TURO - has anyone tried renting through this platform ?

[ronlon]

Hi has anyone rented through Turo whether in the USA or elsewhere? Car rental prices are crazy in the USA at the moment and I need a car for days 18 ex Los Angeles. The prices and car choices on Turo are very tempting.

I would only rent from an experienced host who upon reading their reviews do not seem to raise any concern.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I see that there's been no replies to the original post. @ronlon did you end up using TURO?

I'm also interested to hear of any AFF member's experiences as I'm considering a long term rental using TURO later this year in the US.

Looking to rent for around 80 days. Rental car prices are between $8 and $14K for that time period. A quick look on TURO suggests I may pay closer to $5K (significant discounts for long term rentals).

And just to throw it out there, other than purchasing a vehicle, are people aware of a way of hiring a car for an extended period of time in the US at a price that wont break me.

 

[ronlon]

I see that there's been no replies to the original post. @ronlon did you end up using TURO?

I'm also interested to hear of any AFF member's experiences as I'm considering a long term rental using TURO later this year in the US.

Looking to rent for around 80 days. Rental car prices are between $8 and $14K for that time period. A quick look on TURO suggests I may pay closer to $5K (significant discounts for long term rentals).

And just to throw it out there, other than purchasing a vehicle, are people aware of a way of hiring a car for an extended period of time in the US at a price that wont break me.

Hi I have booked a car through Turo for 18 days in Los Angeles days commencing early April so can report back later. However for piece of mind I booked with LA Auto Spot who are a major business with an extensive fleet that only rent through the Turo platform. Dr. Ralph not sure where you need a car from but LA Auto Spot have a few branches in the USA. There are also some other enterprising individuals who have a fleet so I figure they would be more committed to things like regular maintenance as opposed to someone who is just trying to get some extra cash for their car.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Hi I have booked a car through Turo for 18 days in Los Angeles days commencing early April so can report back later. However for piece of mind I booked with LA Auto Spot who are a major business with an extensive fleet that only rent through the Turo platform. Dr. Ralph not sure where you need a car from but LA Auto Spot have a few branches in the USA. There are also some other enterprising individuals who have a fleet so I figure they would be more committed to things like regular maintenance as opposed to someone who is just trying to get some extra cash for their car.

Thanks for the reply @ronlon . I'll need a car in Dallas from around July 1. I've been spending quite a loto f time reading the bio's for each of the car providers. Seems that only a small number are 'professionals' and therefore more likely to be open to long term rentals.

I can see that LA Auto Spot has a branch in Dallas. But I note from their listings:

"DFW and DAL Love Field Airport - We are only 15 minutes, and 10-12 miles from each airport. Uber or Lyft would only be $20-25 ride each way. We are in the middle of both airports. We do not do any deliveries or pickups. All trips are to start and end at our location."

This might be a bit much with 6 bags and 2 people.

I also plan tto have a back up plan as I can see that sometimes these rentals can be cancelled at the last minute.

Just one question, when do you pay for the car? Before or after the rental? or is there some type of holding deposit?

 

[ronlon]

The booking must be paid in full. There is a 100% refund with minimal cancellation notification required. I usually rent with Avis hence I am also considering a back up booking with them. Turo clearly does not suit everyone however apart from travel passion I am also a motoring enthusiast and driving around in an American muscle car a la Dodge Charger as opposed to a more expensive mundane Toyota Camry from Avis I am prepared to give Turo a go.

 

[Dr Ralph]

The booking must be paid in full. There is a 100% refund with minimal cancellation notification required. I usually rent with Avis hence I am also considering a back up booking with them. Turo clearly does not suit everyone however apart from travel passion I am also a motoring enthusiast and driving around in an American muscle car a la Dodge Charger as opposed to a more expensive mundane Toyota Camry from Avis I am prepared to give Turo a go.

Thanks @ronlon.

I've spent a lot of time this weekend reading everything I could about Turo, including all of the policies and reviews. As I'm planning to rent for an extended period of time I gues the main concern I have is what happens if something goes wrong part way through the rental period as I may be up to 3000kms from the point of rental. I know with Hertz for example that I could get another car and continue on my journey, but it's not going to work out that easily with Turo.

For me I'm looking at saving a very large some of money (around $5K owing to cheaper car hire rates but also early bird discounts and extended booking discount) if I go with Turo, so the 'risk' may be worth it.

What I don't like, so far, is that you can't contact the host until you make the booking. I definitely want to make contact with the host to make it clear that I'll be travelling in excess of 10,000kms and the car needs to be in a condition to do this (tyres, servicing etc).

The one question I can't seem to find an answer for is 'does Turo require an international drivers licence?'

 

[ronlon]

Thanks @ronlon.

I've spent a lot of time this weekend reading everything I could about Turo, including all of the policies and reviews. As I'm planning to rent for an extended period of time I gues the main concern I have is what happens if something goes wrong part way through the rental period as I may be up to 3000kms from the point of rental. I know with Hertz for example that I could get another car and continue on my journey, but it's not going to work out that easily with Turo.

For me I'm looking at saving a very large some of money (around $5K owing to cheaper car hire rates but also early bird discounts and extended booking discount) if I go with Turo, so the 'risk' may be worth it.

What I don't like, so far, is that you can't contact the host until you make the booking. I definitely want to make contact with the host to make it clear that I'll be travelling in excess of 10,000kms and the car needs to be in a condition to do this (tyres, servicing etc).

The one question I can't seem to find an answer for is 'does Turo require an international drivers licence?'

Dr Ralph if you are concerned about reliability given your big road trip just book a late model Japanese make preferably from a fleet type provider ! There are however many individuals who are precious about their cars and will have good maintenance. Turo do not require an international driving permit to book but you may be asked for one if stopped by the police. They are only $42 via on line so just get one.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Turo do not require an international driving permit to book but you may be asked for one if stopped by the police. They are only $42 via on line so just get one.

I've never needed one in the US. And I've been stopped quite a number of times by the police!

 

[Must...Fly!]

This might be a bit much with 6 bags and 2 people.

If you're saving 5k, one person waits in the terminal with bags, one goes to pick up the car I think!

 

[Dr Ralph]

If you're saving 5k, one person waits in the terminal with bags, one goes to pick up the car I think!

Not going to happen. Especially as it needs to happen both ways. There are plenty of providers that will leave the car in the car park of hotels connected to DFW or meet you curbside, so there's no need to inconvenience yourself in this way.

 

[anyonebutqantas]

I'm giving Virtuo a go in the UK shortly - I liked the booking process and prompt customer service replies on Facebook. Will report back after we are done with the car!

 

[ethernet]

$175 per day and up for Melbourne car hire? One reason why I have given up on Australian holidays. I wonder how much corporates and Centrelink pay.

 

[ADFlyMore]

I am currently looking into hiring via Turo for our Hawaii holiday in August. We only need it for 2 days but it seems considerably cheaper than the main car hire companies. I need to check insurance via the app and need to create an account which im having issues trying to verify my phone number so will keep trying.

 

[Happy Dude]

Thanks @ronlon.

I've spent a lot of time this weekend reading everything I could about Turo, including all of the policies and reviews. As I'm planning to rent for an extended period of time I gues the main concern I have is what happens if something goes wrong part way through the rental period as I may be up to 3000kms from the point of rental. I know with Hertz for example that I could get another car and continue on my journey, but it's not going to work out that easily with Turo.

For me I'm looking at saving a very large some of money (around $5K owing to cheaper car hire rates but also early bird discounts and extended booking discount) if I go with Turo, so the 'risk' may be worth it.

What I don't like, so far, is that you can't contact the host until you make the booking. I definitely want to make contact with the host to make it clear that I'll be travelling in excess of 10,000kms and the car needs to be in a condition to do this (tyres, servicing etc).

The one question I can't seem to find an answer for is 'does Turo require an international drivers licence?'

Hi @Dr Ralph, if you're starting and finishing in Dallas, then the downtown Dallas location for Sixt has pretty sharp rates if the location suits. The excess mileage might be a killer for the amount you're doing though.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Hi @Dr Ralph, if you're starting and finishing in Dallas, then the downtown Dallas location for Sixt has pretty sharp rates if the location suits. The excess mileage might be a killer for the amount you're doing though.

Thanks @Happy Dude . Will do some more checking but these things already concern me for Sixt as they aren’t impediments via Turo:


$15.67a day for an additional driver (would amount to more than $1000 additional for me).

Includes 5491 free miles, 0.31 AUD per additional mile (would amount to more than more than $1000 additional for me).

$13.86 a day for a toll pass (would amount to more than $1000 additional for me).

 

[Happy Dude]

@Dr Ralph yeah the add-ons stack up. Sixt will instant status match which gives a discount on the daily rate, upgrade and free additional driver, although the last two are not apparent in the booking process. Insurance is a bit of a knot to untangle too.

We're doing a one-way rental (coast to coast) so Turo and the non-airport pickups are impossible or problematic.

 

[ronlon]

I recently returned from a USA holiday and rented a car for 18 days through Turo in Los Angeles. The car provider was LA Auto Spot who have a fleet of different vehicles.

The entire process was positive and I saved several hundred dollars compared to the usual rental providers. I also got to drive a more interesting car than the usual rental fleet offering. Just make sure you have the Turo app on your phone and network connection as it is required for car pickup, return and booking changes.

 

[JohnK]

$175 per day and up for Melbourne car hire? One reason why I have given up on Australian holidays. I wonder how much corporates and Centrelink pay.

I was looking to hire a car in Sydney last month for 2 days and the quotes from the majors was $400+. Seriously? That's ludicrous. I do not want to holiday in Australia.

 

[ADFlyMore]

The entire process was positive.....Just make sure you have the Turo app on your phone and network connection as it is required for car pickup, return and booking changes.

Good to hear your experience.
Thanks for the tip about network connection! I am looking at hiring a car for a few days in Hawaii in August

 

[anyonebutqantas]

Is Turo different from Virtuo?