect guests and hosts from no-shows and other issues.
Mandatory insurance protects guests from having to pay fully out-of-pocket if accidents happen.
Guests can report hosts if they provide unclean or unsafe vehicles or transactions.
If a host does not show up at the appointed time and provides no prior notice, Turo will fine them $150.
If guests cannot show up at the appointed time, they receive a partial refund that scales based on the length of the booking period.
While Turo is a great means for hosts to make money, guests benefit more from Turo’s policies.
How Does Turo Work?
Turo is divided into two functions: renting a car as a guest and offering your vehicle as a host.
How To Rent a Car With Turo
Renting a car with Turo is effortless and quick.
On a mobile device or computer, log into Turo with the app or website.
Input the location and date that your trip will take place.
Then, a full catalog of available cars will appear for you to choose from.
Select your insurance and get acquainted with the car owner to organize pickup or delivery.
Once you’re done, return the car by the designated time and date.
How To Become a Turo Host
Listing a car on Turo requires you to provide a description and photos of your vehicle.
You get to set the pricing and availability of your rental car and select a protection plan.
Once you get a request from a customer, respond to it promptly and negotiate pickups, deliveries, and returns.
Depending on the protection plan you choose, you earn a percentage of the trip cost.
However, the more lucrative the liability plan, the less coverage you receive if your vehicle has an accident.
Turo Rental Prices and Fees
The appeal of Turo rentals is lower prices compared to rental companies.
In general, Turo is much cheaper, but hosts ultimately set their rental costs.
Let’s take a look at the prices and fees on this platform.
What Is the Cost of Renting With Turo?
Car prices reflect the make, model, and year of a vehicle.
Turo’s vehicle index sorts the best-performing cars across three price ranges.
While hosts heavily influence the rental prices of cars, this index is a satisfactory framework for estimating these costs.
Unless you are renting a brand new model or luxury car, you can expect to pay between $60 and $150 per day through Turo.
High-end vehicles and those that are only one or two years old can cost as much as $400 per day.
Turo Fees
While the initial costs to rent are cheap, Turo charges a handful of fees to better protect the host’s property.
In addition to the base cost and a mandatory protection plan, you must pay a trip fee based on a percentage of the price of your excursion.
There are several conditional fees, such as the young driver fee, delivery costs, and a security deposit (if you book a Deluxe or Super Deluxe vehicle).
You can avoid the young driver fee if you are over the age of 30, and you can avoid delivery fees by picking up the car yourself.
Lastly, sales tax and local taxes may apply to your vehicle rentals.
How Does Turo Compare to Other Car Rental Companies?
According to Kayak, the average price for a rental car in the United States in 2023 is $63 per day.
Turo offers many vehicles both above and below that average.
However, it has fewer restrictions than a traditional car rental company.
In addition, your chances of renting a more recent car for less are higher with Turo.
With Turo, you can have up to eight drivers for your rental.
Most car loaning companies impose a limit of three, four, or five people, restricting your options.
Turo’s formula gives renters more freedom since they contact the car owner directly.
You can arrange pickup at set locations, unlike static rental offices.
Turo offers fewer fees than other car rental companies, as well.
You don’t have to worry about senior charges, airport fees, extra driver taxes, and other hidden costs.
While you can find cheaper rentals than Turo in 2023, they often have more fine print and expensive restrictions.
How Does Turo Cover Insurance?
Turo offers insurance for both guests and hosts.
Understanding Turo’s auto insurance policies is critical before taking a trip.
Guests select which plan they prefer when they book a trip.
Liability coverage plans will cover up to $750,000 of damages.
There are various tiers of coverage ranging from cheaper to more expensive plans.
Put simply, Turo’s liability insurance lowers the amount a guest pays out-of-pocket if they damage the host’s vehicle.
Hosts must have insurance on any vehicle they submit for rental.
They must also select one of many insurance plans for their car.
In general, the degree of coverage Turo provides is inversely proportional to how much you earn.
If you decide to take the plan that lets you keep 90% of your earnings, you lose out on lots of insurance benefits.
However, if you take the 60% plan, you get the full extent of Turo’s coverage benefits.
Do I Need To Buy Insurance When I Rent From Turo?
You can decline Turo’s protection plans, but this is dangerous.
Only do this if you are confident that your insurance will cover accidents well.
Turo’s insurance policies are in place to help you and limit your liability.
You do not need private insurance coverage to rent with Turo, but it is advisable.
If you get into an accident, Turo will not pay for everything.
Having auto insurance will further supplement what the company provides, reducing the amount you pay out-of-pocket.
Does My Personal Car Insurance Work With Turo?
Yes, your personal insurance will supplement the Turo plan you purchase.
However, your insurance is primary, meaning that damages are paid this way first.
Turo will only provide coverage based on what remains after that.
It is safest to have both kinds of protection before taking a trip to minimize your liability in an accident.
Considerations Before Becoming a Turo Host
Turo can be a great opportunity for making money, but you should consider these points before you make a decision.
How To List Your Vehicle on Turo
Listing your vehicle is quick and profitable with Turo.
Just click here to visit the website or use the app to get started.
After you log in, you must upload pictures of your car with a description.
Select the insurance plan and listing price per day that you prefer. Alternatively, you can take suggestions from Turo.
It is the host’s responsibility to ensure that the vehicle is clean and fueled up before guest trips.
You may also have to conduct annual inspections at a mechanic.
How Much Money Can You Make With Turo?
Turo has a high degree of passive income potential.
Whether you’re looking to supplement what you already make or turn Turo into a full-time job, the platform presents a lucrative opportunity.
Users who list a single car on Turo make an average of $10,516 per year.
If you list three cars, that average rises to $31,547 annually.
However, the popularity of your vehicle on the market varies based on availability, rental price, make, model, and year.
Cars with high production costs and market values tend to make more money.
Even with only a few used cars, there’s potential to earn with Turo.
If you market your vehicles well, you can earn tens of thousands per year.
The Cost of Insurance for Turo Hosts
The cost of Turo insurance is deducted from the money you make as a host.
The best insurance lets you keep 60% of the money you make from guests’ trips, and this is the safest choice.
Minimal insurance only costs 10% of the trip price, but it won’t protect your vehicle very well.
If you rented out a car for $100 per day, the 60% insurance plan would cost you $40 per day.
Turo’s model lets you set the balance of protection and profit so you can get the best of both worlds.
Is Turo Worth It?
Turo is not perfect, but it has several benefits that are difficult to ignore.
You get to work personally with clients, set custom rental prices, and make a sizable amount of money each year.
The downside is that you are putting your vehicle at risk in the hands of other drivers, and Turo’s insurance doesn’t do much to pay you for damage guests cause.
All in all, it’s a high-risk-high-reward venture that capitalizes on convenience and customization.
With the right mindset and tools, Turo is certainly worth it.
Pros and Cons of Renting a Car With Turo
Pros:
- Sign-up is quick
- Cars delivered or picked up
- Often lower rates than commercial car rentals
- Fewer fees, freedom with insurance plans
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before trips
Cons:
- Some hosts overvalue their vehicles
- Turo guest insurance doesn’t cover much
- Availability depends on your area
Pros and Cons of Hosting With Turo
Pros:
- Speedy sign-up
- High-profit potential
- Freedom for setting prices, insurance, and other terms
- Turo continues to grow
Cons:
- Trusting your cars in the hands of strangers
- Turo’s insurance won’t cover as much as you think
- Have to list lots of cars to earn big
- Have to clean, disinfect, and refuel each car before trips
Outro
Now you know about Turo car rental. While it is a great source of extra money, there is a lot of fine print and insurance information to consider.
The main appeals of Turo are convenience, ease, and fast money.
If you’re committed to loaning cars and cashing out, sign up and give it a try.
