Rent your car on Turo, an Airbnb-like app – WISH-TV | Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather forecast

By Judy J. Beasley Last updated Mar 17, 2022

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Home rentals might grab the headlines, but you’re also renting your car to a stranger through an app.

Like Airbnb for your car, Turo has been around for nearly a decade, including in Indianapolis. Turo advertises its business as a way to turn your car from a major cost into a cash engine. Founded in 2010, the San Francisco-based company has a presence in cities around the world.

Turo officials say they focus on the traveler, offering them alternatives to traditional car rental companies. On average, you’ll pay around $30 to $35 less per day than a traditional car rental service.

Hosts, or the people who own the cars, can earn between $450 and $500 per month. For host Shelby Koonce, he has three cars in his family, one he bought specifically to drive for Uber and Lyft. He says $400 goes a long way toward his car payments.

“Some users really knocked it out of the park, especially in big markets like Phoenix and Los Angeles,” Koonce said. “Indy is definitely a smaller market, we don’t make enough to cover our car payments, but to have a third vehicle that would sit in the garage or the driveway is easy money.”

Steve Webb, director of communications for Turo, says you can adjust your lifestyle with the app.

“Now we have people who are able to offset the costs of owning a car and, in some cases, buying a car they couldn’t afford,” Webb said. “Maybe you were in a Prius category and wanted a Tesla X. Well, you rent it several times a month and you get a free Tesla X.”

Shelby says he’s had more success when his rental price is around $55 a day. With this, renters get around 200 miles to use per day.

A big question was about insurance and Shelby says the insurance offered by Turo is more comprehensive than any traditional car rental company. He says that while airport travelers are good customers, many of his rentals come from people needing a car for a day while theirs is in the store.

To learn more about Turo, Click here.