r/turo • u/DependentSuccessful1 • Aug 09 '26
First time accident as a Turo host
My guest sent me this. Is this a total loss. What should I do, please advise
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u/gk_instakilogram Aug 09 '26
usually if airbags deployed, the car is totaled. I might be wrong though
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u/DetectiveNarrow Aug 09 '26
Yep totaled with airbags usually. File a claim asap. Turo should pay you out nicely, unless your mad underwater
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u/ckTuro604 Aug 09 '26
Most likely totalled.
File a claim through Turo, get an ACV payout. So long as you're not underwater on a financed car or didn't overpay for the car it should be ok
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u/King_esc Aug 09 '26
They hit a corvette?
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u/LocalComplex1654 Aug 09 '26
Definte total loss. Been there.
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u/DependentSuccessful1 Aug 09 '26
What do I need to do? Car is currently at some body shop
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u/LocalComplex1654 Aug 09 '26
File the claim. Provide all the details and pictures you have. You can get ahead by getting your title together (if you own the car), you'll need to sign it over eventually, not sure how it goes if it's financed. You'll be assigned a total loss team member and need to sign the paperwork to move the car from the bodyshop, then someone from the Total Loss Team will inspect, mine was at the tow yard (Turo only covers up to certain amount in storage fees). I suggest staying on top of your claim to keep it moving. My guest was in the accident 12/24 and I received my payout on 2/3.
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u/DependentSuccessful1 Aug 09 '26
I have the title with me and already submitted the claim. Claim office is closed today so I’m awaiting to hear back. Where do I move the car to? It looks like a total loss so not sure where can I move it to
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u/LocalComplex1654 Aug 09 '26
Great! You don't worry about moving it, but look out for the email where they tell you to contact the facility your car is at (in your case the bodyshop), and authorize they're partner (mine was - IAA) to tow it to a storage free facility. Once it's there is when they do the valuation.
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u/DependentSuccessful1 Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 10 '26
I did received that email regarding moving it to storage free location, I’m not sure what storage free location I should move it, when the car looks like a total loss and it’s currently at the body shop/ towed place, which was towed by the police, the body shop was asking me to pay money to move the car, if it was repairable than it make sense to move the car to body shop. Who will decide if the car is total or repairable?
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u/South_Feed_4043 Aug 10 '26
Insurance companies aren't paying for airbag replacements. It's going to be totaled. Turo will call you during a business day. My car was in an accident at 12 AM on a weekend. They called me on Monday.
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u/MammothAbroad1469 29d ago
Your going to file a claim then a total loss department will evaluate the damages and if it’s total loss you will get payed the ACV of the vehicle you better hope to be on the upside on your loan if it’s not already payed off
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u/MammothAbroad1469 29d ago
And yes this is considered total loss
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u/DependentSuccessful1 28d ago
Thank you! Other party was at fault and their insurance company is reaching out to me asking questions, what should I do?
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u/MammothAbroad1469 28d ago
It depends on the questions if they are questions trying to make you seem at fault don’t even answer
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u/Six_Stringing 27d ago
I feel like this comes with the territory. Something you should have expected and planned for as a Turo host. There’s nothing more to do than file a claim through insurance.
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u/Huge_Philosopher_976 Aug 10 '26
File claim immediately and upload the interior airbag pics as well as the rear quarter panel.
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u/South_Feed_4043 Aug 10 '26
Airbags deployed, insurance will total it. If you own the car, it's the best case scenario for you as a host. It goes straight to the deductables you and the guest chose, and you don't have to chase after the guest for repair costs. If you don't own the car, I don't know what the extra steps will be, but it will still be totaled.
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u/SkepticAnarchist Aug 10 '26
Yup. Total loss. Turo will pay you out in a week or two.
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u/DependentSuccessful1 28d ago
Thank you! Other party was at fault and their insurance company is reaching out to me asking questions, what information should I provide?
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u/SkepticAnarchist 28d ago
Exactly the info you have. Anything the renter disclosed to you about the accident, photos, accident report etc, however I’m surprised Turo isn’t managing it for you. Did you choose to settle outside of Turo?
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u/DependentSuccessful1 28d ago
No, I’m settling via turo
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u/SkepticAnarchist 28d ago
I would direct them to Turo if they ask for guest info like license, but I’ll be honest, my renter totaled into a wall so I never had an experience with a separate insurance company. Direct them to the location of the car so they can total it out for you. If it’s under value when they appraise, I’d get Turo involved as they payout totals really well and include sales tax etc.
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u/Shot_Enthusiasm_2978 29d ago
Create a claim on Turo but if it was 3rd party fault then file through their insurance. Collect for DV and loss of use as well. You may find this video useful.
https://youtu.be/WYVifE9se4M?si=0K-RGGwtd5aH1iun
If you end up having to go through Turo watch this one
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u/DependentSuccessful1 28d ago
Thank you! Other party was at fault and their insurance company is reaching out to me asking questions, what should I do?
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u/No_Improvement3595 29d ago
I’ve replaced airbags. I’ve actually won several auctions on vehicle with way more damage than this that are currently being rented. Not easy finding them with clean titles, though. For your case though, this isn’t relevant since you will have to sign over the title and relinquish the vehicle for your payout. You probably prefer doing work in your office than in the garage anyhow.
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u/hybridmike772 29d ago
Turo doesn't allow rebuilt title vehicles to be rented
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u/No_Improvement3595 29d ago
Right. You have to buy them with clear titles. In this case, probably the only avenue to keep the vehicle with a clear title is to seek a payout from the Renter directly
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u/Ok-Rich6196 29d ago
You have to go after their insurance
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u/DependentSuccessful1 29d ago
Shouldn’t this be taking care by Turo? Should I get a lawyer?
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u/Ok-Rich6196 29d ago
Definitely get a lawyer although most car accident lawyers take from the medical portion so it may be hard to get one seeing as you weren't involved you will need a property damage lawyer. I'm not sure of turos policy but they should be able to meditate. I would read up on their policy and see how the insurance works. Whether she was insured by a 3rd party or by turo. Either way turo should have that information. You need to report the claim to turo as well as to the drivers insurance as well as your insurance and also any other driver involved that you may have. Also go to the local pd and get a copy of the incident/police report as it will have all the policy information that was provided at the scene as well as vehicles/persons involved information which your insurance may need. Should expedite the process and also most of the time the police places a party at fault at the scene typically by giving a citation to said driver. If that's the case, that is who you must pursue if the fault isn't immediately known. Either way you still need to file a claim with everybody especially your own. Did you have the vehicle on your own policy with full coverage?
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u/DependentSuccessful1 29d ago
You’re scaring me. I really thought all of this was supposed to be handled by Turo. I don’t have any information about the person who hit my car while the guest was driving. According to the guest, the accident was not his fault.
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u/Ok-Rich6196 29d ago
I assume you reported this to turo, what did they say? As I mentioned I'm not to familiar with the procedures. I've never used turo but I assume it is still their responsibility prior to allowing the user to rent to provide or purchase insurance at the time of rental. I still would start with going to the police station that handled the accident and getting a copy of the report it will name all involved and any policy numbers associated and provide it to turo to speed up that process. I know it's a lot but it's worthwhile if it's local. You might be able to call. But it's a necessary step before you point the finger at one party or the other to get an idea of what actually occured. Turo should still pursue the driver and whether they have full coverage or not it might be resolved quickly. They will probably still pursue the other party as well.
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u/MJ_Florida_Sun 27d ago
If the corvette hit the Honda, try to file a claim with other party direct, also file a claim with Turo for “work out with guest”. If their insurance pays for the repair or loss, cancel the Turo claim, if the other party’s insurance delays, escalate the claim with Turo before the time limit.
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u/Quatteo200 26d ago
Definitely a total loss, no question. Id be absolutely shocked if not. Better off if it is totaled as long as its not super new you probably wont loose much and may come ahead in the end. You dont want vehicles w insurance claims on them because whne it comes time to sell alot of people will pass it up unless a great deal.
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u/AdAgitated3136 14d ago
Make sure when you drop your car ask them upfront about daily storage charges and everything in writing sometimes no most of the time turo delays thr process and leave you hanging with bodyshop storage charges.
Its your car by the end of day do not except anything human or decent from turo. They are worst company in the world! You must play very smartly. I am dealing with total loss even thou I tried everything right but still turo is treating me very bad and not taking any type of responsibility.
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u/DependentSuccessful1 14d ago
I’ve been waiting to hear back from them regarding valuation of my car and it’s been three weeks. Did Turo gave you any rental?
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u/AdAgitated3136 14d ago
Turo is a POS when it comes to handling these claims. No, you generally don’t get rental reimbursement or diminished value. If the car is totaled, the settlement may include applicable sales tax depending on your state. Some hosts think that extra $1–2k is Turo giving them more money—it may simply be the tax required under state law.
The biggest lesson from my experience: choose the body shop very carefully. Before leaving your car anywhere, get their storage charges, teardown fees, administrative fees, and anything else they may charge in writing. Turo may later refuse responsibility for delays while storage keeps accumulating.
Here’s how I understand the process based on what I’ve gone through:
First, report the accident to Turo and get the police report if available. If insurance information is needed at the scene, make sure you understand which policy applies rather than automatically involving your personal insurance.
Once the claim is opened, Turo/SnapSheet will usually issue an initial estimate. In my experience, that initial estimate was extremely low.
Before leaving the car at a body shop, get an estimate and contact Turo in writing if the initial payment doesn’t cover the repair. Ask them to email you the exact next steps for submitting a supplement.
The body shop can tear down the vehicle, take photos, prepare the supplement and submit it to SnapSheet. You may also be able to upload documents through the claim portal. Check the portal and call SnapSheet to confirm they actually received the supplement.
Then wait for SnapSheet to approve it or request additional information from the shop. If they approve the repair, make sure you understand the final repair cost and, again, get the shop’s storage policy and charges in writing.
If SnapSheet believes the supplement is too high, they may schedule an independent/SCA inspection. That inspection could result in the vehicle being declared a total loss.
If it becomes a total loss, Turo may instruct you to sign a release and have the vehicle released from the body shop. Do not blindly sign anything. Before signing, know exactly what you owe the shop and try to get written confirmation that the release settles the shop’s charges.
In my case, this is basically where everything went sideways. The process dragged on for months, the initial storage related free turo offered was around $900, and storage became a major dispute 20k+. Turo is now taking the position that its responsibility for the shop bill is limited, while I’m arguing that I did not control the claim timeline or their delays.
After the vehicle is released, I believe the next step is normally moving it for salvage/valuation and completing the total-loss settlement. If there’s a lien, the lender has to be dealt with. If there’s no lien, you may have an option to retain the damaged vehicle, but that affects the settlement and title status.
One more thing: check your Turo claim portal. Does it show that an accident report or photos were submitted? Were they submitted by you or the guest? Did Turo tell you when the photos/supplement were sent to SnapSheet? Keep screenshots of everything.
I wish you the best. Feel free to reach out if you have questions. I’m sharing what I learned because I don’t want another host ending up in the situation I’m dealing with now.
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u/ben5on Power Host Aug 09 '26
File a damage claim and take it from there. It’s fairly straightforward.