Turo is a safe company with a A+ rating on Better Business Bureau. It will go public very soon with an IPO and also provides renters with several options to be safe as possible such as contactless pickup and drop-off, all-star host filters, and more.
Turo, otherwise known as Airbnb for cars, is growing at a rapid rate with more than 14 million users and is competing with traditional car rental companies.
Its approach is very different which may cause many to think, “Is Turo legit?”
If you are a host on Turo earning some extra income, here are some tips for you.
Turo Tip #1: Turo Go
Turo Go is an effort to reduce contact during checking in and checking out that became vital during the pandemic.
Many (newer) cars have programs on board that allows them to unlock, lock, and locate the car remotely such as OnStar.
It should be noted that Turo does not track your location during your trip unless there is an emergency.
Because vehicles are able to be accessed remotely, Turo Go takes full advantage of this feature for capable cars.
Checking in and checking out could not be easier than it is with Turo Go.
This allows renters to access their rental car without worrying about intervention from anyone else.
Once approved for Turo Go, unlocking the car rental can be done through the Turo app!
You simply log into your Turo account and unlock the vehicle from the app!
But where are the keys?
Turo instructs hosts to store the keys in an RF bag in the glove box.
The RF bag blocks the key’s signal to be able to start the car unless the key is removed.
Once you take the key out, you can continue taking pictures, entering mileage, and whatever else is needed to pick up your car.
Contactless pickup is just one way Turo car rental is a safe platform.
Turo Tip #2: Turo Host Filters
Turo took a play from Airbnb’s book to separate the good hosts from the bad.
When you look to rent a car from a traditional car rental company, you probably look for which one has the best reviews.
Peer car sharing is not much different and Turo allows the renter to search for cars available only from the best hosts.
All-star hosts is a badge that hosts earn once they meet a quota for booking enough trips, responding fast enough to guests, not canceling trips, and at least a 4.5 out of 5-star rating.
Although you can never promise to have a good host, these metrics will help renters have the best experience possible!
While searching for a car, I would read the host bio, reviews, and how many other cars they host.
If they have several cars and are an all-star host you can have a good bet that they will treat you well!
In fact, Turo makes this option very easy with an all-star host filter!
Once you’ve found a car you want to rent there are a few signs to watch to make sure you’re not getting scammed.
Turo Tip #3: Look Out For Scammers
Fortunately, I do not know of anyone personally that has been scammed on Turo.
On the rare occasion where it has happened to some people I’ve read about, there are a few signs to look out for.
After talking with several friends and family about renting a car on Turo, only two bad experiences were shared by avid renters.
One experience my friend rented from a brand new host with zero reviews and no bio.
Well, the host never showed up with their rental car.
Turo refunded them and helped them book a new car ASAP, but hosts with no reviews are always a risk.
Another bad story was when a host with no reviews had to pick up the renters, pick up their groceries, and then go to his house to drop himself off.
Not only does that violate Turo’s terms of service and would get the host in trouble or kicked off of Turo, but the renters could have been endangered with someone else at the wheel.
Positive reviews are vital.
Reviews Are Proof Of Cancellations
Every time a host cancels a trip on their guest, they receive a review, from Turo, letting everyone know that they had canceled a trip.
Imagine going to a traditional car rental company and when checking in the company says, “Sorry, we decided to cancel your car rental.”
You would never go to that company again!
To ensure hosts provide a stable and reliable experience for their guests, Turo posts a review every time a host cancels a trip.
Calling and Messaging Outside of Turo
One of my favorite features of Turo is the ability to message guests in the app.
Guests have the option to call the host, text the host, or message the host in the app.
Although calling is someone vital, especially if there is an emergency, messaging in the Turo app allows Turo to monitor the conversation.
In a rare scenario, hosts may try to blame guests for previous damage or other false claims.
As a renter, I would always message the host in the app.
Sometimes, people will call acting like they are from Turo or are your host.
Never give your credit card information or other personal data over the phone.
You always book through the app and never need to give your payment information over the phone.
If the host ever texts you, you can always take a screenshot of the text and upload it to the trip photos in the trip.
Bonus Turo Tips
For the best and safest experience when you get a Turo car rental, here are a few small tips to keep in mind:
- Hosts are not allowed to give you a ride or pay for an Uber for you
- Upload many pictures of the car before and after your trip showing any previous scratches or damage
- Turo roadside assistance coverage is available 24 hours if you have a protection plan
Final Thoughts
Overall, people’s experiences of Turo are very positive.
I will always look into a Turo car rental before using another car company.
Their customer support which is available 24 hours daily is a huge plus.
I still chat with Turo customer support often and there is always a friendly rep that helps me out on the other end.
Contactless pickup, Turo Go, and watching out for scammers should give you a great experience with Turo so you don’t have to rely on other car rental agencies.
Overall, whether this is your first time or not renting a car on Turo, I would recommend picking all-star hosts or hosts with great reviews.
