Booking a trip with a Commercial Host

Fast Facts:

  • Commercial Hosts are independent hosts or companies who offer guests their own commercial liability rental insurance -- not a protection plan via Turo. 
  • You may pay Commercial Hosts directly for some costs. This is the only time it’s OK to pay a host outside the Turo platform. 

About Commercial Hosts

There are two kinds of hosts on Turo: 

  1. Person-to-person hosts whose guests can obtain a protection plan on Turo; and
  2. Commercial Hosts
  • A Commercial Host is an independent, rental car company ost. These hosts provide their own commercial rental liability insurance to guests. 
  • Some hosts in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom are Commercial Hosts. 
  • All hosts in all other countries or regions where Turo operates are Commercial Hosts.  
  • Commercial Host listings on turo.com are identified with the label:
    “Commercial Host. This vehicle belongs to a Commercial Host, an independent car rental company.”

Insurance, roadside assistance, and damage 

Insurance

Check a Commercial Host’s listing to see if they include the insurance cost in their vehicle price. If not, it may be a separate charge to be paid outside of Turo. Many Commercial Hosts offer a collision damage waiver as an Extra that you can buy when you book your trip. If insurance is separate, you’ll confirm the cost and when you’ll pay for coverage with your host. 

Roadside assistance

Contact your host if you’re involved in an accident or the car breaks down. Turo’s roadside assisantance is only available in the United States, Canada, and the UK.

Damage claims

Since you’ll buy or receive liability insurance directly from a Commercial Host, you’ll work with them and their insurer if you’re involved in an accident or the vehicle is damaged. Turo won’t handle the claims process.

Differences and exceptions

Vehicle value

Commercial Hosts may list vehicles that exceed Turo’s normal vehicle value limits of: $150,000 in the US, 75,000 CAD in Canada, and £75,000 in the UK. Their cars must meet all other vehicle eligibility requirements. 

Age requirements 

US drivers under the age of 21 aren’t eligible to book with a Commercial Hosts. Commercial Hosts may charge a separate fee or offer only certain vehicles to drivers under 25. Check the vehicle listing for any young driver fees.   

Security deposits

Turo doesn’t charge a security deposit for vehicles booked with a Commercial Host, but the host might. If they do, they should include that information in their vehicle listing. 

Reimbursement requests

Commercial Hosts may contact you to request reimbursement for post-trip costs. Turo doesn’t request or collect these reimbursements. You’d make all payments directly to your host outside of the Turo platform. 

Payment exception

You may pay a Commercial Host directly for costs or services. Paying non-Commercial Hosts outside of Turo for any service or cost is a violation of our gray market transaction policy.

In this Article