Car Insurance with Turo Car Sharing
Find out if you need extra insurance when renting a car through Turo.
How does Turo auto insurance work?
Think of Turo as AirBnB for cars: a car-sharing marketplace, allowing drivers to search for and book car rentals in the same way they would book a room or hotel. Available in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany, Turo works by allowing hosts to list their vehicles and guests to rent these vehicles on a per-day basis. Renters can pick up a car upon verification of their driver’s license and drop off the vehicle at the end of the rental period.
As with anything to do with car rentals or driving a car you don't own, the question of insurance is an inevitable — yet ever-important — topic. Let's review how to handle car insurance if you're thinking about hosting or renting a car through Turo.
Does Turo include car insurance?
No — for both hosts and renters, Turo does not automatically provide insurance coverage. Hosts and renters are given three protection plans to choose from or can decline coverage if they have their own applicable commercial or personal auto policies. If you opt-in for a Turo protection plan though you’re already insured, their liability insurance will supplement your existing coverage as a secondary source.
Turo auto insurance coverage options
Hosts and guests are not required to have insurance protection through Turo, but all vehicles must carry some sort of insurance coverage — by way of Turo protection plans or independent policies provided by the host or renter. Guests are free to rely on their personal car insurance — provided their coverage extends to their Turo rental — while hosts can opt for commercial policies; both have the option of forgoing Turo plans completely.
Turo offers a few tiers of auto insurance coverage for hosts and renters, but neither is required to opt-in for a Turo protection plan if they have pre-existing insurance that sufficiently covers the rental or use of a Turo rental car. Continue reading for a more detailed breakdown of Turo's protection plans for hosts and guests.
How does Turo insurance work for a host?
Turo partners with Travelers to provide a choice between five tiers of coverage to their hosts, named after what percentage of the cost the host receives — you may select one of the 60, 75, 80, 85 or 90 plans. Hosts can also choose to decline coverage, which would designate them as Commercial Host; they would then be required to provide their own commercial rental liability insurance to any guests that rent their vehicles.
It’s worth noting that as a Turo host, your take-home amount per trip will change depending on which protection plan you choose. If you decline a Turo plan, you can expect to keep 92.5% of the trip cost.
| Coverage plan | 60 plan | 75 plan | 80 plan | 85 plan | 90 plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Host take | 60% of trip price | 75% of trip price | 80% of trip price | 85% of trip price | 90% of trip price |
| Liability limit (Travelers) | $750,000 | Up to $750,000 | Up to $750,000 | Up to $750,000 | Up to $750,000 |
| Deductible for physical damage | $0 | $250 | $750 | $1,625 | $2,500 |
| Replacement vehicle reimbursement costs | $50/day, for up to ten days* | $30 per day for up to ten days** | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Exterior wear-and-tear | Turo is responsible | No coverage | No coverage | No coverage | No coverage |
| Loss of hosting income | Turo is responsible for vehicle’s potential earnings, based on the last 60 days average earnings, up to a maximum of 30 days for repairable vehicles. (Or the Host may opt for Replacement Vehicle Reimbursement.) | No coverage | No coverage | No coverage | No coverage |
*In the event of a total loss, the full $500 will be paid or the Host may opt for Loss of Hosting Income.
**In the event of a total loss, the full $300 will be paid.
How does Turo insurance work for renters?
To use the car rental services of Turo, you are not required to have your own personal car insurance policy. Like hosts, renters can choose one of three tiers of coverage through Turo’s protection plans.
If a guest already carries at least the state-mandated minimum amounts of coverage in the state where the vehicle is registered — and if their current policy extends to their Turo rental — they may choose to decline Turo’s protection plans. In addition, these protection plans are not offered if a vehicle is booked with a Commercial Host, as they are expected to carry their own commercial policy.
| Coverage | Minimum | Standard | Premier* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | 15% of trip price for trips more than $250 and 25% when less than $250. Minimum $10/day | 40% of trip price. Minimum $12/day | 65-100% of trip price. Minimum $14/day |
| Liability coverage | Minimum required by the state | Minimum required by the state | $750,000 ($1,250,000 in NY) |
| Deductible | $3,000 | $500 | $0 |
| Physical damage for up to the actual cash value of the vehicle | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mechanical or interior damage | No | No | No |
*Not available to drivers below the age of 21.
The main differences between these tiers are deductible amounts and liability limits. All include physical damage but no coverage for mechanical or interior damage.
The physical damage portions of all of these plans are meant to be used as secondary coverage to any other insurance you may already have.
Does my car insurance cover Turo?
It is a myth that car insurance follows the driver — in most cases, your personal insurance policy follows the vehicle. If you already have comprehensive and collision coverage, it’s more likely that your coverage also applies to a rental car, but it’s best to never make assumptions. This especially holds true for newer services that fall outside of the traditional car rental company or agency.
For hosts, your personal car insurance policy will never extend coverage for the rental use of your vehicle(s). You will risk your insurance provider dropping you as a client if you rent out your personal car for commercial purposes. Your options are to either opt-in for a Turo protection plan or get a commercial rental liability policy to become a Commercial Host. The latter is typically reserved for those who own a business renting out multiple vehicles.
As a Turo renter, it’s imperative to double-check with your insurance company to see if your coverage extends to a rental car. Many insurers have no issues with covering a rental car but may not cover Turo rentals specifically. Be sure to ask exactly what coverages extend to a Turo vehicle — in many cases, insurance providers may offer liability but not physical coverage for a rental car.
The same holds true of any credit card benefits you may have for a rental vehicle — they usually come with a few caveats. It’s typically to be used as a secondary source of rental car insurance. Check with your credit card provider before making any assumptions.
Discounts and promos for Turo
The company may offer introductory discounts for first-time customers. Turo gives some flexibility to hosts and allows them to set their own discounted rates at their discretion.
Hosts can send discounts to guests online and through the Turo app; for instance, you can offer weekly or monthly discounts for renters making longer reservations or offer a discount on their next trip with one of your vehicles.
Protect your car with the right coverage at the best value.
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.