Many times in the past year, while hosting on Turo, I have wished my car was Turo Go qualified. The benefits that come from Turo car not only give hosts peace of mind but provide an easy and effortless way to rent cars with contactless pickup and never need to meet a host in person.
Turo Go is the technology that allows renters to unlock their car with their phone at all hours of the day, locate the car via GPS, and use a contactless pickup. To qualify for Turo Go, guests must pass a pre-screening before using any Turo Go-enabled vehicles. Overall, Turo Go makes the rental car experience more seamless and effortless.
Ever since Turo Go came out in 2018, it’s been a big hit for renters and hosts for multiple reasons. Whether you are looking to rent a car or host your car, Turo Go is an asset that should not be overlooked.
What Is Turo Go?
Turo Go is a service from Turo, known as “Airbnb for cars,” that allows contactless pickup without ever meeting the host to exchange keys or go over instructions. Turo Go allows guests to unlock the rental car remotely, locate the vehicle, and have flexible pickup hours.
It was also a saving grace for Turo as the pandemic engulfed the world and people wanted as little contact as possible. Turo Go, as of this writing, is available for specific vehicles in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
What Is the Difference Between Turo and Turo Go?
There are several differences between Turo and Turo Go. They are both the same company, but Turo Go is a tool provided by Turo.
Similarities
- Utilize the Turo app
- The same protection plans are available
- Same booking process
- Zero cost to use either app
Differences
- Turo Go is only available in select cities in the U.S.
- Specific vehicles qualify
- GPS tracked
How Does Turo Go Work?
Turo Go utilizes the onboard connected vehicle program, such as Onstar, to add remote features for guests.
Initially, when launching in 2019, Turo required a monthly fee to participate in Turo Go. Since then, CEO Andre Haddad is trying to make hosting and renting as easy as possible and removed the fee to use Turo Go. The only requirement is that your car has an eligible connected vehicle program.
Connected vehicle programs allow owners to start their car remotely, locate it via GPS, and even other features such as onboard wifi. Our 2016 Chevy Suburban has the option to add Onstar so your car may too.
How To Use Turo Go
To use Turo Go to rent a car, simply open the Turo app and log in or create an account. You can use your Gmail or Apple login which is a nice feature.
Once you are logged in, click on “Search” at the bottom left and select your date and time and location for pickup. Then, click on the filters box and select “Unlock the car from the app with Turo Go.” Then, all cars that are Turo Go eligible for you to book will show up in the search results.
As a Turo renter, you must upload two pictures to verify your identity before you pick up your rental car:
- A close-up picture of your driver’s license
- A selfie with you holding your driver’s license next to your face
Once that is done, you can use Turo Go to locate the vehicle’s location, check in by using the Turo app to unlock the vehicle, take pre-trip pictures, and enter mileage and fuel levels, and you’re ready for your car rental.
Turo Go Host Benefits
Besides abrupting the carsharing market, there are many benefits to using Turo Go as a host like contactless pickup and dropoff, GPS tracking,
Contactless Pickup and Dropoff
Hosts and renters won’t have to spend hardly any time being face-to-face with each other. I’ve seen some hosts that like to meet every single renter and while it can build some good rapport, it takes a large amount of time out of your day. I have met a handful of my renters face-to-face, but have received nothing but 5-star reviews even when I have never met the renter.
Turo contactless pickup is a big incentive that Turo Go takes advantage of.
GPS Tracking
Knowing where your car is while being rented out can not only be the peace of mind but help you know if the guest is on track for pickup and dropoff.
If it’s almost time for your guest to return your Turo car rental and they are still an hour or more away, it may be good to send them a message asking if they are planning on being back by check-out time. Also, in the very rare incident that your car may not return, you will be able to track your car.
Click here if you want to learn more about the best car trackers to use for Turo.
Qualified Drivers Only
Because Turo does a quick background check to verify a driver’s driving record, Turo Go will only allow qualified drivers to rent a Turo Go rental car. Knowing this as a host can help not worry about your car rentals or who is behind the wheel.
According to Turo, drivers will likely go through additional verification when booking a vehicle for Turo Go. Extra guest verification is always good for hosts.
There are several perks for Turo hosts when using Turo Go, but there are also several benefits for guests/renters.
Turo Go Renter Benefits
If you are looking for a car rental on Turo, you should look into Turo Go eligible cars FIRST.
Here are several reasons why:
Experienced Hosts Only
Turo doesn’t allow every single host to list their car on Turo Go. In order to qualify for Turo Go as a host, you must:
- Have at least 3 complete bookings
- 80% of reviews are 5-star
- Commitment rate of 80%
- A response rate of 85%
These requirements mean only hosts that have a track record of mostly satisfied renters in the past can list their car on Turo Go. As a renter, Turo Go is another step towards having a good Turo experience.
Contactless Pickup and Dropoff
Picking up your Turo Go rental car should be seamless and simple.
For Turo Go contactless pickup, use the Turo app, and check in within 12 hours before your trip starts. Locate the vehicle from your host’s instructions or using the GPS in the app. Once you find your rental car, unlock it using the app, take pre-trip pictures, record the mileage and fuel levels, and your contactless pickup is complete.
A dropoff is a similar process to a pick-up. Once you’re done, head back to where you picked up the vehicle, take post-trip pictures, record the mileage and fuel levels, and use the Turo app to lock the car. It’s also good practice to message the host and leave a review.
Cars That Qualify For Turo Go
If you are a host and are looking to upgrade your car from Turo to Turo Go, it is very easy to figure out.
Most new cars from 2017 are able to qualify for Turo Go as long as you have an OEM subscription such as Onstar, but there’s an even easier way to check it.
In the Turo app, click on “Vehicles” at the bottom and then the “Turo Go” tab. If you have any vehicles that are eligible to be upgraded, they will have an “upgrade” button next to them!
However, if your vehicle doesn’t qualify for Turo Go like mine, yours still look like this:
My Turo car is a 2022 Vanderhall Venice which makes sense why it wouldn’t qualify for Turo Go. However, these cars qualify for Turo Go:
| Make | Models | Year |
| Audi | A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, Q5, Q7, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8 | 2014+ |
| BMW | All series 1-8*, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7*, i3, i8 | 2014+ with Navigation enabled |
| Ford | All Expedition, Explorer, Mustang F-150, Fusion, Fusion Hybrid | 2019+ 2018+ 2017+ |
| Lexus | All models | 2015+ |
| Tesla | All Models (S, 3, X, Y*) | 2013+ |
| Volkswagen | All models | 2014+ |
An All-Star Host’s Thoughts On Turo Go
Turo nailed it on the head with the release of Turo Go. Making it optional, free (for now), and contactless is a recipe for success. I have never experienced a contactless pickup at any traditional car company.
If you ever need to rent a car by your house or while traveling, I highly recommend Turo Go.
