What You Need to Know About Renting a Car From Turo
Grabbing the keys to someone else's car can have its advantages and some pitfalls.
Belema Iyo | Capital One
Article QuickTakes:
Why Rent From Turo Instead of a Rental Car Company?
First, let's talk about the potential advantages. Unlike conventional rental-agency experiences, Turo and its counterparts allow the renter to select and reserve the exact vehicle they want. You'll see reviews for the vehicle itself as well as the host, just like when you go to rent someone's house or apartment.
Renting from Turo can also be cheaper than hitting the rental counter, in part because the owners set their own rates and may offer vehicles that are older than one or two model years. So if all you need is basic transportation from A to B, you could find a great deal on a several-year-old economy car.
Moreover, renting someone's car is a good way to take an extended test drive of a vehicle you're considering purchasing. Again, because not all the vehicles are new, you could find an analogue to a used vehicle you're interested in or one that's simply not available for rent from the big firms.
The Turo-as-test-drive scenario could be useful for anyone curious about electric vehicles too. These car-sharing services even have Teslas and the newer crop of EVs. Renting one for a week can help you gauge whether you can live with the range anxiety and charging demands.
Trying out a different car — maybe even a dream car — can be fun and exciting, and you don't need to be on vacation to do it.
What Kinds of Cars Are Available?
You can also find a more interesting selection of makes and models from car share services than the Corollas and minivans in rental lots — everything from classics to sports cars, off-roaders to camper vans. Want a convertible for the weekend, or need to play chauffeur for a friend's wedding? Car shares may have you covered.
Turo, for instance, doesn't have very strict listing requirements. Vehicles can be up to 12 years old and have a value of up to $200,000. Classics are considered specialty vehicles and have to be more than 25 years old and worth at most $85,000. (Turo will consider specialty vehicles between 12 and 25 years old on a case-by-case basis.)
Belema Iyo | Capital One
What's the Process for Pickup and Drop-off?
Pickup locations and instructions vary by the host. You might need to meet them in a location of their choosing to get the keys, or they may deliver the vehicle to you — though that may cost extra. Some vehicles allow their owners to unlock the car remotely, and your only interaction will occur through Turo's messaging system.
Once you're in possession of the vehicle, you'll want to do a thorough inspection, taking pictures of any scratches, dings, and stains before you start driving. Then check in through the app, confirm nothing is wrong with the car, and be on your way. Returning is a similar process, but be sure to refuel or charge the vehicle prior to drop-off, and keep it just as clean as you found it or they'll charge you.
What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
If you're involved in a crash, having to deal with the owner and their insurance can make it tough to get to a resolution. Documenting things like vehicle condition and fuel level are on you as the renter, and hosts generally have less appetite for (or apathy toward) dents and dings than the rental giants. Turo offers customers three levels of insurance and warns that your personal auto policy (or protections provided by your credit card) may not cover a car-sharing incident the same way as a rental-car accident. It may be a good idea to find out before you rent a car from Turo or another similar service.
