Finding car rentals too costly or unavailable? Here’s why Turo might be the solution for you

If you appreciate Airbnb's business model for accommodation, consider opting for Turo instead of a conventional rental car. For those unfamiliar, Turo is a platform that lets you borrow a car from a local rather than a car rental agency.

Currently, Turo operates in over 7,500 cities across the U.S., select Canadian provinces (including Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec), and the United Kingdom. It has emerged as a popular alternative to traditional rental services due to soaring daily rates and limited availability.

Understanding how Turo operates

Getting started with Turo is a breeze. Just create an account, verify your identity, and you’re ready to choose from a range of cars.

You can filter your search by price, model, or instant booking options. After selecting your vehicle, complete the checkout process and coordinate pick-up or drop-off with the vehicle owner.

Our personal experiences with Turo

I’ve rented through Turo several times, with my first experience occurring less than a year ago. Overall, my experiences have been very positive. While experiences can vary, I would rate my eight Turo rentals a solid 9 out of 10.

During the rental car crisis of summer 2021, Turo emerged as a popular alternative. It’s particularly convenient if you find a vehicle close to your location, eliminating the need to trek to a rental agency, often located at airports. For example, I once rented a car in Honolulu for a few hours, conveniently located just around the corner from my hotel, at a time when traditional rental options were completely booked.

Renting through Turo can lead to varied experiences. Generally, you'll meet the car owner to present your driver's license and inspect the vehicle together before you receive the keys and set off. They may explain specific details about the car, provide parking instructions for your return, or give you an access code for the parking garage. In my first rental experience, the owner was at work, so I verified my identity by uploading a selfie with my driver's license. He then unlocked the car remotely and informed me of where to find the keys.

Some Turo hosts may even deliver the car to your location, though be aware that this service typically comes with an additional fee. Depending on your circumstances, it might be more cost-effective to pick up the car yourself and save on the delivery charge.

When you're ready to drive away with the vehicle, you'll complete the check-in process through the Turo app, which includes answering questions about any pre-existing damage. You also have the option to upload photos of the car, which is useful for documenting any existing issues, whether it's dirtiness or sand left by previous passengers.

Taylor Jenkins, the director of audience development at TPG, had a great experience recently when he rented a 2019 Jeep Renegade. The owner had customized it with a pop-up tent and refrigerator, transforming the vehicle into both transport and lodging for a road trip filled with camping and hiking during Taylor's family vacation in California. There was a delivery fee of $120 for the owner to bring the Jeep to Taylor's family at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and to pick it up a week later.

Becca Manheimer, the senior director of marketing and communications, agreed that Turo's rental prices often come in lower than those of traditional car rentals these days. For her, the cost savings outweighed the inconvenience of picking up a vehicle that wasn't located at her arrival airport during a recent vacation. She noted that the car had an Apple AirTag, allowing the owner to track its location. As is advisable with any car rental, she took a video of the vehicle's condition upon both pickup and drop-off, which helped her fend off a false damage claim by a previous rental owner.

Kevin Martinez, an associate web publisher at TPG, enjoyed using Turo due to being under 25 years old. Traditional rental agencies wanted to impose extra fees on him, while Turo's 'young driver' fee was significantly lower. He and his friends found that renting through Turo was much more economical than traditional options for young drivers.

Alex Maben, a senior product designer, shared a similar sentiment after her recent solo trip to Orange County, California. Her hotel was a 30-minute drive from the beach, and renting from Turo — instead of relying on Uber for daily trips to the beach — turned out to be much cheaper than using Uber. It also ended up being more affordable than conventional rental cars at the time of her visit.

Therefore, when traditional rental car prices soar due to high demand, your destination, or your specific needs, Turo has proven to be an excellent option for many TPG staff members.

When to choose Turo and when to look elsewhere

There are numerous advantages to using Turo. First off, the app is quite intuitive, allowing you to make last-minute adjustments with ease.

Moreover, in our experience, we've not encountered any surprise fees; all charges have been transparently communicated from the beginning. Of course, individual experiences may vary depending on the car owner.

Additionally, Turo is an excellent choice for drivers under 25, as it helps you sidestep the expensive young driver fees that some rental agencies impose. For instance, Hertz charges an additional $19 per day for young drivers.

Finally, Turo is an ideal option if you're planning a round trip to your destination and back.

That said, there are some drawbacks to consider. If you're planning a one-way journey, it's more advantageous to rent a car that allows for pick-up and drop-off in different locations.

A significant drawback of Turo is that it's likely not covered under your credit card's rental car insurance since the service is not operated by an official car rental company like Budget or Enterprise; instead, it's a peer-to-peer platform. Fortunately, Turo does offer its own protection plans, which can range from 15% to 100% of your trip's cost.

Accumulating points and miles with Turo rentals

Turo lacks airline partnerships like many of the major car rental companies, so opportunities to earn rewards through double-dipping are limited. Nevertheless, be sure to add your Delta SkyMiles number to your Turo account to receive 2,000 miles on your first trip and 500 miles on subsequent trips.

In addition to earning airline points and miles, you can also rack up bonus points with your credit card since Turo is categorized as travel. Here are some of the top credit cards for earning points on Turo rentals:

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 10 miles for every dollar spent on Turo rentals until May 16, 2023, then 2 miles per dollar.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 5 miles per dollar on Turo rentals until May 16, 2023, then 2 miles per dollar.
• American Express® Green Card: Earn 3 points per dollar on travel purchases.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve: Earn 3 points per dollar on travel expenses not booked through Chase Travel (which does not support Turo rentals).
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Earn 2 points per dollar on travel purchases not made through Chase Travel.

Final Thoughts

Turo presents an excellent alternative to traditional car rentals. It can save you money and provide greater flexibility.

While currently available in select countries, it's likely that the service will expand as its popularity continues to rise.

Be sure to use a credit card that offers bonus points for travel expenses when booking your Turo rentals.