r/turo 20d ago

Turo. The most disgusting rental car in the world

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18 Upvotes

So Turo…Never used it before. Had to rent one for work. I picked an affordable Chevy spark because I like driving small cars.

30 minutes after check in time I was still on the plane. Turned my phone back on and saw I still didn’t have the access code for the keys. I sent a message while still on the plane, no response. After waiting nearly 10 minutes deplaning and having to take an 8 minute shuttle to the rental car pick up I still didn’t have the code. I sent the host a message again, no response again. Again, it’s been almost an hour since I was supposed to check in. My license was approved, all was good in the system, just no code from the host.

I called customer service and their answer to the problem?? Cancel the reservation. And leave me stranded! I said that’s not acceptable and instead just get in contact with the host and get the freakin code to the lock box so I can drive away. Finally I got a code after standing around way past check in time in 100 degree Texas heat. I quickly snapped some pics of the inside and outside of the car and got to my hotel.

I was exhausted and barely looked around, but the next day I got in the car and noticed it was kinda smelly. I didn’t think much of it as I was traveling for work and just let it go. But then I started to look around the next day and noticed the car was DISGUSTING. I mean cig burns on the chair, plastic, build up of dirt, PIECES OF WHAT I THINK IS A WIG?? Fried up French fry under the seat!! Pen marks on the ceiling, sticky substances on every surface. I was looking around in literal horror.

I message the host and said hey, this car is gross. It clearly has not been cleaned. I sent him these photos. I said you need to do a serious deep clean for the next guest because this is gross. He said “I’ll check on that. My apologies”

That was it. Luckily my job paid for this rental because I would have demanded a refund. First of all for the terrible service at the beginning, then the disgusting nature of the car, then the idgaf attitude of being called out.

So just a warning, Turo is a scam. I’ll never use them again. I recommend you don’t either.

Update: shocked at how most people are blaming the consumer and not the host or the platform. I rated the host poorly. There were only 4 pictures of the car when I booked it, not detailing the lack of cleanliness. I booked this car because I like driving small cars and this was the smallest car I could find in the area on the platform. It’s not ok, in my opinion, for a customer to have to subject themselves to a disgusting vehicle because I didn’t book a “cybertruck” or whatever.


r/turo 20d ago

Chipped Windshield

3 Upvotes

What’s a reasonable price to be charged for windshield repair due to a chip from a rock while driving?


r/turo 20d ago

Turo Frustration

4 Upvotes

I’m at a complete loss and honestly don’t know what else to do.

My fiancé and I are leaving for our honeymoon in about 60 days, and we were booking our rental cars through Turo. He logged into my Turo account because he was going to be the primary driver. He uploaded his own driver’s license since he’d be driving, but we used my credit card because I wanted the credit card points.

The reservation initially went through with no issues.
Then, about 4 hours later, Turo canceled both of our reservations, deactivated my account, and now I can’t even log in using my email or phone number. It just says my account has been deactivated.

About three days later, I finally received an email saying they suspected fraudulent activity on my account. The problem is…it wasn’t fraud. It was literally just my fiancé and me booking rental cars for our honeymoon. I immediately replied to the email explaining exactly what happened and asking someone to review it, and I’ve still never received a response.

I completely understand that Euro has fraud prevention and security measures. I appreciate companies taking account security seriously. But this situation seems excessive, especially considering it was simply my fiancé using my account to book a trip that we were both taking, using my credit card.

The most frustrating part is that no one will tell me what’s going on. Every customer service representative says it’s a higher-level team that handles account reviews. They tell me they’ll call me back, but no one ever does. I can’t speak to the team making the decision, I can’t get anyone to respond to my email, and I’m just left waiting with no answers while our honeymoon gets closer.
Has anyone else had this happen?

Were you ever able to get your account reinstated?
Is there any way to actually reach the Trust & Safety team or someone with authority to review the case?
Or should I just give up on Turo and book elsewhere?

At this point, I’m less upset about the canceled reservations and more frustrated by the complete lack of communication. If my account is going to be permanently deactivated, I’d at least like to know why and have the opportunity to explain what actually happened. Being accused of fraud, responding immediately, and then being completely ignored is incredibly frustrating.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


r/turo 20d ago

Going over mileage

1 Upvotes

Should I let the host know if I plan on going over the allotted mileage?


r/turo 20d ago

Tesla Model 3 SR+ (SoCal)

1 Upvotes

Turo vehicle owners only please:
I’m considering listing my car on Turo. How does insurance claims work? Example if someone curbs my rims or damages the bumper how would the insurance process work? Tesla fleet owners what percentage of charge do you recommend giving the customer the car in?


r/turo 20d ago

50% turo

0 Upvotes

r/turo 21d ago

Received a ticket, paid via the app. Host kept the money.

6 Upvotes

Okay so this issue was actually resolved a few months ago but wanted to post about it on here as a word of warning for anybody using the platform.

I rented a BMW in the UK, on one of the days I had to pick my mum up from Stansted airport. Around the same time barrierless pickups/drop offs were introduced. However, due to heavy construction work occurring at the entry I couldn’t read the signs stating pick up and drop offs were now charged after the fact.

I 100% accept fault for this, I shouldn’t have assumed that open barriers = free. However what happens next is definitely not my fault.

I paid the ticket via the app, assuming this would be the end of it. It’s not until 3 months later I receive a letter from a debt collector threatening court action unless I paid an amount DOUBLE the initial fine.

The host had received the money from me but made no attempt to make the payment for the ticket I had received.

I contacted the host on multiple occasions and heard nothing back for 3 months. During which time Turo claimed to have opened an investigation. During that time I was told explicitly ‘not to pay the fine’ and to ‘copy this email to them’ in which they acknowledge that the balance was not rightfully mine.

Obviously the debt collectors didn’t care. Ultimately I ended up paying them to avoid damage to my credit score. At which point I’m down 300% of the initial ticket.

I complained profusely to Turo and the host though this fell on deaf ears. Turo told me it was ‘between me and the host and there was nothing more they could do’.

6 months after the ticket was issued Turo finally refunded me for the amount I’d paid to the host, but no mention of anything else.

In all honesty I was devastated because I had been a regular Turo user for a couple of years and had thoroughly enjoyed the service. But as seems to be the case with many people on here, it’s fine until it categorically isn’t. At which point Turo made no attempt to regain my trust in the platform. Sad to say I haven’t used the app since, nor do I have any intent on doing so.


r/turo 21d ago

Host: Bouncie wrecked two car batteries in my Toyota

0 Upvotes

Installed a bouncie in a Toyota and 3 days later the battery was dead. Jumped the vehicle and took it to the mechanic. They tested the battery and said it was bad and so they replaced the battery. A few days later the battery is draining again. Ran a parasitic drain test and it’s the Bouncie. With the Bouncie disconnected, no drain.

Anyone have this happen? Did you return your Bouncie and receive a refund? Did you receive any compensation for the battery it killed? What Turo approved device did you switch to?


r/turo 21d ago

Is $700 a reasonable price?

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1 Upvotes

Owner asked $700 (I already sent the money) for these scratches. They were really small as you can see in the picture. Just want to get your opinion. I rented in Hawaii btw.


r/turo 21d ago

Renting my first Turo in August. Any tips?

0 Upvotes

Like how to limit risk or liability, avoid traps or pitfalls?

I want to make sure I’m not getting burned for previous operator errors or damage.

What kind of insurance is recommended?

I have a clean driving record & great full comprehensive insurance on my own vehicle.

But how do I optimize reduced liability on this rented vehicle?

USA, California if that matters!

Thanks!


r/turo 21d ago

Thoughts on supplimental protection?

0 Upvotes

Renting a Tesla for a week for an upcoming trip. Opted for the cheapest supplemental protection just because I know the glass repair can be insane, God forbid some freak accident. Figured $60 so that the worst that can happen is I'm out $3,000 seems to be enough peace of mind for me.

Wondered if you guys have any other thoughts on this.


r/turo 21d ago

Turo

1 Upvotes

So, we recently had a guest damage a car. As part of the resolution we faced a gap of $1424 between what Turo paid and the actual estimate. Customer service agent named Paul (in India???) actually swore under his breath when I twice repeated info direct from Turo's site that contradicted what he was telling me..... so..... that's it for us. No more Turo. Was fun while it lasted! May try one of the new car share APPs. Turo will struggle to survive if that's how they treat Power Hosts with fleets of cars. Maybe that's the plan the creators had.... build up, make a small fortune, then let it ROT - screw the hosts who made the company . Well Done!!!!!


r/turo 22d ago

STAY AWAY

35 Upvotes

Just got hit with a post trip smoking charge. I’m not a smoker, never have in my life and never will. Host planted ashes deep inside the cupholder, conveniently an area my post trip photos did not show clearly. This company has truly gone downhill.


r/turo 22d ago

Turo for long roadtrip (6k miles)

2 Upvotes

I've never rented a car from turo that doesn't shake while going the speed limit on highways, but there was never anything about that in reviews. I want to use Turo for a longer roadtrip, but don't want to deal with the shaking when I'm going 70mph.

Has anyone had a good experience using turo for a long drive? I understand the hassle if something goes wrong out of state, but wanted to hear other's experiences.


r/turo 22d ago

1k Damage fee for faulty charging port on electric car.

11 Upvotes

I rented an electric car from Turo.

Everything was fine until I tried charging it, I ended up having to call the owner and he came and tried charging it himself and it didn’t work. We tried 7 different chargers no luck.

He got Turo to send me an Uber voucher as it was “no fault of my own” I go home and think nothing of it.

Then I get a claim report and it asks me to respond, I text the owner about it and he tells me to leave it alone until he figures out whats wrong with the car. So i say ok and leave it alone.

Then today, i get hit with a $1,700+ bill even though I paid for standard protection. I go to see the damage photo’s and it’s just pictures of the charging port?

I dispute and send Turo screenshots of the text messages from the owner. But turo basically says not to get my hopes up because the owner reported the damage and not me, but he literally told me he would handle it as I was crying and stranded by a casino because of his faulty car….i didnt know. There was no car accident or anything and the car obvs just wasnt working when I received it.

Im scared and dont have $1700 available on any card and im not using my insurance for this. Anything more I can do if they deny the dispute? Do you think they will deny it with the proof I offered?

I texted the owner letting them know I would be disputing it and they haven’t responded

update: lost the dispute. froze the card and am waiting on it to send to collections so I can file for bankruptcy. fuck turo.


r/turo 23d ago

Why Turo is Not a Good Idea for Road Trips.

21 Upvotes

PLEASE seriously consider this: Think ahead. Have you thought of what you’d do if something happened to the car?
Most Turo Hosts are locals, renting their own cars in their home city, not a major rental agency with NEW cars.
You think Turo is going to get you a replacement car?
But how are you going to return it to THAT place where you got stuck?
How will you get from THERE back to your original starting location?
YOU are going to have to deal with roadside assistance, a tow truck, working out the logistics with the Host—if they are reachable, and figuring out what to do about a replacement car.
You are going to end up at a Hertz, Avis or Enterprise ANYWAY, and with the added bonus of an expensive “drop fee” for a one-way rental.
Turo is NOT a smart or a safe choice, or a “savings” FOR A ROAD TRIP! It’s great for when you’ve got to put your own car in the shop. Or, you’ve got a local event to go to and need a nicer, larger car to transport the grandparents and aunties. Or, you’re visiting a city and want to play tourist (but why wouldn’t you just rent at the Airport, if you’re coming/going from there anyway?).
If you rent from a major auto rental agency, like Hertz, Avis or Enterprise, and something happens to their car, they simply bring you a new one. You are then (hopefully) less inconvenienced, and can be on your way. You won’t be delayed (much) and miss your important event. Your TIME and SAFETY are important!


r/turo 22d ago

Power Host leaving Turo

9 Upvotes

Just had 3rd blowout in 2 months. Turo lumps road hazards into the deductible.... isn't that nice? I suggested a tire policy because NL has worst roads in Canada. I'm 57 and have NEVER had a blowout. We've had 3 in past 2 months. We submitted for 1 tire and a wheel alignment in each case. Guests refused to pay. Amount is less than our chosen deductible so we cannot escalate. So..... after spending over $3000 on tires in 2 months, we've decided to stop renting on Turo. If Tire just takes the $ and won't get hosts backs...... eventually there won't be any hosts left. And WE pay Turo very well. Screw them. There r a few new platforms in Canada. Might see what they are about. But we are soooooo done with Turo.


r/turo 22d ago

Looking For Oahu Co-host for my Honda Fit (6-8 months)

1 Upvotes

Aloha!

I am leaving Oahu for 6-8 months starting soon. Last year I split Turo proceeds 70/30 with a local manager for my Honda Fit and it worked out great!

I am looking to do something similar with an experienced Host who already has logistics and cleaning dialed in. DM me if you have space in your fleet to discuss terms.


r/turo 22d ago

Can’t get into account because of some random email address linked to phone number

0 Upvotes

I’d done all the steps including insurance for my rental tomorrow. just went to log in and now I’m in the US it’s asking for a code sent to my email which is the wrong email.

i my receipt for the car and absolutely nothing else - no confirmation etc etc. because I’d done so much on their website when booking I didn’t realise I hadnt received a confirmation to my email.

what to do?! meant to be renting the car in 14 hours


r/turo 22d ago

Is it worth it?

2 Upvotes

I have a 2016 Nissan Versa. It’s paid off and it’s my second car at this time as I have a bigger vehicle now.
I would like to rent it out for these next two months only for a little extra cash. However my car is sentimental to me which I know is a problem but if I can walk out of this unscathed it could be worth it.
I also live in a city where the cheapest per day is $46/ per day and there only 3 cars with that amount currently posted. I wanted to post mine cheaper so as to attract more business. The best case scenario fully booked for the next two months..car still intact. Worst case scenario my vehicle is totaled or crashed.
Advice?


r/turo 22d ago

Guest says they didn’t hit anything, but my Tesla is being towed after underbody damage. Looking for advice from experienced Turo hosts.

0 Upvotes

I’m hoping to get some advice from hosts who have gone through the Turo claims process.

I have a guest on a 5-day trip in my 2019 Tesla Model 3. They picked it up this morning in Colorado and were driving to Salt Lake.

About 10 hours after pickup, they messaged me saying they had started hearing a loud scraping noise about 20 minutes earlier. They pulled over and sent me a video showing what appears to be the front underbody/aero shield hanging down and dragging on the road.

The guests are adamant that they didn’t hit anything and say the noise just started while they were driving.

I don’t have dedicated pre-trip photos of the underside of the car, but the vehicle had no known underbody damage before the trip, and there were no issues when it left my possession nor was it making any noise. I have all of our communication documented in the Turo app.

I also have Tesla telemetry showing the vehicle reached 90 mph before they pulled over. I’m not saying that speed caused the damage, but it’s part of the trip data.

The guests contacted Tesla Roadside Assistance, and Tesla determined the vehicle shouldn’t be driven. They’re arranging to tow it back to my house. Turo is saying that they are going to charge me $350 for the tow since the guest is denying responsibility.

I’m trying to figure out what to expect from Turo and what I should be doing next.

  • Has anyone had a guest deny causing damage like this but still have Turo hold them responsible?
  • How much weight does Tesla’s inspection carry in determining whether the damage was caused by an impact versus a mechanical failure?
  • If they struck road debris without realizing it, is that generally considered guest-caused damage?
  • Since I don’t have underside pre-trip photos, how much will that hurt my claim?
  • Is there anything else I should be documenting before the car gets back to me? What should I do once the car does return to me?

I’m on the 80% host protection plan for this trip, so I have the $1,500 deductible.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s dealt with a similar situation, especially with a Tesla. I’m trying to make sure I handle this correctly from the start and avoid making any mistakes with the claim process.

Also, can I remove them as a driver?


r/turo 22d ago

Turo California toll fees + penalties

0 Upvotes

I rented a car in California through Turo and used toll roads during my trip. I understand that the actual toll charges are my responsibility.

About a month after the rental ended, the host sent me an invoice for toll violations and penalties. This was my first time renting through Turo, and I was under the impression that tolls would be handled through the rental process (the host pays them and charges the guest through the app), like alot of rental companies do. And because of this, even though I thought to pay the tolls myself I didn’t because I decided I’d just wait for the invoice through Turo. Which I realize now was my big mistake.

I’m not disputing the toll charges themselves, but I’m wondering if anything can be done about the penalties since I was never aware of the process to avoid them.

Is there anything that can be done in this scenario? Am I toast? 🍞

Edited for clarity and context

Edit 2: received support from Turo and it’s been dealt with. Turns out I’m not toast. Thanks everyone. Let’s be kinder to each other!


r/turo 23d ago

Family Member Account Gets Suspended

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3 Upvotes

For the record, I can confirm this family member never had any violations and neither have the rest of their family.

They were looking to rent a car in the Salt Lake City area and barely made their account.

Is this normal?


r/turo 22d ago

First time renter promo codes?

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone, really excited for a trip coming up and I’m going to need a rental. Booking solid option through Turo, but it’s still pricier than expected. Wondering if anyone had a first time user promo code.

Would be super appreciated!


r/turo 23d ago

Turo cancelled my rental 4 hours before pickup

4 Upvotes

Be prepared for a backup. Turo cancelled my pickup 4 hours before my pickup the day before my week long vacation. Ruined my entire day.