About
Turo was founded in San Francisco in 2009 as a peer-to-peer mobility platform that lets vehicle owners rent out their cars during the times they aren't using them. The company offers an alternative to the traditional car rental industry: instead of large fleet investments, it moves the existing pool of individually owned vehicles into a digital marketplace.
The company was founded during the rise of the sharing economy and is built on the fact that a large share of cars, especially in cities, sit idle most of the time. It gives vehicle owners an extra income opportunity, while offering renters a wider range of makes and models, often at a more affordable price than traditional rental. Over time, Turo built a large user base across North America and the United Kingdom.
The platform's core product is essentially a mobile app and website, but behind them sit operational layers such as insurance, identity verification, reviews, and support. Turo offers various protection packages, insurance options, and dispute-resolution mechanisms for both the owners who share their vehicles and the renters who use them.
Turo's customer base is two-sided. On the owner side are individuals looking for extra income, small family businesses, and owners of small fleets, while on the renter side are vacationers, business travelers who want to try a different class of vehicle, and people making long-distance moves.
