Written by
R.E. Hawley is a senior writer for Bankrate. Prior to joining Bankrate’s insurance editorial team in 2024, they worked as senior writer for a popular car ownership and insurance comparison app, leading a team of over a dozen writers in creating customer-focused financial advice content on topics ranging from insurance to vehicle reliability and auto loan refinance. R.E. holds a personal lines insurance license.
Edited by
Amelia Buckley
Amelia Buckley is an insurance editor for Bankrate.com and an insurance agent with a personal lines licens. She emphasizes creating informative, engaging and nuanced content to support readers in making personalized insurance decisions with confidence.
Edited by
Amelia Buckley
Amelia Buckley is an insurance editor for Bankrate.com and an insurance agent with a personal lines licens. She emphasizes creating informative, engaging and nuanced content to support readers in making personalized insurance decisions with confidence.
Updated Jun 26, 2024At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity ,this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of how we make money .Our content is backed by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our Insurance Disclosure .
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Car-sharing platform Turo provides insurance for guests and hosts through Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines. If you’re renting a car through Turo and already have a personal auto policy, you may not need to purchase additional coverage — but check with your insurer first.
Do you have experience with Turo? Let us know your thoughts.
Write a reviewTuro is a platform where car owners can rent out their personal vehicles, akin to Airbnb but for cars. As such, Turo car insurance is not a conventional choice for those seeking standard car insurance. When using Turo — whether as a car owner (host) or renter (guest) — personal auto insurance policies and credit card coverage for rental cars typically do not apply. Owners may have coverage under commercial auto policies, while renters should check if their insurance includes peer-to-peer rental coverage.
Our Turo insurance review reveals that Turo protection plans provide various levels of coverage during the rental period. These plans might be beneficial for hosts seeking extra security and guests looking to limit potential out-of-pocket expenses in case of vehicle damage. Turo offers limited forms of insurance for its users — but not the broader public. If you are shopping around for the best car insurance to protect your rental period, you may want to take the time to look into Turo’s coverage options and talk to your insurer about your best course of action.
Turo hosts can choose from five Turo car insurance plans, all of which come with $750,000 in third-party liability coverage provided by Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company, which has an A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best. In addition, drivers can access 24/7 roadside assistance. Since Turo car insurance is created explicitly for the Turo car-sharing app, third-party customer service ratings are not available.
The cost for each Turo plan is covered by a portion of the money Turo's rental drivers pay to rent the host's car. The deductible that the host pays in the event of a claim is tied to the percentage of the trip cost the host retains as profit. The greater the percentage, the higher the deductible the host will pay.
Guests who rent a car through Turo's platform can participate in separate vehicle protection plans. All provide the same $750,000 liability coverage through Travelers but vary in the out-of-pocket expenses a guest is responsible for if the car is damaged during their booking period. Keep in mind that only physical damage is covered with these plans, while mechanical and interior damage is not.
Turo’s guest protection plans include two elements: liability insurance, which is secondary to any other coverage that applies, and a contract that limits financial responsibility for physical damage to the rented vehicle. This physical damage contract is not insurance, and you may not need it if you have a personal full coverage auto policy that covers peer-to-peer car sharing services. Drivers in Maryland and New York may be subject to different terms and conditions based on state laws.
Available Turo protection plans for guests include:
If you're renting a car through Turo, it’s essential to understand how Turo protection plans work as a guest. You may want to start by talking to your insurance company to see if your personal auto plan covers a Turo vehicle — but be aware that this service is still relatively new and unfamiliar to insurance companies, so you may need to speak to multiple people to confirm you’re covered. If you’re interested in adding a Turo protection plan to your rental, read the full terms carefully to understand what you may be financially responsible for in the event of an accident.
