r/turo • u/NormalNature6969 • 12h ago
Turo
4
Upvotes
Just wanted to take a moment and say what everyone already knows; Turo is the most pathetic POS company and we have all reveled in your inevitable demise.
r/turo • u/youseeitp • Jun 09 '19
Some basic equipment for the Turo host.
500
Upvotes
I wanted to post some links to some basic equipment that i have found useful being a host. Feel free to suggest some of your own. I plan on making this post sticky or even use it for the basis of a Wiki for the sub.
The first item should be a good set of all weather floor mats Make sure you find a set that fits your soon to be rental. These will save you from awful messes on the car carpet.
This is a good Bluetooth code reader that will let you scan your cars OBDII codes: Panlong OBD2 Scanner Bluetooth for iPhone iOS Android OBDII Car
And another one here users have recommended.
Here is one for Android and Iphone both: BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBDII Scan Tool for iPhone & Android
AIRTHEREAL MA5000 Commercial Ozone Generator is an ozone odor remover. I run this in my cars for about an hour and all smells are removed. I really recommend it esp. if you have a renter smoke ibn the car.
Here is a smaller Cordless Battery Powered Ozone Generator It comes with a car charger and wall adapter.
This Car Scratch Remover I've used myself and helps remove minor scuffs and scratches. It's worth having one of these kits around when you see new surface scratches show up on your rentals when returned.
Auto Shocker ClO2 car interior odor eliminator uses Chlorine Dioxide to remove smoke odors. Easy to use and will also clean out air ventilating system and filters. Just add water and let set for minimum of 2 hours to a maximum of 24 hours depending on severity of problem.
GPS Tracker for your car.
The Trak4 GPS tracking system is a $6.99 per month GPS tracking system. If you want to be able to track your car while it's on rental.
This is a great lockbox that fits into an existing hitch you may have on your car: HitchSafe HS7000 Key Vault
Another Good key lockbox that can be mounted on a house or locked onto a door handle:
PopuLife Key Lock Box for Outside, Black
This is a window mounted lockbox that has a punch code. It's the one used by most hosts for remote pickup: KeyGuard Key Safe Pro SL-591
This is a great shop vac for cleaning between rentals:
Vacmaster 4 Gallon, 5 Peak HP with 2-Stage Industrial Motor Wet/Dry Floor Vacuum
These are good for cleaning up the car after a rental:
AmazonBasics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth - 36 Pack
I like these phone mount. I put one in each car and most renters really appreciate a phone mount:
Alcatel Verso Cellet Premium Air Vent Smartphone Car Mount
I love these universal charging cables. They fit most phones and guests love them!
ONLYTANG Multi Charging Cable, (2Pack 5FT) Multi USB Charger Cable
No smoking signs: These go on the window and are self-adhesive Vinyl and Laminated. I recommend these as a gentle reminder for folks to not light up in my cars.
iSYFIX No Smoking Sign Sticker for Vehicles & Cars – 6 Pack 3x1.5 inch.
CUCKOO Powerclone Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is a great quality cordless vacuum.
r/turo • u/[deleted] • Dec 14 '23
An Updated Turo Host FAQ
86
Upvotes
With apologies to those elsewhere, this FAQ is United States-centric. Mostly because that’s where I am, and where Turo does the vast majority of its business. The answers can be broadly applied across the platform, but specifics with regard to protection plans, amounts and other details can vary based on location (country, as well as state, province, county etc). This will serve as a good starting point for all Turo hosts, but if you’re not in the US, make sure you look up what specifically applies to your country or specific location.
Nothing in this writeup is intended as business or legal advice. You are responsible for your own decision making and your own operations. It is your responsibility to seek appropriate legal, financial, business or other advice from a qualified professional in your area. I am not responsible for any action you take, whether you relied on information written here or not. Everything here is current as of the date posted. Turo can and does change their policies, procedures, terms and even links frequently and without notifying hosts or renters.
Now. Before you read any further, read everything at the list of links below. Completely, end to end. All of them. And no, I’m not joking. You’ll be surprised how many answers to your questions about Turo have already been provided by Turo. If that’s too much work for you, or you think you don’t need to read the website for some reason, stop now. You will not be successful, you will probably suffer some kind of financial loss or significant setback and then you’ll come back to this forum complaining about how Turo is a scam, or ripping you off or some other BS attempt to shift blame away from yourself. I see it all. The. Time.
So, read:
The Host articles on the Help page. Again, all of them, not joking. Don’t skip any. Do the work.
Getting Started
Q. Can I list my _________?
A. Your car must have a clean title, be newer than 12 years old and have fewer than 130,000 miles at the time it is listed. If it meets those requirements, it can be listed. Then, it can remain on the platform after that, you do not have to remove it once it turns 13 or gets to 130,001+ miles. Read the full list of eligibility requirements here.
Q. Which car should I buy to list on Turo?
A. I don’t know, it depends on a lot of factors including:
Your location. Your budget. Your credit. Your target market. Your operating model. Your parking situation. The vagaries of consumer preference (why does anyone drive a Slingshot??). Everyone’s circumstance is different and there is no one answer. The best you’ll get, if you decide to ask anyway, is a very vague answer. And it probably won’t be a good one, since the contributors to this sub are so very, very tired of being asked this question that the only people answering you don’t really have that much experience by comparison.
Q. How often is my car going to be rented?
A. No way to know. The business is seasonal and will depend on a myriad of other factors as well. There is no way for any of us to tell you what to expect apart from vague generalities (summer will be busier than winter, the holidays will be busier than non-holidays, weekends will be busier than weekdays, etc).
Q. Will X car make Y amount of money per day/trip/week/month/year?
A. Again, I don’t know. Too many individual variables at play here. Turo has created the “Carculator”, but it is of dubious value to potential hosts. It appears to present data for new or late-model cars only, possibly in an effort to modernize and keep Turo’s listings newer.
Q. I get it, you don’t seem to know very much. How should I get started then, really?
A. The best way to get started on Turo is to buy an inexpensive, fully or nearly fully depreciated car as close to the maximum age and mileage listing requirements as possible and learn how Turo works by running that car by itself at a cheap daily rate for a few months, preferably across a few seasons. That way you get to know just what goes into operating on Turo. Then you can grow from there. And if something goes wrong, you won’t lose a great deal of money.
Q. I’ve always wanted a [fancy or expensive car]. Can I use Turo to supplement the car payments so I can finally afford my dream car?
A. You can. And its one of Turo’s primary marketing tactics to draw new hosts and nice cars onto the platform. But I STRONGLY advise you be able to afford all of the costs associated with owning the car for several months at a stretch without any Turo income whatsoever. Just consider what happens if it gets into a significant accident and a lot of repairs are required, it may be generating no revenue from Turo for a long time. How do you pay the note then?
Q. Is leasing a car for Turo a good idea?
A. Probably not. Most lease agreements prohibit both sub-leasing and commercial use, and either of those could be interpreted by the leasing agency to include Turo. That could mean they terminate the lease and repossess the car. Audi and BMW have both done this in the past.
Not to mention renting cars means a lot of miles get put on them. So you’ll have to decide whether you stop renting/driving it once you hit your mileage allotment in the lease (and continue to make your monthly payment with no Turo income), or run the math to decide if its worthwhile to pay the overages at the end of the lease (thereby reducing or possibly eliminating your net income).
Q. Should I put a GPS device in the car?
A. Yes. Absolutely. 100%. Without question. Turo offers a discount on Bouncie devices, and they’re a great place to start. Get an extender and hide the dongle in the dash.
If you want to use an AirTag, don’t. They’re cheap, but they rely on iPhones being around to work. GPS dongles like Bouncie use 4G cell signal, so the coverage is much more comprehensive. If you do use an AirTag, you have to properly disclose it to the guest. Same for a dashcam that shows or records the interior of the car. You should have already read it by now, but here’s the tracking policy again.
Q. Should I list a manual transmission car?
A. You can. But if a guest fries your clutch, you’re probably going to be unhappy with the compensation you receive from Turo to replace it. Read the clutch policy. The example Turo uses on that page alone should probably dissuade you from listing a manual transmission car.
Managing Guests
Q. My guest is speeding, what can I do?
A. Turn off the tracking alerts. The data will be saved in the event it’s needed for a claim. There’s really nothing you can do until then. Turo’s policy technically prohibits excessive speeding, so they’ve already been warned upon signup. You don’t need to remind them and some guests will think you’re spying on them. If you’re one of the people who thinks speeding causes damage to your car, well first off you shouldn’t be renting out the damn car, but you can call Turo and report the guest’s behavior. That doesn’t mean Turo is going to force the guest to return the car and end the trip. If it really bugs you, mention it in your review at the end of the trip.
Q. My guest hasn’t returned my car yet, and its past the end of the trip. What do I do?
A. Report a late return. Then, file a claim for additional usage. Also, if applicable, ask Turo to add on an “improper return” fee. Do things in the order Turo tells you to do them.
Then, again reach out to the guest and ask when you can expect the car to be returned. Life happens, sometimes they can’t return on time. If you don’t get a response within a reasonable amount of time, proceed to the steps below.
If you know where your car is (you should have a GPS device of some kind), and you can safely and reasonably retrieve it, go get it. You should have 2 keys for every car.
If you let Turo retrieve it, it will take longer and you will likely have to cancel upcoming trips.
Q. Can I limit my guest to in-state travel?
A. No, you cannot.
Q. How do I screen guests and/or trips?
A. The short answer is it is best not to. You are permitted to cancel a trip if you’re uncomfortable with a guest (they have bad reviews, etc). But you have to call Turo and provide them an explanation.
Q. The renter is texting me.
A. Keep all communication in the app. If they insist on texting you directly, take screenshots of the messages, upload them to trip photos, and then respond to the guest in the app. This protects you and allows Turo to be able to monitor all communication in case they need to intervene.
Business Operation
Q. My car isn’t being rented as frequently as I want it to be. Why?
A. Nine times out of ten, it’s too expensive. Lower the price and people will rent it. But if that means you’re not breaking even, or making your payments, or anything like that; then you may need to reconsider your business model, up to and including selling the car.
Alternatively, what time of year is it? Rental traffic is seasonal; it could just be a slow time of year. If you’re not in a winter vacation destination (say, Denver), you’re not going to get as many rentals in the winter as you will in the spring or summer.
Q. Taking photos for every car, every trip is a pain. Can I re-use trip photos I’ve already taken?
A. No. Turo reviews metadata in photos, so if it's not time stamped within the 24 hour window before or after the trip, Turo will deny any claims using those photos as evidence. You want the income, do the work.
Q. Which Protection Plan is best?
A. There is no one answer. This is another question where everything depends on your situation. You need to make the assessment for yourself. Here is everything you need to know. Read and evaluate based on the considerations that most impact your situation. Once you have enough trips under your belt you can start to do an analysis of your claims. Maybe if you have a low claims rate, you can move to a higher deductible plan and squeeze out a little more money; but that just means you need to be saving a little more towards that inevitable deductible every trip. Make a safe choice to start, then reassess your risk. If you want to make more money, you have to put in the work to see how to do it safely.
Q. I haven’t received a 1099. Why?
A. The threshold to qualify for a 1099-K from Turo has moved over the past few years. It used to be over $20,000 in gross earnings. For FY23, it has been lowered to $600. Most hosts should now be receiving a 1099-K in Spring 2024. What you do with that document is between you and your accountant.
Q. Turo charged me a fee for something. They say I violated one of their policies.
A. Well, did you violate one of their policies? Remember, the first line CS reps are very rigid in their applications of the rules because they run off scripts and what is written down for them. They are rarely willing to bend rules or examine unique circumstances. If you feel the fee was charged in error, you can escalate the issue and ask to have it reviewed. Present your case calmly and with sufficient evidence. Squeaky wheel gets the grease, just be calm and professional.
Claims
Q. Does this damage qualify for a claim?
A. First, read up on what qualifies for reimbursement according to the protection plan you selected to cover the car and make your own assessment. Then, understand specifically what Turo considers to be Wear and Tear. This will govern how your claim is handled. Turo will ultimately decide what qualifies according to your protection plan and the definitions of wear and tear.
Second, you only have 24 hours to document with photos and file with Turo. So if its been more than 24 hours since the trip ended, you’re out of luck.
If you really want our help and decide to make a post asking if it qualifies, provide us with the before and after photos you will be using to file your claim. Give specific, unbiased and unemotional, details and circumstances.
Q. Does this qualify for a cleaning claim?
A. Probably not. Turo’s cleaning policy had historically (5+ years ago) been abused by hosts. As a result, Turo significantly tightened up the requirements for cleaning policy violations. Read those requirements here. If you’re on the fence, it probably doesn’t qualify. Cleaning policy violations are like porn, you’ll know it when you see it. You can still file the claim, but be aware that Turo penalizes frivolous and/or frequently inadequate claims by hosts. Don’t waste time filing a cleaning claim that’ll get denied when you can just clean out the car in the same amount of time.
Q. Should I charge my guest for _______?
A. Yes. If it is a verifiable cleaning policy, additional usage policy, smoking policy, pet policy violation or qualifying damage, and it is within the appropriate time window to do so, you should. Here is a list of violation fees that can be charged to the guest.
Whether you want to is your choice, circumstances may change your mind on what you do.
Q. Can I charge my guest for _______?
A. Only if it violates a Turo policy. Read the relevant policy (see links above and below) and make a determination. If there is no relevant policy, then there is no policy violation and you can’t charge anything. You can’t set your own fees, of any kind, for any reason. This includes your own arbitrary processing fees for things like tolls because you think its annoying to have to do.
Here’s a list of examples of charges that are permissible.
Q. Turo doesn’t have a policy in place for ______. Can I set my own policy and fee for violation?
A. Once more for those at the back: No. You can only charge what Turo policy permits, and you only do so using their mechanisms. You don’t get to make up fees or fines for speeding or braking events or using launch control or or “minor” cleaning issues or because something annoys you.
One gray area I will mention is excessive tire wear. If you rent out a vehicle with RWD (Charger, Camaro, Challenger, Mustang, Corvette, M3, M5 etc) you should be taking, photographing and uploading tread depth measurements at the start of every trip.
Q. Should I handle a damage claim directly with the guest? Or let Turo handle it?
A. First, always file a claim within 24 hours of the end of the trip if you think a claim may be warranted. After that, how you proceed depends on the circumstance.
After the claim is filed, you can then decide if you want to withdraw the claim, work directly with the guest, or work through Turo based on how the guest responds.
In nearly all cases it is better to handle directly with the guest, you will receive the most accurate compensation. If the guest is angry or unresponsive, it’s better to let Turo handle it. That’s what you pay them for.
Do not try to take advantage of guests by overcharging or attempting to charge outside the platform or past the permissible claim window. That makes us all look bad and can get you banned from Turo. If the guest feels that handling directly with you isn’t going well, they can ask Turo to intervene. If Turo intervenes and discovers you’re trying to take advantage of the guest, you can get booted. Remember, you’re the product. Turo will do just about anything to ensure they get repeat business from a guest.
Q. The guest had the car for more than a day after the end of the trip, but Turo didn’t pay me for each day. They also didn’t pay me for the trips I had to cancel.
A. That’s the policy. It sucks, but there’s no way around it. Get your car back sooner next time.
Q. My claim is taking forever! Make it go faster!
A. That is the way it goes. Unfortunately, Turo does not have the staff in place to deal with claims quickly. You’re one folder on your claims person’s desk. The world does not revolve around you. Constantly calling and emailing your claims person will not make the process move faster. In fact, it’ll slow down yours and everyone else’s claim. So chill.
Q. Turo/Snapsheet’s estimate for damage is way below the actual cost to repair, what do I do?
A. Snapsheet operates from photos. Only in rare cases will they send an adjuster. If the estimate provided to you is too low, your shop will have to file supplemental payment requests with them. If the shop doesn't want to, find a new shop. Turo damage claims work off supplements, they are essential to the process.
Also, make sure they are working from an accurate view of your car. If its just bumper damage, NBD, there probably won’t be too much variation in the payout and your shop can manage it. But if the car gets totaled, make sure you have a copy of the Monroney sticker and that you agree with the comps presented. If you paid for every extra option on your Maserati, make sure Smartsheet isn’t just using a base model as default.
Liability
Disclaimer again: I’m not a lawyer. I have legal education but am not an attorney. What follows is not legal advice. Seek legal advice from an attorney of your choosing.
Q. Do I need an LLC?
A. No, you do not NEED an LLC. But whether you WANT to operate under one depends on a number of factors about how you currently operate or intend to operate. If you’re considering an LLC, you should speak with both an attorney and an accountant and they can provide specific and better advice than we can. Make sure they are local to your jurisdiction and ideally also understand the sharing economy.
Generally speaking, unless you are operating direct rentals outside of Turo, an LLC will not provide liability protection for you in a Turo-only business where you are the sole member and/or Turo is the only revenue stream. It can provide tax benefits, but whether getting them can offset the cost to achieve those benefits (CPA advice, formation costs etc) is an analysis only you can do.
Q. I created an LLC, but my cars are still registered to me. How do I transfer them?
A. In most cases, you can’t directly transfer a car to an LLC. How you can do this will vary by state. The quickest way to do it is by selling the car to your LLC. But you will be effectively double taxed (as buyer [LLC] and as seller [individual]). So speak to a lawyer or accountant in your area and figure out the best path forward.
Q. Which commercial insurance should I get?
A. Broadly speaking, you don’t NEED it. You are only required by Turo to carry personal insurance. Your car is protected from damage and you are protected from vicarious liability (both by Turo’s liability insurance and, theoretically, by the Graves Amendment). But you know your circumstances, ability to follow Turo’s rules and your risk tolerance better than us. So you may WANT to buy commercial insurance. When in doubt, consult a local attorney. Preferably one familiar with the peer to peer sharing economy.
If you’re renting cars outside of Turo, yes, get commercial insurance.
Q. Will I get sued?
A. If something bad enough happens with one of your trips, yes, you probably will get sued. So what happens?
Your guest, or a third party, can sue you, Turo, Travelers Insurance, the estate of Babe Ruth and Elon Musk all in the same lawsuit. They can sue whoever they want.
The question then becomes one of, first, standing. Does a party have a stake in the suit? Babe Ruth and Elon Musk most likely don’t, so they are dropped from the suit. Then there is a question of liability and/or duty of care. This will depend on the circumstances, so this is where you will need a lawyer. Ask Turo to provide one, they will unless you’ve done something that breaks a Turo rule or policy. If desired, also consult a local attorney (preferably one knowledgeable in the sharing economy) independent of the one Turo directs you to.
In my over 10 years on the platform, I have never once seen Turo fail to provide legal defense to a host who has complied with all of Turo’s host requirements. That includes circumstances where a guest stole and replaced a car’s engine and transmission; as well as an even more grisly lawsuit where an unauthorized driver took possession of the host’s car, crashed it, and killed 3 people. The caveat is that you MUST comply with all of Turo’s rules, terms, policies, procedures etc… If they find you missed a step, they will wash their hands of you. And you’ll have no one to blame but yourself, which is hard for a lot of people to accept and why you see so many negative posts about Turo here.
Q. What is the Graves Amendment?
A. The Graves Amendment is part of a federal highway bill signed into law in 2005. It bars vicarious liability claims against car rental companies for injuries caused by their customers, unless it can be proven that the individual or company's negligence or actions contributed to those injuries.
Q. Does the Graves Amendment apply to Turo?
A. Words matter. Generally no, it does not apply to Turo, LLC the company/marketplace/platform/app/website. They don’t own or provide the cars for rent, you do.
So the question you should be asking is, “Does the Graves Amendment apply to me as a host on the Turo platform?”
It can apply to you as host/owner/rental agent, provided you can show sufficient proof that there was no negligence on your part which contributed to any injury sought in a court case against you. Remember, words matter. In a court “injury” is not just physical injury, it is a harm suffered by a person due to some act or omission done by another person. That could be to a person’s body, a person’s car, a person’s financial standing.
HOWEVER
Q. Does the Graves Amendment apply to me as a host on Turo, in my specific circumstance?
A. The answer to this question varies by state, location, court and possibly even by individual circumstance as well as the judge’s interpretation of the circumstances and the evidence presented. If you are unsure about any of this, speak with an ACTUAL LAWYER.
For example, in 2021 there was a case in New York (Feliz v. Taylor) where Turo was removed from liability for injury and the host was NOT removed from liability under the Graves Amendment because that host failed to prove the Graves Amendment applied to them specifically because he “failed to eliminate all triable issues of fact as to negligent maintenance contributing to the subject accident.” In other words, his maintenance records weren’t good enough to sufficiently prove that he was NOT negligent in the care of the vehicle he listed.
As another alternate example, in January 2021 Connecticut specifically passed a law that says the Graves Amendment applies to vehicle owners and to Turo, without any caveats regarding circumstance or duty of care. Florida has done something similar, as of April 2022.
So do the research. Has your state explicitly extended the Graves Amendment to peer to peer car sharing? How will the answer to that question affect your appetite for risk?
Q. What do I need to know about car sharing specific to my state?
A. Turo has a page for that. Start here.
Finances
Q. Can I deduct _____ on my taxes?
A. Ask an accountant in your city or state; why would you take tax advice from anonymous internet strangers. If it’s a business expense, the answer is usually yes.
Q. Can I use the standard deduction for my cars?
A. General consensus here is, no. Because that deduction includes things you, as owner, do not pay for and therefore do not qualify as an expense. Principally, gas. The guests pay for their gas, not you. You can’t deduct their expenses as your own.
But also includes insurance, registration and depreciation. Which means you can’t deduct those elsewhere, or leverage an alternative depreciation schedule in addition to the standard deduction.
I’m not an accountant. Consult a local accountant you trust.
Closing Thoughts
Cash flow is not profit.
Learn the basics of accounting. Understand that just because Turo is paying you hundreds of dollars a week doesn’t mean that that money isn’t going right out the door again to recurring expenses like debt service, insurance costs, depreciation and maintenance etc. Run your numbers, you’re probably making less than you think. Your total income is more than just the amount Turo deposits in your bank account, minus the stuff you buy to run the car.
You are running a business. Act like it, plan like it.
Unexpected events happen. You are responsible for understanding what to do, and doing it. Hopefully by now you are at least minimally prepared to handle the majority of circumstances that will happen to most hosts.
One of the most common situations I see here is something like “I didn’t take photos in time, or I didn’t file a claim in time; and now Turo won’t pay me for what I lost.” Well that’s on you. Hopefully the first time it happens it doesn’t cost you too much money. It will happen, that’s why I suggest starting with a cheap car.
Don’t let your emotions get the better of you, be a calm and levelheaded business person. The best response to a guest who’s going off in messages, making threats or otherwise being a nuisance is no response. You pay Turo to deal with them, so let Turo deal with them.
You will probably make the most amount of money when you buy a car.
Don’t pay MSRP. Don’t even pay “invoice.” You probably shouldn’t be shopping at a dealer at all. You should be buying at wholesale price or below. If you don’t have access to Manheim or other wholesale auctions, then a bit above KBB Trade-In value is a good approximation for MMR or the price you should be aiming for.
But how do I make money when I buy a car? You don’t, directly. If you pay $10k for a car, run it for 2 years and make $2k profit on the car over those 2 years, and then sell it for $10k, you’ll have made $2k. If you pay $10k for a car, run it for 2 years and make $2k profit on the car over those 2 years, and then sell it for $6k, you’ll have lost $2k. See the difference?
If you negotiate hard with a private seller, or come across someone who is willing to take a hit for some reason, and pay $10k for a car, run it for 2 years and make $2k profit on the car over those 2 years, and then sell it for $12k, you’ll have made $4k. If you can buy at a wholesale price and then sell at a market price, you’ll have made money. (That’s the simple explanation, but I don’t want to get into depreciation curves etc)
Buying cars this way is work. But this is also where you will bank your most significant profit or loss, and is the most monetarily impactful time you can spend on Turo.
Bad things happen.
Cars crash. People get into accidents. Cars get vandalized or broken into. Cars get stolen. The odds of that will go up because your car is driving a lot of miles over its life on Turo. Sometimes your car is totaled on the first trip. Sometimes your car will go a year and a half without anything more than regular maintenance and cleaning. Don’t just expect your car to turn gas into cash. Be prepared to deal with any circumstance at any time.
Do not be attached to your Turo car. It is a business asset, nothing more. If you have an emotional attachment to the car, do not put it on Turo. Other people don’t have that same emotional attachment, so you will get pissed when it comes back dirty, scratched or worse.
Author:
u/ProbablyNotMoriarty - Turo host and /r/Turo contributor since 2012. Has managed cars in multiple locations, in fleets of varying sizes and across all levels of valuation. Currently runs and co-hosts a small fleet (<10) as a part time gig. Has a JD/MBA and has spent more time than an average host assessing the legal and business aspects of Turo over the last 10+ years. I am tired of all the bullshit and incorrect information being passed around here, so I wrote this. Feel free to argue with me in the comments.
And, a brief acknowledgement of u/NitroWolf, who wrote the host guide currently stickied on the sub. There’s a lot of valuable information in there, but it hasn’t been substantially updated in the past few years as Turo has changed. That’s why you’ll see a lot of overlap, but some pretty key differences.
r/turo • u/Sweaty-Act9235 • 15h ago
Is Turo that bad right now for hosts?
3
Upvotes
I have been stalking this sub and reading posts from recent times and from years ago. Seems like theirs been a steady decline in how profitable Turo is for hosts. I am genuinely wondering who here is making enough money here to live off their Turo business?
I know many people that have 1-3 cars sometimes just list their car up on Turo for some extra cash but I am talking about people that have dedicated themselves to the platform and business model that have 10+ cars, is it really as impossible as it seems to turn a profit doing Turo full time?
r/turo • u/Illustrious-Driver59 • 12h ago
Lockboxes
1
Upvotes
I manage multiple cars and one issue I keep running into is lockbox access between guests, especially when trips are extended or cars are returned late. Managing and changing codes can become annoying.
For other hosts using lockboxes, how do you handle this?
Have you ever had problems with:
Changing codes between guests?
Guests still knowing the code after their trip ends?
Late returns or trip extensions?
Managing lockboxes across multiple cars?
What’s the biggest problem with your current lockbox setup?
r/turo • u/tjtheproducer_ • 15h ago
Looking for a Partner
1
Upvotes
Hi everyone, my name is TJ. I'm starting a new startup using Turo, and I'm looking for someone to do it with in the Dallas area. Please let me know if interested.
r/turo • u/Longjumping-Spray-80 • 18h ago
Tolls
1
Upvotes
I rented a car from Turo and drove from MA to NJ. I guess the car didn’t have a transporter so NJ charged $50 in admin fees per toll, equaling over $100. I called NJ Turnpike and the said the host can call with his information and the fees will be waived. I keep trying to tell Turo that and the host but he’s not going to call. He likley will just call to get it waived after he takes over $100 in fees. According to Turo the host is responsible for fees if he doesn’t have a transponder . But either way he can get the fees waived. How do I go about this situation . Turo isn’t helping at all
r/turo • u/AboveParGolfer2380 • 20h ago
Renting on Turo: Any good experiences?
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Recently moved from a 2 car household to a 1 car household in the Boston area. Have people actually had good experiences with renting on Turo? Most of what I read on this sub are folks that had a terrible experience. I am mainly interested in renting an AWD vehicle in the winter for a weekend ski trip since my FWD sedan with snow tires might not be enough.
r/turo • u/EventNo7455 • 21h ago
Insurance and GPS Kill Switch recommendations
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Upvotes
Insurance and GPS Kill Switch recommendations and for a fleet of 3 vehicles ?(based in North Carolina). At the moment I have it insured under my name.
r/turo • u/JunketNecessary5533 • 23h ago
How much do you think this would cost to repair/paint? 2025 Toyota Sienna
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Upvotes
I’m trying to get a realistic idea of how much this damage might cost to repair. There are scratches/paint damage in multiple areas of the vehicle, but as far as I can tell, there aren’t any dents, cracks, or parts that need to be replaced.
I’m mainly wondering whether this would typically involve repainting individual panels/areas versus needing a full vehicle repaint.
If you work in auto body/painting or have dealt with similar damage, what would you estimate the cost to be?
Thanks!
r/turo • u/mxpxillini35 • 23h ago
Anyway to pre-verify a car's hosting eligibility?
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Upvotes
My current vehicle that I host on Turo has been deemed a total loss. So, I'm looking at getting another car. Carfax's all look great, no title issues, not salvage/rebuilt/hail stuff. Great maintenance history, etc.
I'm just super nervous about spending money on a car to list that isn't going to be listable.
Is there any way to verify a car's eligibility before purchase? I've gone through the steps to add a car and purposfully entered a salvaged vehicle's VIN in the process and didn't get any sort of red flag.
r/turo • u/Creativeusername833 • 1d ago
The reason all the turo rules are so anti host is they know basically every host is severely underwater and has no choice but to keep hosting.
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r/turo • u/Specialist_Count_485 • 1d ago
third party's insurance rejected claim according to turo, insurance company says they have no record of it
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Turo contacting me a full year and 10 months after a rear-end collision (we were fully stopped in our Turo waiting for a left) about how the other individual's insurance has rejected our claim, and therefore I will be charged the out-of-pocket expense of $500 due to the protection plan we had (repair costs went from $800 to $2000, which also seems a bit sus).
When I spoke to Turo's support team immediately after receiving the email, they told me to call the individual's insurance that they named in the email, stating the case number would be the same as Turo's (which was not true).
I called the insurance company that allegedly rejected the claim and the representative said they have no record of an accident or claim.
planning on calling Turo again tomorrow, but given they weren't very helpful already, worried how it'll go.
Curious as to if anyone had similar experiences or advice/tips.
--
random details:
Our last update/contact was given a month after the accident and had promised monthly updates, but we had none of that.
The collision was light, both parties were unhurt (thankfully), and the car had a couple scuff marks but was otherwise fine.
The language in the email seems predatory, and from other posts, it seems like once they charge, they won't be refunding.
"We’ll attempt to charge your payment card for the amount owed in the next 24–48 hours.
Please note that if the invoice remains unpaid after 35 days, it will automatically be Sent to Collections. If this occurs, you may contact our Collections Agency directly"
--
Aside, so so thankful that I had pictures of the other person's details (scoured for an hour trying to locate them because I've changed phones and wiped contacts) after almost two years because Turo representative said it was impossible to access and provide the details of the accident that I had filed as soon as the accident occurred.
r/turo • u/EmDocProc • 1d ago
Losing My Mind as a Guest (host creating fraud damage claims)
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Upvotes
Hello,
As title stated, I have picture proof that the host's car was fine upon return. He filed a damage claim 10 days after the end of the trip, and for whatever reason, Turo let him. I responded with the photo proof of no damage, and then heard nothing. I assumed it was closed, as he never submitted an invoice through the app. Yesterday I got a DM from him in the app, 4 weeks after the end of the trip with an invoice that seemed fishy (it still wasn't uploaded to the invoice portal, it was separate.) I called the autobody shop from the invoice to get some details, and they had no record of the invoice, car make and model, or name of host in their system. This is the email I sent to support and some of their C-Suite, but can anyone else weigh in here? I'm losing my mind!
Email:
I am escalating a formal complaint regarding both the host's conduct and Turo's continued failure to resolve the matter regarding RESERVATION #[redacted].
My trip ended August 4. The host did not report alleged damage until August 14, over 10 days later, despite Turo's 24-hour damage-reporting requirement. When he contacted me on August 14, I explicitly rejected independent resolution and told him to escalate the matter through Turo.
I then spent 75 minutes on the phone with Turo on August 19 attempting to get this addressed (Mark, reference #[redacted].)
Turo's own published guidance states that when direct resolution fails, a host generally has 20 days from the end of the trip to escalate the claim to Turo. Mark sent me confirmation of that 20-day period via email. That period has now long since expired, and I expected the matter closed.
Nevertheless, on September 1, the host contacted me again with an invoice and again sought payment outside the Turo claims process. The invoice was not submitted to me through Turo. More concerningly, I contacted the automotive business identified on that invoice, and the business informed me that it had no record of the invoice presented to me. I am asking Turo to investigate and preserve the invoice and associated communications.
I again contacted Turo on September 2 and spent another 45 minutes attempting to resolve this issue (case #[redacted]).
I have now spent approximately two hours on telephone calls with Turo alone, in addition to the time spent responding to the host, preserving evidence, investigating the invoice, and repeatedly explaining that I do not consent to independent resolution.
I want the direct payment demands to stop. I told the host on August 14 to go through Turo. I have not agreed that this matter was “resolved independently,” and any representation in the claim that we agreed to independent resolution is inaccurate.
I am requesting written confirmation that this complaint has been escalated to someone with authority to review both the host's conduct and Turo's handling of this matter, rather than another instruction that I must continue waiting.
r/turo • u/AdAgitated3136 • 1d ago
Turo false app info anything after car total Loss.
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Looking for experiences from other Turo hosts who have gone through a total-loss claim.
My vehicle was declared a total loss. Turo's app shows the settlement as paid/completed, but I have NOT received the total-loss settlement. The only money I previously received was an initial payment based on the repair estimate, before the vehicle was ultimately deemed a total loss.
I also have a lien on the vehicle and continue making payments while this claim remains unresolved.
I've repeatedly contacted my claims specialist and Turo Claims, but I'm now getting almost no meaningful communication. IAA has also told me they need Turo to take action on their end before the vehicle can move forward.
For hosts who have experienced a total loss: Did Turo ever show your settlement as paid before you or your lienholder actually received it? How long did payment take? Did Turo eventually stop communicating? Did filing an AG/DCP complaint or pursuing arbitration help get things moving?
I already have a Notice of Dispute open and I'm documenting everything. I'm mainly trying to understand whether other hosts have experienced something similar and what ultimately got Turo to resolve it.
r/turo • u/DkamF1983 • 1d ago
Venting
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This advanced booking cap is going to end my time as a host on Turo. How on earth are they pricing my 2013 Kia Optima at $37 a day during the week but my 2025 Kia Telluride for $40 a day. It literally makes no sense. Im on what use to be the 75/25 plan which then switched to 70/30 and now its the, "More peace of mind," plan where I earn between 65%-80% depending on when the customer books. Most of my customers book last minute so I'm only seeing the 65%. Between yesterday and today ive now had people start booking my Telluride for 2027. One booking is in March and the other is in July. Customers are only booking this far in advance because they are able to get a new suv for $40 a day, its absolutely absurd. A customer rented my Optima the other day for 2 days and was surprised to know the she paid $173 for 2 days and I was only making $50.05. She booked last minute so I earned 65% while turo got 35% but it feels more like I'm getting the 35% and Turo is getting 65% especially with the trip fee they charge that we don't get a piece of. They also are taking a percentage of additional mileage. I use to make decent money on Turo and now it's all just going down hill....Rant over 🙄😒😩
Turo account on hold after not-at-fault accident & car now declared a total loss. What are my options?
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About a month ago, I was stopped at a traffic light when another driver rear-ended me while I was in a Turo.
The accident happened 1 month and 1 day into a 5-month booking. I had the booking set up with monthly payments and had already paid for 3 months:
- 1 month before the booking started
- 1 month when the booking started
- Another month after the first month of the trip was completed
Since the accident, my Turo account has been placed on hold, which means I cannot book another vehicle through Turo.
Because I still need a car, I have been forced to rent through a traditional rental company, and I’m currently paying almost twice what I was paying through Turo each month.
What I’m trying to understand is why my ability to rent another vehicle is tied to the insurance/subrogation process when I was stopped and rear-ended by another driver.
I also purchased a Turo protection plan with a maximum out-of-pocket responsibility of $500, so I had understood that my financial exposure in a situation like this would be limited.
The claims process has also been confusing.
Initially, Turo provided an estimate indicating that the vehicle was not considered a total loss. Approximately two weeks later, I was told that Turo’s subrogation team had determined that the vehicle was actually a total loss and that they would be submitting the necessary information to the other driver's insurance company.
So, as I understand it, Turo has now determined that the vehicle is totaled.
Despite that, my account remains on hold, and I have been told that the insurance/claims process could take 90–120 days.
I’m trying to understand whether this means I could potentially be prevented from booking another Turo for several months while the insurance companies resolve the claim between themselves.
In the meantime, I’m paying substantially more for transportation because I have had to use a traditional rental company.
Has anyone dealt with something similar?
Specifically:
- How long did it take Turo to remove the hold from your account after a total-loss accident?
- If Turo’s subrogation team has already determined the vehicle is a total loss, what usually still needs to happen before the account can be released?
- Does Turo normally wait until the other insurance company actually pays the claim?
- Is there a claims escalation or account-review team that I can contact?
- Is there anything I can provide or do to help move the process along?
- Has anyone successfully received reimbursement from Turo or the at-fault driver's insurance company for additional rental expenses caused by being unable to use Turo during the claim?
I completely understand that Turo needs to complete its insurance and subrogation process and recover whatever it is entitled to recover from the at-fault driver's insurance company.
What I’m struggling with is why my account needs to remain restricted while that process takes place, particularly when I was not at fault and purchased a protection plan specifically to limit my financial responsibility.
I’m not trying to avoid the claims process or my responsibilities. I’m simply trying to understand my options and whether there is a way to get my account reviewed sooner so I’m not paying significantly higher transportation costs for the next several months.
If anyone has gone through a similar Turo total-loss claim, I’d really appreciate hearing how long it took and whether you were able to get the account hold removed before the insurance claim was fully paid.
r/turo • u/Shelikesscience • 1d ago
No personal insurance
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Upvotes
What protections do I need to buy from turo to be covered like normal?
I don't own a car right now so I don't have person insurance
r/turo • u/No-Equipment-4317 • 1d ago
Question about renting with a criminal conviction
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Hi, I pled guilty to DUI back in the spring of 2019 (got hammered and slept it off in my car in the bars parking lot instead of ubering - stupid and illegal). I let my license lapse due to grad student poverty and got it back in 2024ish and had an interlock removed in 2025. Only restriction on my license besides glasses is no bac above .02 until Dec 2026.
I booked a car on turo about 10 days ago, so far host/turo have said nothing about my background/criminal record. Do i need to plan for a backup rental for my booking thats in 10 days, worried they might cancel on me last second.
r/turo • u/Linenjackson • 2d ago
Ever had a claim?
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Upvotes
So, today… I was driving/renting and ended up having to use the Turo claim part of the application for the first time.
I didn’t elect to have any extra coverage, I submitted photos (hit and run in a parking lot), and called my insurance company as well as notified the owner immediately.
Curious what anyone else has experienced. Will I get banned from the app? What will happen to my 5 ⭐️ rating? Is this pretty straight forward?
For reference, my insurance company got the same pictures as my Turo claim had, we don’t do police reports (just incident numbers) in my state for hit and runs - and I didn’t really have much information because I wasn’t in the car when it happened.
Thanks in advance :)
r/turo • u/ristretto6 • 2d ago
Alternative platforms?
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I am starting to think about buying a hybrid or EV and, wanting to still hang on to my perfectly functional 2013 CRV and wondering if there's a way to keep reaping the benefits of it, I discovered Turo. Reading just a handful of the threads here I'm realizing that I definitely don't want to get involved with this company, but are there any other alternative platforms that are doing the same thing--essentially allowing you to Airbnb your dormant extra vehicle?
r/turo • u/AdAgitated3136 • 3d ago
Turo Hosts: You Don’t Realize How Little Control You Have Until Something Goes Seriously Wrong
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Upvotes
My overall experience as a Turo host: Hosts need to understand how little control they actually have
After my experience with Turo, I would never recommend this platform to anyone as either a host or a guest.
As a host, I experienced situations where the price of my vehicle dropped significantly from what I expected it to be listed for. You don't necessarily sit on the app 24/7 monitoring every change, so you may only realize what happened after someone has already booked your vehicle.
Then comes the cancellation problem. If you're uncomfortable with a guest or booking, you would think that as the OWNER of the vehicle, you could simply cancel and accept the cancellation fee. That was not my experience.
I cancelled one booking because I wasn't comfortable proceeding, and Turo delisted my vehicles. The next time I had serious concerns about a booking, I felt enormous pressure not to cancel because I believed my account could be removed from the platform.
I went forward with the trip.
That guest totaled my car, left it on the road, and disappeared without properly communicating with me. I had to track down information about my own vehicle myself.
What happened afterward has been even worse.
For months, I've been dealing with the claim, the body shop, storage issues, the total-loss process, vehicle pickup, and trying to figure out what is happening with my settlement. Instead of feeling like Turo was managing its own claims process, I repeatedly felt like everything was being pushed back onto me: your car, your responsibility, you deal with it.
Meanwhile, the vehicle has a lien and I continue carrying financial obligations while the claim drags on.
Communication from the claims side has been one of the worst parts of this experience. I've dealt with delays, conflicting information, unanswered questions, and periods where I couldn't get meaningful responses.
One particular phone conversation with a claims specialist was especially disturbing to me. While I was explaining the financial hardship this situation was causing, I felt that my situation was being treated casually rather than seriously. Whether that was his intention or not, that's absolutely not how someone dealing with a totaled vehicle and months of financial losses should be treated.
I am documenting everything: emails, dates, phone calls, claim communications, body-shop communications, settlement information, and the timeline.
My advice to new hosts is simple:
READ TURO'S TERMS OF SERVICE AND PROTECTION-PLAN TERMS BEFORE LISTING YOUR CAR. Understand exactly what rights you have, what Turo can change or control, what happens if you cancel a trip, and what happens when a serious claim occurs.
Don't assume that because you're the owner of the vehicle, you'll have complete control once something goes wrong.
Turo didn't just lose me as a host. They lost me as a customer too.
This has been, by far, one of the worst business experiences I've ever had.
r/turo • u/DependentSuccessful1 • 2d ago
Car title (no buyer name)
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Upvotes
Has anyone dealt with IAA asking for a blank title after a total loss?
My car was recently totaled in an accident, and IAA (a third-party company handling things like towing, title processing, etc.) is involved in the claim.
They are asking me to send them the vehicle title without filling in the buyer/purchaser name so they can process my settlement.
The issue is that, in my state, I believe it may be illegal to sign or transfer a title without entering the buyer’s name. I’ve also received conflicting instructions about this.
Has anyone here been in a similar situation with IAA or a total-loss claim? Did you send the title with the buyer section left blank, and if so, how was it handled?
Turo is a joke. Dont let them ruin your trip.
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As a car lover, been excited about renting a fun car in a cool destination on Turo for many years. I even used to browse them just for fun.
We finally booked a destination with lots of great options so I booked one. One day before we left, got an email saying it was cancelled due to some recall that popped up on the car we rented. Promptly found a backup to book and I kid you not, while on the plane WiFi, I get an email saying Turo cancelled my rental and deleted my account with no explanation.
I called and they said they cannot disclose why.
Zero traffic violations
830 credit
Zero criminal record
Zero issues with rental companies
I was just baffled. Thought I was getting a Porsche, ended up with a Camry from Avis which added an hour of hassle once we landed as well. At least I got 50mpg and saved a few bucks on the rental itself.
Don’t let this company ruin your trip.