Turo Review: What It’s Really Like Renting A Car On Turo

We’ve known about Turo for a few years now and have always heard it’s a popular platform for renting cars.  However, until now, we had never actually tried it ourselves.  So when Turo reached out to us and invited us to try the service in exchange for sharing our authentic experience, we were excited to finally see what all the hype was about. 

For our very first rental, we decided to book a luxury G-Wagon to go on a weekend road trip up Vancouver Island.  Here’s our full Turo review and all our tips to help you feel confident booking your first trip!

Disclosure: I received this car rental for free as part of a collaboration with Turo, but was not paid for this review.  All opinions here are completely my own and an honest review of my experience renting with Turo for the first time. 

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you purchase or book something after clicking one of these links, we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.  As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

What is Turo?

Turo is the world’s largest car-sharing platform that allows private car owners to rent out their cars to others.  The company is based out of San Francisco, but operates across the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and France.  The easiest way to explain it is it’s pretty much the Airbnb of cars.

Unlike traditional car rental companies, Turo doesn’t actually own any cars.  It is simply a peer-to-peer platform connecting hosts with guests, while taking a small cut.

How does Turo work?

1.  Search for a vehicle in desired area
2. Read host reviews
3. Create an account 
4. Book your chosen vehicle
5.  Select insurance
6.  Set up payment
7.  Confirm pick up and drop off process
8.  Communicate with the host
9.  Enjoy your rental!

Owners list their eligible vehicles on the platform and guests can browse available options by filtering by location, date, and type.

In order to rent a vehicle on Turo, you must first create an account and get approved to drive by uploading a valid drivers license and providing a valid e-mail, phone number, and payment method.

Once you’ve found a vehicle you’d like to rent, you can read reviews of the host from previous renters.  If you decide to go ahead and book, you’ll need to select an insurance option and then set up payment for your rental.

Our Full Turo Rental Experience (First-Time Review)

When we started browsing available vehicles in our area, we were excited to see such a variety of options, including many unique and luxurious cars. 

Since we were planning a road trip up island, two vehicles caught my eye for our trip: an FJ Cruiser with a rooftop tent and a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon. Since I had always dreamed of driving a G-Wagon, I figured this was my chance, and booked it.

Booking the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon

The Turo website and app make it very easy to search for your preferred car.  I appreciated the ability to filter by price, type, make and model, year, features, whether or not the car can be delivered, host rating, and more.

It was also great to read previous renters’ reviews of the host to be aware of any potential issues.

This particular host didn’t offer car delivery, but we could see the approximate pickup location and it worked for us so we went ahead and booked the car.  It was a very straightforward process, no different from reserving a car with other car rental companies.

Rental and Insurance Costs

Hosts set their own rates on Turo so there’s a large range of prices on the platform.

Since we went with a luxury option, our rental was on the higher end at $180/day.  It included unlimited kilometers (whereas some hosts list a maximum and charge extra per km).  Considering it was a G-Wagon afterall, we felt the rental fee was fair.  I’ve seen luxury vehicles for double or triple that price at traditional car rental companies.

On top of the rental fee, there was also a Turo trip fee of $23.41/day and Standard Protection fee of $72/day, plus tax.  You can see the full breakdown below.

We could have gone with the cheaper protection option but we wanted to be covered as much as possible, especially since credit card insurance doesn’t cover peer-to-peer rentals and not all personal insurance does either.

Pickup Experience

Once we booked the car, we were able to view the exact address for where to pick it up.  

On the day of the rental, I had to take a selfie holding my valid driver’s license to upload on the app so the host could verify my identity.  The host then messaged us to confirm what time we would be arriving so that he could come out to meet us with the car.

The pick up process was super quick.  When we arrived, the host checked my license and handed over the keys.  He gave a bit of information about the car, such as the need to fill it up with premium gas only, and that was it!  It only took one minute.

After he left, however, we continued the check-in process on the Turo app.  Turo suggests uploading at least 10 photos of the car so that everything is documented.  We went around and carefully took pictures of the exterior and interior of the car.

Since it was nighttime, it was hard to see everything in the dark, so I would suggest trying to time your pickup for when it’s light out. 

What It Was Like Driving the G-Wagon (Turo Car Quality Review)

The car itself was in good condition – clean, maintained well, and drove nicely.  It was an older model from 2012, so it had some minor signs of wear, but overall a great car.

It was perfect for a Vancouver Island road trip as it felt very rugged and sturdy.  The trunk was massive so we had no issue fitting our luggage and golf clubs back there.

The only real downside is that it’s a big car and only takes premium gas, so that is something you have to factor into the cost when going on a long road trip.

Additionally, the G-Wagon attracts a lot of attention, which we weren’t exactly expecting.  Driving around, we noticed a lot of people staring at us and checking out the car lol.  

The Return Process

We returned the car back to the owner at the same location where we picked it up.  Before our drop off, the host messaged us to confirm our arrival time and to remind us of filling up the gas to the same level we received it at, and to tidy the inside of the car.  Guests are not expected to wash the outside of the car, but you still need to return it tidy.

We parked the car at the drop off spot and once again did a walk around, taking at least 10 photos of the car to show the condition we returned it in.  Once we were done, we messaged the host and he came out to meet us so we could hand back the keys.  A quick and easy process overall.

Pros and Cons of Renting from Turo

After completing our first Turo rental, here are the biggest pros and cons we noticed.  

Pros

• You can reserve and get the exact car you want (versus some car rental companies that sometimes give you the same class of car, but not the exact car you reserved)
• No waiting in line at a rental counter – pick up and drop off is super quick, often with instant access via remote unlock or a lock box
• Car delivery is available on many rentals, sometimes at an additional cost – you can get it dropped off to you at an airport, train station, hotel or even your home
• Unique vehicle options to choose from – I believe this is the biggest draw of Turo!  From 4×4 trucks, to luxury G-Wagons, Cyber Trucks and race cars, you can find many cars that you’d never be able to rent elsewhere
• Prices can be cheaper than traditional rental companies, especially for older or basic cars, or during special events
• You can read host reviews
• Everything is documented on the app in case there are any disputes over damage
• Flexible cancellation policy – including coverage in case of a delayed/cancelled flight/train or lost baggage!

Cons

• Insurance – personal and/or credit card insurance doesn’t usually cover peer-to-peer rentals so you’ll need to review and purchase the correct coverage, which can add up
• Vehicles are not as new – Turo vehicles can be up to 12 years old (or more for specialty vehicles) so there is obviously more wear and tear on them
• Replacement vehicles – if a host has to cancel last minute, or something goes wrong with the car, a replacement may not be as readily available as with traditional rental companies that have a large fleet

Tips for Renting from Turo

1.  Read host reviews!
2.  Message your host early to confirm the pick up and drop off location and process (ie. is there a lockbox and how will you gain access)
3. Take lots of photos of the car, inside and out, before completing your check-in
4.  Try to time your pick up during daylight so you can spot any damage more easily
5.  Make sure everything is working well before driving off – do the lights work? Windshield wipers? Windows? Heat/AC? Seatbelts?
6.  Confirm refueling instructions with the host – does it take premium gas only?
7.  Ensure the vehicle registration and insurance documents are inside the vehicle
8.  Know where to find your rental contract in the app
9.  Check mileage limits – if there is a limit, take photos of the odometer at the start and end of your rental
10.  Carefully review if you have appropriate insurance coverage!
11.  Don’t forget to bring your Driver’s License 🙂 

FAQ

Is Turo reliable?

Yes, but of course there can be some hosts that may not be as reliable.  This is why it’s important to read host reviews!  Turo automatically posts a review if a host cancels a reservation last minute, so this is something to look out for when choosing a vehicle/host.

Can you cancel a Turo rental?

Yes, cancellation is free up until 24 hours before the scheduled start time.  The exception is if you booked a non-refundable rate, which is usually a bit cheaper than the regular rate.  Non-refundable bookings can be cancelled within 24 hours after the booking.

What if I’m late due to a flight delay/cancellation or lost luggage?

You need to message the host right away and see if they can accommodate a modified pick up time.  If they are unable to, and you need to cancel the rental, Turo will refund you as long as you provide documentation that you messaged the host and proof of your delayed/cancelled flight/lost baggage.  The full policy can be found on the Turo website.

What happens if something goes wrong with the car?

All Turo trips include 24/7 roadside assistance for mechanical issues and accidents.  If you encounter any issues, let your host know immediately and then contact roadside assistance (in Canada, the number is 1-888-391-0460).  All contact information can be found in the Turo app.

Roadside assistance will attempt to fix the vehicle so it’s operational, or tow it if it can’t be fixed. Turo support will then help book you another vehicle.

If you purchased enhanced roadside assistance at the time of booking, fees for non-mechanical issues will be covered, ie flat tire, fuel delivery, lock out, towing.  Without enhanced roadside assistance, you’ll have to pay up to $199, or up to $399 for towing.

Can you add an additional driver?

Yes!  You can add an additional driver to your trip at any time for no additional cost.  However, the additional driver has to have their own Turo account and be approved to drive on Turo.

The additional driver also cannot pick up or drop off the vehicle.  Only the primary driver can.

Do I need my own personal insurance to rent on Turo?

Nope!  All Turo rentals come with liability insurance, which covers bodily or property damage to another person if you’re responsible for the damage.  It does NOT, however, cover vehicle loss or damage, which you definitely want protection for as well.

Turo offers protection plans at the time of booking which will limit the amount you will have to pay out-of-pocket to either $2000 or $500, depending on the plan you choose, should anything go wrong.  This is highly recommended!

Will my credit card insurance cover my rental?

No.  Credit cards sometimes cover rentals from car rental companies, but Turo is NOT a car rental company.  It is a peer-to-peer car sharing platform, which is not covered.

Is Turo legit? Our final verdict

Yes! I was genuinely impressed with how smoothly everything went for our first Turo rental.  Picking up the car was so easy!  It was quicker than I expected and being able to do everything on the app made the whole process feel modern and stress-free.

The car was just as pictured, the host was reliable and responsive, and most importantly, the car was clean and drove well.

The biggest perk of Turo is the ability to rent unique or specialty vehicles that you wouldn’t be able to rent elsewhere.  It was so much fun being able to rent a G-Wagon for the weekend – something I had always wanted to do!  

I can see myself renting on Turo again in the future whenever I need a fun or unique car.  In fact, I already have my eye on that FJ Cruiser with a tent on top for another Vancouver Island road trip 😉 

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Turo Review Video

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