When renting a car, traditional rental companies like Avis, Enterprise, and Hertz often come to mind first. But in recent years, Turo.com has emerged as a game-changer, offering an Airbnb-style approach to car rentals. I’ve personally used Turo multiple times and found it to be consistently affordable and a convenient alternative. In this post, I’ll share my full review of Turo, discuss the pros and cons, and help you decide if it’s the right option for you.

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Turo. This review is based solely on my personal experiences and research. Other Links included in this post may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my blog!

What is Turo?

Turo is a peer-to-peer car-sharing platform that allows individuals to rent their cars to others. It’s available in many cities across the U.S. and other countries, offering everything from economy cars to luxury vehicles.

Instead of going through a traditional rental agency, you browse Turo’s online platform, choose a car from a private owner, and book it for the time you need. It reminds me of the Airbnb platform except for renting cars instead of housing.

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Pros of Using Turo

1. Affordability

One of Turo’s biggest selling points is its cost-effectiveness. Rental rates are set by each vehicle owner leaving a wide range of price points open for those looking to rent. In my experience, finding a rental on Turo has been significantly cheaper than using a traditional service.

Here are some of the vehicles I’ve rented and how much I paid for each:

• In Portland, OR I rented a Mazda CX-5 from Friday afternoon to Monday morning for a total of $172.
• In El Paso, TX I rented a Volkswagen Tiguan from Wednesday morning to Saturday afternoon for a total of $216.
• In Albuquerque, NM I rented a Honda Civic from Wednesday afternoon to Monday afternoon for a total of $274.

In each of the above trips, Turo provided a much more affordable option than the larger local companies.

2. Wide Variety of Vehicles

Turo offers an incredible range of vehicles to suit every need and budget. Whether you’re looking for an economy car for a quick errand or a luxury SUV for a special occasion, Turo has options. Some standout features include:

• Vintage cars for unique trips.
• Electric vehicles (EVs) for eco-conscious travelers.
• Specialty vehicles like Jeeps for off-road adventures.
• High-end vehicles for those who want to travel in luxury.

Protip: Know what your itinarary includes before you secure your rental vehicle. In El Paso I knew I’d be camping and would retreat to the vehicle if the weather got bad – which it did – so I was happy to have one large enough to comfortably sleep in.

In Albuquerque, NM I did NOT have my itinerary set prior to securing my rental and I wasn’t able to complete one of the Sandia Cave hike I wanted to do because the road was too rough for the vehicle I rented.

3. Convenience

The booking process is straightforward and user-friendly. You can do it on a computer or right from the app on your phone. You can filter options by price, location, vehicle type, and more. Many Turo hosts also offer delivery services, bringing the car directly to you, whether at your home, hotel, or airport (although that typically increases the price substantially).
Communication is convenient too. If you have a question, something goes wrong, or you need to extend your rental term, you can call or text the owner directly.

4. Personal Touch

Since Turo connects you with individual car owners, the experience feels more personalized. Some hosts leave thoughtful touches like water bottles, maps, phone chargers, or tips for the area you’re visiting. Think of your favorite Uber or Lyft experience and consider that you may get that with your Turo rental as well.
I like the idea of putting money in someone else’s pocket vs. into the pockets of a large corporation, but that’s just me!

5. Flexibility

Turo’s platform often allows for more flexible rental periods. Need a car for just a few hours or an extended rental period? Turo can accommodate.

Depending on the chosen rental, the cancellation policy is typically pretty great too. I think three of the four rentals I booked allowed full-refund cancellations up until 48 hours before my pick up time. One required a week’s notice for cancellation, but I still think that’s pretty good!

Most Turo owners have designated spots for pickup or drop off, but that is something else that can be discussed with your Turo owner if needed as well.

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Cons of Using Turo

1. Insurance Complications

Turo is considered a peer-to-peer lending service, so it doesn’t always qualify as a rental car agency in the eyes of insurance providers. This can complicate things and potentially make the rental a less affordable option if you also have to buy insurance.

If you currently have vehicle insurance, the first thing you’ll want to do is call and verify whether or not they’ll cover rental vehicles booked through Turo.com. It’s never a bad idea to get your confirmation in writing if whomever you speak with confirms you’ll be covered.

If your insurance policy doesn’t cover you, Turo offers an insurance option through Travelers Insurance. When making your reservation, you’ll choose the level of insurance you would like to add to your trip (prices vary). Using a Turo protection plan can provide a level of security to your trip if you’re insurance doesn’t cover you, but the out-of-pocket fees for accidents and incidentals may be much higher than a traditional rental agency.

Be sure to do your research and always read the contracts.

2. Limited Availability in Some Areas

Turo’s coverage is widespread, but it’s not everywhere. If you’re in a smaller or more remote area, options may be limited compared to traditional rental companies.

The city I live in surprisingly only has 2 cars available for rent on Turo!

3. Risk of Cancellations

Since Turo rentals are hosted by private individuals, there’s a chance your booking could be canceled at the last minute if something comes up for the host. Turo does provide alternatives in such situations, but it’s still an inconvenience and can end up costing you more depending on the pick-up location of the newly booked rental or even the rental options themselves may be more expensive.

I had a Turo host cancel my booking in the past. Thankfully, they canceled a little over a week before my trip so I had time to find an alternative. I also got very lucky, and the alternative was actually more affordable than the vehicle I’d originally booked and had the same amenities I was looking for. This may not always be the case though.

4. Extra Fees

Be mindful of additional fees, such as cleaning fees, delivery fees, or charges for exceeding mileage limits. While these are typically listed upfront, they can add up quickly if you’re not careful.

In my experience, I’ve never even come close to exceeding the mileage limits, sometimes they’re even unlimited. Additionally, if you take good photos and don’t dirty up the car, cleaning fees are easy to avoid. I did have to run a vehicle through the car wash on my trip to the Sandia Cave hike in Albuquerque, but that’s because it was an off-road adventure and the car was pretty dirty when I was done.

The best thing you can do to avoid some of these additional fees is to take the photos seriously. When you first get to the car, you’re required to submit photos of the outside and inside of the vehicle to document the condition of the vehicle when received.

Unfortunately, sometimes people are assholes and out here to nickel and dime others so do your due diligence and take the time to get those photos! If you do get dinged for a fee that you feel wasn’t necessary, be sure to include that information in your Turo review when you return your vehicle!

5. Potential for Variable Quality

The condition and cleanliness of the vehicle depend entirely on the host. While most of my experiences have been positive, there is a chance the photos listed on the website were from when the vehicle first started out as a rental and may not have been updated recently.

You can easily avoid this surprise by reading other’s reviews and seeing how long the vehicle has been on Turo (that information is provided). I was only surprised once when a car was much dirtier than I thought it would be, but I chose to book a car that didn’t have any reviews due to the cheaper price of the rental, so I wasn’t mad about it. It wasn’t gross either, just not as clean as the pictures looked. I made sure to note that in my review so the next renter isn’t surprised.

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My Personal Experiences with Turo

First Trip: A Weekend Getaway

I heard about Turo through a friend when we were booking a trip to Seattle for a weekend get-together. The process was seamless, and the host’s communication was excellent. The car was clean, ran perfectly, and cost half of what I’d have paid at a rental agency. After that, I was sold on using Turo for future trips.

Since then, I’ve booked rentals in four different U.S. cities.

I encourage you, if you do end up booking a rental car, to always leave a review on Turo! The reviews are so helpful for others looking to reserve for the future.

What to look for?

Since I’ve now booked multiple vehicles with Turo, I always look for the following items in the rental:

• Does it have charging capability and does it come with a charger? I rented a vehicle out in El Paso that didn’t have anywhere to plug in a phone charger and there’s nothing worse than needing your phone for navigation and being worried about it dying on you.
• Does it have a screen for displaying GPS and/or does it come with a phone holder so I can see my phone’s GPS. I only book rental cars when I’m traveling, which means I will probably be using a map everywhere I go. Trying to use your phone as navigation and having to have it sit in your lap, on the passenger seat, or in a cup holder because there’s no phone stand or a way to link your phone to the display is not only inconveinent, but also unsafe!
• Before I arrive to my destination I ensure I have clear instructions on how to access the vehicle. Sometimes there’s a lockbox located somewhere on the car. Sometimes there’s a numeric code to put in the door. There was one owner that met me at the vehicle and handed me the keys. It’s important to have the details ahead of time so not to delay your trip. If you arrive and can’t figure it out or have trouble with following the instructions, you could be sitting there until the owner responds.

Sometimes the owner won’t outright put these items in their discription so be sure to read each Turo review and scan for the key words (gps, navigation, phone charger, etc.) or simply reach out to the owner ahead of time and ask them your specific questions.

Additional Discounts/Deals

In addition to Turo having some of the most affordable options, I’ve seen Turo discounts pop up on both Rakuten and my Capital One Rewards page on multiple occasions provding me with even more opportunity to save money. I was able to not only get a discounted rental, but I was able to get cashback while doing so.

If you aren’t already using Rakuten, it’s a great website with a browser extension that will provide you with instant discounts for shopping on certain sites. If you want to find out more and get $30 to spend for free, use my referral link to sign up!

If you already own a Capital One Rewards card, you may want to spend some time searching their travel rewards page. Althought the Capital One Rewards change daily, I’ve seen Turo pop up on there multiple times with cashback ranging from 3% to 12%!

If you don’t own a Capital One Rewards card and travel quite a bit, it may be worth considering. I’ve been using mine for years to book hotels and other travel related expenses all while getting cashback.

Airport Pick Up

Airport pick up is available through Turo. The owners of the vehicles will park the car in airport parking and tell you where to pick it up, which is super convenient. However, on the negative side, I’ve found that a lot of Turo owners charge quite a substantial fee for this service. I’ve never found that it’s more affordable to do airport pick up/drop off than it is to find a vehicle close to the airport and take public transport or catch a rideshare to the vehicles location.

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Tips for Using Turo

1. Understand Insurance: Make sure you know what coverage you have, whether through Turo or your own provider.
2. Read Reviews: Always check Turo reviews for both the car and the host to ensure reliability.
3. Plan Ahead: Book early, especially during peak travel seasons.
4. Communicate Clearly: Reach out to the host with any questions or special requests.
5. Inspect the Car Well: Take photos of the car’s condition before and after your rental to avoid disputes.

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Final Thoughts: Is Turo Right for You?

Turo is an excellent option for many travelers, offering affordability, convenience, and a wide selection of vehicles. However, as with all services, there are some challenges to consider such as insurance complexities and coverage.

If you’re considering Turo, I hope this Turo review has given you a clear picture of what to expect. Whether you’re planning a road trip, need a car for a special occasion, or want a budget-friendly option for a weekend getaway, Turo might be the perfect fit. Just be sure to ALWAYS read the contracts and do your research!