Be aware that not all auto insurers cover rentals under this particular type of rental arrangement. I found this out while planning to rent thru Turo. Then there could be an additional charge for delivery of the vehicle.
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I have used Toro for at least two years and had very good experiences.
Recently, I noticed they started charging a $250 deposit that is refunded at a later date. They just started doing this. I’ve never had any fees or charges by Turo and my driving record is perfect.-
What was the reason for this additional $250 they previously did not charge and is this advantageous to the customer
I am not happy with the credit card hold for such an extended period of time.
Thanks for your advice,
Marie
I mow my lawn with a Toro!
When I first heard of Turo in 2021, thought it was a great idea. “Airbnb for car rental”!
First-time experience: selected an SUV we liked, booked it a week ahead of time for pick-up just minutes from where we lived. Made contact with the “hosting” couple, everything was going fine…until less than 24 hours before we were to leave, they cancelled booking with explanation the vehicle was “in repairs”.
There ensued a frantic scramble and 3-way cross-eyed conversation between “hosts”, Turo customer service and ourselves to find a comparable vehicle nearby at same rate & mileage allowance. Finally rebooked with a different, very accommodating host who allowed us to pick up vehicle early.
For the inconvenience Turo gave us a $120 credit and waived the 2000-mile allowance by giving us infinite miles. A gotcha on the rebooking: Turo had already charged my card for the aborted 1st reservation, and applied that to the new booking, but even with the $120 credit, there was nothing back to my card. The terms & conditions on the new vehicle made the $120 credit a washout.
Upon return from 1st trip, there was a gray area around the host-versus-guest obligations on condition vehicle is in when dropped off: we removed our accumulated flotsam and jetsam, but apparently we the guests were expected to do a more thorough cleaning than just that. (I scoured the site and FAQ’s but could not find any clearcut directions on guest duties.) Our host – whom we never met face-to-face – texted us that if we gave him a 5-star review he would forego charging a “cleaning fee”.
One thing to do before booking is check reviews on vehicle you’re interested in and note how many times the hosts (not you the guests) have cancelled a reservation. Because our first booking was cancelled in advance we never got an opportunity to rate the couple and the trip, so they retained their 5-star status as “top hosts” even though they almost ruined our trip before it had started.
After a couple more episodes with Turo I quit using them, because the rental fees were starting to creep up to match the conventional agencies (Enterprise, Budget, etc.). That and dealing with fickle individuals rather than a company that might care more about its reputation and consistency in business practices.