Is Turo Worth It?

The car-sharing market is expanding rapidly, set to reach $14.8 billion by 2025. Convenience, occasional needs and environmental concerns are just some of the reasons people opt to rent a car instead of buying one.

So, have you heard of Turo — a rental car marketplace connecting car owners and renters? Whether you’re looking for a sports car for a luxury event, a family car for a road trip, or just a car for running some errands, you could have it all with Turo. And if you’re a car owner in one of the 50+ countries in Turo’s network, you can rent out your vehicle and make money.

But is Turo worth it? Our detailed Turo review will tell you how the company works, what kind of costs are included, the pros and cons of Turo, and more.

What Is Turo?

Founded in 2009 in the US, Turo is a peer-to-peer car rental service, just like Airbnb for accommodations, where cars are transferred from hosts to renters.

Unlike ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft, Turo is suitable for longer trips. In addition, it offers a more convenient, flexible, and affordable service than traditional car rentals.

The company operates in more than 7,500 cities across 56+ countries, including the US, Canada, and the UK.

How Much Can You Make on Turo?

You’re interested in being a host and making money on Turo but have no idea where to start? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered.

First and foremost, you need to own a car. Yes, it’s that simple. A car in good condition and driveable but not of use to you is a perfect match to be listed on Turo. Moreover, if you have more than one car that just sits in your garage, then there’s your answer on how to make money on Turo. In the very beginning, you have already built your rent-a-car shop.

Now that we established the one thing essential for being part of the many Turo hosts, let’s give you an idea of how much Turo income you should expect when renting your car/s:

• $10,516 – average annual income of renting one car
• $31,547 – average annual income of renting three cars
• $52,579 – average annual income of renting five cars
• $73,611 – average annual income of renting seven cars
• $94,642 – average annual income of renting nine cars

Keep in mind that the earnings depend on the type of car you own, as well as the region in which the car is registered.

For everything to be more clear, check out the Turo car calculator. It’ll give you a much better sight into how much you can earn. Also, if you plan to quit your regular job and rely on the Turo income instead of using it for a side gig, the Turo calculator could be of great help in making your decision.

How Does Insurance Work With Turo?

Turo includes an insurance policy provided by Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company. But, if you already have your own insurance, the included coverage from Travelers will always come in second place. Except for New York and Maryland, where the included coverage from Travelers will always be primary.

Also, there is an option to book a trip with a Commercial host. This is a traditional rental car company that lists its vehicles on Turo and offers you its own insurance policy if you don’t use your personal one.

Insurance and protection for US hosts

Turo takes a certain percentage from each booking. The amount is determined by the protection plan selected by the host. But in general, the Turo commission goes up to 40%.

As the cost of the plan increases, so will your benefits, but you’ll gain less income. Now, let’s see how Turo protection plans for hosts work and what percentage does Turo take.

60 plan

With this plan, the host takes just 60% of the trip price but gets the highest protection. Some of the benefits included are:

• Physical damage costs are fully covered by Turo.
• No deductible
• Exterior wear and tear reimbursement
• $750,000 in third-party liability insurance
• Loss of hosting income during repair or $50/day replacement vehicle reimbursement for up to 10 days.

75 plan

By choosing this plan, the host takes 75% of the trip price, and the rest goes for Turo. Other terms include:

• Turo covers all eligible damage costs above the $250 deductible
• $750,000 in third-party liability insurance
• $30/day replacement vehicle reimbursement during repair for up to 10 days
• Exterior wear and tear damage is fully covered by the host
• Loss of hosting income is fully covered by the host

80 plan

With this option, the host takes 80% of the trip price. The plan includes:

• Turo pays 100% of eligible damage costs above the $750 deductible
• $750,000 in third-party liability insurance
• Exterior wear and tear damage is fully covered by the host
• Loss of hosting income is fully covered by the host
• No replacement vehicle reimbursement during repair

85 plan

By choosing this plan, the host takes 85% of the trip cost. The option includes:

• Turo covers all eligible damage costs above the $1,625 deductible
• $750,000 in third-party liability insurance
• Exterior wear and tear damage is fully covered by the host
• Loss of hosting income is fully covered by the host
• No replacement vehicle reimbursement during repair

90 plan

This is the last plan offered by Turo, where the host takes 90% of the trip price. Its terms are:

• Turo covers all eligible damage costs above the $2,500 deductible
• $750,000 in third-party liability insurance
• Exterior wear and tear damage is fully covered by the host
• Loss of hosting income is fully covered by the host
• No replacement vehicle reimbursement during repair

Note: If you aren’t satisfied with a certain plan and its Turo fees for hosts, you can always switch to another one. But, bear in mind that the new changes will apply only to future trips.

Insurance and protection for US renters

There are protection plans for the renters too. Let’s check out what Turo fees they include for renters, along with some of the options.

Premier plan

The cost of this plan is between 65% and 100% of the trip price, where the minimum charge is $14 per day.

First of all, this plan isn’t available for:

• Renters under the age of 21
• Some vehicles valued at more than $25,000 or any vehicles valued at more than $60,000

Now, some of the benefits this plan includes are:

• $0 cost for the renter for any kind of physical damage made to the host’s vehicle during the trip
• A maximum of $750,000 insurance coverage from Travelers for third-party damage

Standard plan

The cost for this plan is 40% of the trip price, with a minimum charge of $12 per day.

This plan offers the following options:

• A minimum amount of third-party insurance coverage in accordance with the state where the vehicle is registered
• A maximum cost of $500 for the renter for any physical damage made to the host’s vehicle during the trip.
• Renters aged 18 or more can choose this plan

Minimum plan

There are two different costs for choosing this plan:

• 15% of the trip price for a trip that costs more than $250, where the minimum charge is $10 per day
• 25% of the trip price for a trip that costs less than $250, where the minimum charge is $10 per day

Also, an important thing you should know about the Minimum plan — for the third-party damages that the renter makes during a booked trip, a minimum amount of insurance coverage will apply in accordance with the state where the vehicle is registered. As for the physical damages, the renter could be charged up to $3,000.

Note: The renter fully covers the costs for any mechanical or interior damages for any of the protection plans.

How Much Does Turo Charge?

Turo charges the owners and renters depending on a lot of factors. Vehicles, protection plans, trip lengths, adding some extra services, even penalty fees — all of that is in the game. We have already explained the protection plans. Next are the other possible Turo fees for owners and renters.

Trip costs

Let’s summarize all trip fees that Turo could charge a renter:

• Trip price — vehicle’s daily price multiplied by the trip length
• Trip fee — a percentage of the trip price
• Young driver — extra fee for renters between 18 and 25 in the US and between 18 and 24 in the UK. In Canada, there is no such fee.
• Delivery — fee by the host for a pickup and drop off of the vehicle
• Extras — cost for the renter of buying some extra services and options that the host offers
• Security deposit — cost for a vehicle that has a high value on the market

Violation and cancelation fees for US hosts

How much does Turo take if you break some of its policies? Check out the following list for some of the violation and cancellations fees:

• Active tracker policy — up to $1,000 fee for no activated tracker (missing vehicle) or not specified vehicle location
• Cleaning policy violation — host will be charged a certain fee if its renter provides a photo of a dirty vehicle on the pickup
• Grey market violation — a $150 processing fee plus liquidated damages of $5,500 for any request, acceptance, or payment outside the platform
• Host no-show — $150 fee for a host who won’t show up to hand over the vehicle
• Host trip cancelations — $25 fee for canceling a trip more than 24 hours before it needs to start, or a $50 fee for canceling less than 24 hours
• Maintenance violation — $100 fee for not following the vehicle regulations concerning its safety, plus a $200 roadside fee for sending off roadside assistance

Violation and cancelation fees for US renters

Apart from the protection plans and trip fees, there are also other kinds of costs that Turo may charge you with. So, how much are Turo penalty fees? Check out the following list, which includes some violation and cancelation fees:

• Additional distance — an extra fee for the renter who exceeds the mileage agreed for the trip
• Additional usage — an extra fee for the renter who is 30 or more minutes late for returning the vehicle
• Cleaning policy violation — a fee of $150 plus an additional 3% processing fee for renters who return a vehicle in a very untidy condition. On top of that, a renter could be removed from Turo
• EV recharging — a fee of $50 remaining charge, $20 for a 21%–50% remaining charge, and $10 for a 51%–80% remaining charge could be applied for a returned electric vehicle with a missing electric charge
• Gas replacement — $10 fee for renters who return a vehicle without filling it with gas
• Guest no-show — 75% of the trip’s one-day price if the trip is only two days or less and two days’ trip price plus a trip fee if the trip is longer than two days for a renter who won’t show to pick up the booked vehicle
• Late return fee — $20 fee for a renter who returns the vehicle two or more hours late than the agreed time

Turo taxes

As an adult US citizen, you must know that every gained income is a taxable event. Therefore, the income earned with Turo is also taxable. Don’t disappoint now. You could still make money with Turo, except a tax deduction follows.

The rates range from 0% to almost 10%, depending on the state where you operate your Turo business.

It’s worth noting that Turo isn’t pleased that its peer-to-peer car-sharing hosts are taxed as actual rent-a-car companies. The company states on its website that it’s prepared to open a discussion on how these kinds of companies should be taxed — and that’s definitely not the same as traditional rental car companies.

Note: There are no tax experts on Turo’s support team. You should consult a professional tax service for more info regarding this matter.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Turo?

Here are some of the advantages that Turo users are satisfied with:

• Earning income by renting your car on Turo
• Easy-to-use platform
• Wide range of cars
• Easy communication between hosts and guests

And, some of the drawbacks are:

• Pickup or drop-off difficulties
• Possible communication issues with Turo customer support

It’s worth mentioning the extra benefits Turo offers to its hosts. It’s about discounts and deals for keeping the listed car/s in a good driveable condition, such as safety, mobile, and virtual inspections, different kinds of auto maintenance with numerous companies, cleaning services, and more.

How to Make More Money on Turo?

The Turo business model is profitable. And just like with Airbnb, there are ways to get the most out of it.

First, it’s good to respond as quickly as possible to your guests because most of the trips are booked within 48 hours before the trip is scheduled. Also, pay attention to adding more extras. Yes, the renters are always interested in what extra services the host is offering. And, how much is the lowest price for a certain vehicle, of course.

Speaking about extras, for example, try offering free vehicle delivery. Also, it could be worth it if you offer short-duration trips because, in the end, they could bring you more income in the long term.

Last but not least, try to provide good quality photos of the listed vehicle so the guests can get a good impression. After all, the first impression gives the best impression, right?

The Most Popular Cars on Turo

There are thousands of vehicles listed on the platform. With such an abundance of models, do you wonder what the most rented and profitable cars on Turo are? Let’s find out!

What cars make the most money on Turo?

Turo has singled out the top earning cars based on the vehicles’ performance in the top cities that are part of the Turo network – San Francisco, Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, Orlando, Jackson, and more. So, these are the three-bucket groups of the most profitable cars on Turo.

The first one is between $10K and $30K. Some of the top vehicles included in this group are:

• Fiat 500
• Chrysler Voyager
• Kia Rio

The second group is between $30K and $50K. Some of the top vehicles within this group are:

• Audi S5 Cabriolet
• Alfa Romeo Stelvio
• Cadillac CT5

The third and the last group is between $50K and $75K. The following type of cars are the most profitable ones within this group:

• Porsche Panamera
• Porsche 718 Boxster
• Lincoln Navigator L

Note: The earnings are average and considered on an annual basis.

What cars get rented the most on Turo?

Among all those cars listed on Turo, a few types are singled out as the most popular to rent. Check out the following list and find out whether your favorite type is among the best cars for Turo:

• Lamborghini Huracán
• Porsche 718 Boxster
• BMW i8
• Porsche 718 Cayman
• Aston Martin Vantage
• Jaguar F-Type
• Alfa Romeo Stelvio
• Audi Q8
• Lexus LC 500
• Bentley Continental GTC

Getting Started With Turo: Hosts

If you have an extra car in your garage, driven by no one but in good condition, you could make money out of it on Turo. Sounds interesting, right?

To start off, sign up on its platform and become one of the numerous Turo hosts. After you create an account, check out the following list of Turo requirements to rent your car:

• List a gas, diesel, hybrid, or electric-powered vehicle with eight or fewer seats
• Submit your vehicle’s identification number (VIN)
• US hosts might be required to list their vehicle only on Turo
• Provide a detailed description of the vehicle, along with photos
• Set your own price
• Set your car delivery and availability
• Choose a protection plan
• Choose how far in advance you want to receive trip requests from the renters or select the ‘book instantly’ option
• Approve or decline your car bookings on time
• Maintain your vehicle

Getting Started With Turo: Renters

First and foremost, create an account on Turo. And, before picking up your chosen vehicle, ensure yourself and the company that you meet all the Turo renting requirements:

• Get approved to drive before booking your trip
• Wait for approval status in 24 hours or sometimes longer
• After being approved, start with your search for the ideal car
• Pay attention to any budgets or listing types such as Book instantly, App unlock, and All-star host
• Read the vehicles descriptions carefully
• Choose your trip’s start and end dates
• A booking is limited to only one vehicle at a time
• Choose the vehicle location (pick-up and return)
• Choose a protection plan for your trip
• Always review your booking before submitting the request

Turo car rental age requirement

As Turo’s service involves driving, there are some minimum age requirements:

• To book a trip with a peer-to-peer host, you must be at least 18 years old.
• To book a trip with a Commercial host, you must be a minimum of 21 years.
  To book a vehicle with more than $20K market value, you must be at least 21.

Note: These are the rental requirements only for the US. Check out Turo’s official website for more info regarding the age requirements for the UK and Canada.

Turo Alternatives

Let’s look at how some of Turo’s closest competitors operate.

Zipcar

Zipcar is another popular car-sharing service. It operates in the US, UK, Canada, Turkey, Taiwan, Iceland and Costa Rica.

Unlike Turo, where users rent cars directly from local car owners, Zipcar’s customers rent vehicles from the company. Therefore, we can only compare the two companies from a renter’s perspective.

With Zipcar, you can be charged by the hour, making it a perfect solution for those who need a car for less than a day.

The pricing is a bit more complicated than Turo’s, though. As a Zipcar driver, the first fee you’ll incur is the $25 application fee. Then, after you sign up, you need to select a membership plan. In the US, membership costs start at $7/month, or $70/year. Gas, insurance options, and 180 miles per day are all included in the membership. Notably, you pay the membership fee regardless of whether or not you use the service.

Rates vary greatly, depending on the selected plan, the city you’re in, and the vehicle. However, in most markets, the rates start at $7.75 an hour or $69 a day.

Also, an interesting fact is that Zipcar has partnered with Uber. So, for all of you looking for extra money, here’s an idea — rent a car through Zipcar and try yourself as an Uber Eats driver!

Getaround

Another alternative and the biggest competitor for Turo is Getaround. The company operates in 300 cities across the US and Europe.

As a peer-to-peer car-sharing service, Getaround competes with Turo not just for renters but for hosts. With Getaround, hosts keep 60% of the trip price. After a 90-day free trial, car owners are charged a one-time setup fee of $99 to cover the hardware installation. A monthly subscription fee also applies to cover data network access. For hosts sharing one car, the fee is $20/month.

Renters, on the other hand, don’t pay any membership fees. The pay-as-you-rent pricing model is similar to Turo’s, only that Getaround offers rental vehicles by the hour. Rates are set by hosts and vary by location, vehicle, and rental period. Getaround rentals usually cost around $5-$8/hour. There’s also a 3% booking fee, or $1 minimum. Notably, all fuel costs are covered by guests.

Unlike Turo, Getaround has a partnership with Uber. So, if you want to find out how much you would earn as an Uber driver, rent a car with Getaround and start with your side job.

Bottom Line: Is Turo Worth It?

Overall, when compared to traditional car rental companies, Turo is a much better option. Why? Sometimes, it could take hours waiting in lines just to get the rented vehicle’s keys. Plus, lots of paperwork need to be sorted. So, this online peer-to-peer platform is a savior for all of that. As a car owner, you can also tap into Turo’s money-making potential for hosts.

Only a couple of minutes are necessary to register as a Turo guest or a Turo host. And, just like that, the guests are ready to book the ideal car, and the hosts are ready to start making money.