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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
My experience with Turo: Car rental convenience at a great price
As a senior writer for TPG, Tarah Chieffi helps readers travel better, more often and within their budget.
December 2, 2024 • 9 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: Turo provided a complimentary rental credit for TPG to experience the service. The opinions expressed below are entirely from the author and weren’t subject to review by Turo or any external entity.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
Turo is a car-sharing platform where individuals rent vehicles directly from local hosts, offering an alternative to traditional rental companies.
The service is available in over 16,000 cities globally, with flexible search filters for vehicle type, features and price.
Turo often provides lower prices and more personalized experiences, including direct communication with hosts and a streamlined pickup process.
Travelers can access discounts, loyalty program benefits and various add-ons, but should be aware of differences in insurance coverage compared to standard rentals.
What to consider
Some credit card insurance policies may not cover Turo rentals, so additional damage protection may be necessary.
Turo rentals include mileage limits, and extra fees may apply for add-ons like prepaid refueling or one-way trips.
Booking with highly rated 'All-Star Hosts' can help ensure a quality experience.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed, step-by-step comparison of the Turo rental process versus traditional car rental companies, including real-world pricing and practical tips for maximizing value.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Some trips don't require a rental car. If I am staying at an all-inclusive resort and don't plan on leaving my lounge chair on the beach, there isn't much need for a vehicle. But, depending on your itinerary, there are plenty of trips that do require having a car to drive around town or from city to city.
On a recent trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, I stayed at two hotels and explored several area attractions with my family. I traveled much farther than a short walk between my hotel room and the beach, and I needed a vehicle to get around.
I don't know if you've priced out rental cars lately, but I was shocked when I started researching cars for our trip. I'd used Turo a few years ago and decided to give it another try for this trip to see how it stacked up against a traditional car rental.
Turo basics
TURO
Rather than a traditional rental car company, Turo is a car-sharing service that allows car owners (or "hosts" in Turo terminology) to loan their cars to travelers (or "guests") for a set length of time.
In some ways, the experience is similar to renting a car. Utilizing Turo's app or website, you can input your travel dates and destination to receive a curated list of results that align with your search. Within those results, you'll see the daily rental rate and the total cost (excluding taxes and fees).
In terms of pricing, here's a direct comparison between Turo and Budget picking up and dropping off at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) for Dec. 10 through Dec. 15. Through Budget, a full-size SUV (Chevrolet Tahoe or similar) that seats seven passengers would cost $639.
A similar full-size SUV, a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse, rented through Turo would run $461. That's $178 less and still includes airport pickup, minimum damage protection and free cancellation up to 24 hours before your rental period starts.
Rather than continuing to speak in hypotheticals (although Turo is looking like a pretty good option so far), let me share more about my recent real-life experience.
Choosing a car
Turo car rental. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
At home, I drive a minivan out of necessity. And even when I use a traditional rental car company, I choose the car based on price rather than aesthetics. To start our search, I entered PHX as our pickup location and entered our arrival and departure dates and times.
From there, I further filtered the search results to only display cars under $75 per day that I could pick up from the airport. Turo has tons of additional filters, too. You can filter results for a specific vehicle type, make or model; the number of seats; features like Apple CarPlay, heated seats and sunroofs; and more.
Turo had so many cars to choose from that I went with one I knew we would have more fun with — a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. With a daily rate of $71.80, the total cost with taxes and fees was $527.83 for a five-day rental.
After I booked the car, I immediately received an email from the host with everything I needed to know about my rental. (You can also communicate with the host through the Turo app.) They shared general information about the car's pickup location and told me exactly when to expect detailed pickup information.
Twenty-four hours before the trip, I had to "check in." This involved verifying my identity by uploading a selfie and a photo of my driver's license to the Turo app.
Picking up your car
Turo car rental. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
A few hours before my rental period began, I received a message from Turo that included the exact location of the car, how to get there using the airport shuttle and directions on how to access the car keys.
We found the car right where the host said it would be and followed the instructions for accessing the keys, which were in a lockbox attached to the car. Guests are also instructed to take several interior and exterior photos and upload them to the Turo app before driving the car. (TPG always recommends documenting your rental car's condition before you hop in the driver's seat.)
The host even included detailed instructions for finding the keycard that would get us out of the parking garage so we weren't scrambling to find our way out.
Our rental included 1,250 miles, and I knew we wouldn't be in danger of exceeding that limit.
During the rental period, driving with Turo felt much the same as any other rental car company. The one time I actually did need assistance, Turo turned out to be more helpful than a traditional car rental because I was able to message the host and get immediate help.
Because I don't normally drive a Jeep, I had trouble getting the front seat to lock into place after moving it back and forth to let the kids in the back. I messaged the host, who immediately responded with instructions to help me.
Aside from that, our entire rental was smooth sailing (or driving, as it were).
Returning your car
Turo car rental. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
Similar to the check-in experience, we received a message with drop-off instructions the day before our trip ended. The host told us which section of the airport parking garage to leave the car in, and they told us to send them the parking space number after we dropped it off.
They also gave details on the closest gas station to fill up the car and how to reattach the lockbox with the car key inside. We took several more interior and exterior photos and uploaded them to the app to complete our rental process.
The final step was leaving a review for our host. After we returned home, the host sent us a coupon code to save 15% off future rentals. I doubt I'll return to Arizona before it expires, but I still appreciate it.
I've already booked our next Turo rental for an upcoming trip to Orlando, and I am really looking forward to avoiding the airport crowds and going straight to our car after we land.
Turo tips
Turo. GABBY JONES/BLOOMBERG
If you are worried about missing out on discounts by booking through Turo instead of a traditional rental car company, don't worry. Turo often has Amex Offers for eligible cardholders. I redeemed an offer for $30 back after spending $150 at Turo and paying for my rental with The Platinum Card® from American Express. When you scroll through the search results, you'll also often see early bird and multiday discounts.
It's possible to earn points and miles on Turo rentals if you pay with a card that earns bonus points for travel purchases because Turo rentals code as travel.
If you want to ensure you rent a quality car from a reputable host, look for search results marked "All-Star Host." All-Star Hosts have at least 85% overall five-star ratings, at least 80% five-star ratings for maintenance and cleanliness, a 3% or lower cancellation rate, and at least 20 completed trips.
Turo offers a variety of add-ons, which may vary from host to host. For example, we paid $80 for prepaid refueling to save time before our morning flight. You can also pay an additional fee for one-way trips and add-ons like child safety seats, strollers and even coolers.
One major difference between Turo and traditional rental car companies is that your credit card insurance will most likely not cover your Turo rental. Turo offers several levels of damage protection. You do have the option to decline coverage, but Turo recommends booking with at least minimum coverage.
Bottom line
All in all, I was happier with the Turo experience than a typical car rental. I didn't have to navigate the car rental counter at the airport, and I was able to choose the exact car I wanted. Plus, I could read former guest reviews to make sure I was getting what I paid for.
Once I had the convertible top off of the Jeep and the warm Arizona breeze blowing through my hair, I knew I had made the right choice.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
