Turo Canada: Would You Share Your Car With Strangers?

Turo Canada has been shaking up the rental car industry since 2016. This popular peer-to-peer car-sharing service allows you to create an account online or through the Turo app and borrow a car directly from the car's owner, not a rental agency.

If you're looking to just borrow a car to get to an appointment across town or run errands while your car is in the shop, Turo streamlines the renting process. We'll explain more about how to pick up a car with Turo, how much you might pay, and compare it to your traditional rental car options.

What is Turo car rental?

Turo is basically the Airbnb of car rental companies, except instead of private homeowners renting out their homes as stand-ins for hotels, it's private car owners renting out their vehicles as stand-ins for rental cars.

This peer-to-peer car-sharing outfit based in San Francisco enables people to rent their own cars via the Turo website or mobile app. Currently, Turo is available in several Canadian provinces:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Yukon

You can also access Turo abroad:

• U.S.
• Australia
• U.K.
• France

Turo bills itself as the world's largest car-sharing marketplace. The website's interface looks just like any other car rental company, except that what you're renting are private cars from people who've offered their own vehicles.

Just as Airbnb helps users avoid the pricey booking fees for hotels, Turo helps you bypass the costly car rental fees charged by industry heavyweights like Enterprise and Hertz.

All about Turo

Turo was founded in Boston in 2010, around the same time as other peer-to-peer model companies like Airbnb, TaskRabbit, and Uber were becoming popular. 10 years later, in August 2020, the company reached $1 billion in cumulative global revenue and has served millions of travellers and industrious drivers.

As of 2025, Turo's Canadian market hit $300 million in earnings. The company cites the high cost of car ownership as one of the biggest reasons for this growth.

Turo's mission is to put the world's 1.5 billion cars to better use. So, how exactly do they do that?

How does Turo work?

To rent a car from Turo, follow these simple steps:

• Sign up for an account using Google, Facebook, an Apple ID, or email before Turo confirms your identity and eligibility to drive one of their cars.
• Enter your driving dates and pickup location before browsing Turo's selection of locally owned and available cars.
• Book your selected car; the owner will either confirm or decline within 8 hours (though it's usually much faster). Some listings feature a "Book Instantly" option.
• Arrange a pickup location with the owner (some drivers offer delivery), show your license to the owner (or upload it in the app), and drive off. If you're not meeting in person, you can pick up the key at a lockbox or the host can unlock the car remotely.
• To return the car, refill the tank at your own expense and meet the owner again to give the car back.

Keep in mind, you must be 23 or older to book any car with Turo in Canada, 25 or older to book a Deluxe Class car, and 30 or older to book a Super Deluxe Class or specialty car.

Some owners are commercial operators, and they set their own age restrictions for certain vehicle types and their own fees for young drivers. These fees and restrictions are disclosed in their listings.

Pros and cons of Turo Canada

There are several benefits to renting a car with Turo.

Pros

• Customizable pickup options: You can arrange where you'd like to get the vehicle from or even ask the host to deliver it to you. Just be aware that delivery often costs extra.
• Ability to add insurance and roadside assistance: If you don't have personal auto insurance, you can purchase 1 of 3 physical damage protection plans. That said, all rentals include liability insurance, 24/7 customer support, and roadside assistance.
• Flexible cancellation policy: A trip can be cancelled at any time through the Turo app or website, and the cancellation is effective immediately. Whether you get a partial or total refund as a guest depends on when you cancel.
• Wide variety of vehicles to choose from: Many of the available vehicles aren't offered by other car rental companies. You can get everything from standard cars like Nissan and Toyota to a high-end sports car like a Lamborghini.

Cons

Here are some of the downsides of using Turo.

• Cost is highly variable: Since owners are the ones listing their vehicles, the price you pay to rent varies widely. Before you spring for a Turo rental, hop onto rental car websites to compare prices.
• Restrictions can be inconsistent: Again, since the hosts set the limitations on their own cars, Turo restrictions can be a little inconsistent. This is why it's important to always read the vehicle descriptions carefully.
• Availability varies by province: It's probably no surprise that major cities have a better selection of available vehicles. Areas with smaller populations will have limited availability and may therefore charge more due to supply and demand.
• Rigid return requirements: You are required to refuel or recharge the vehicle before dropping it off. And, you've got to return the vehicle within 30 minutes of the agreed upon time or you'll be charged for additional time. Although you don't have to completely detail the car, you must return it in good condition or you may be charged a $150 plus 3% cleaning fee.

How does Turo Canada compare to its competition?

Since actual car owners are renting their own cars with Turo, rental rates can be cheaper than anything rental companies or other car-sharing services can offer. Check out how the top competitors in the field stack up against Turo to see what we mean.

As you can see, the price of renting a car is highly variable. Not only does it depend on where you're renting, what type of car you want, how long you need it for, and whether or not you have a rental membership, but supply and demand is another important variable.

Generally, it's a good idea to comparison-shop your options any time you need to borrow a vehicle. Sometimes, Turo might be your most affordable option, but you might catch a deal with a car rental agency. You just don't know unless you do your research.

Despite limited availability across Canada and the unknowns of coordinating the pickup and drop-off of a stranger's personal car, Turo's pricing and potential car selection are competitive with professional rental car companies.

So, if you prefer the human touch and don't want to be treated like a number when renting a car, or you're still thrilled at the possibility of driving an exotic car on a new adventure, Turo may be for you.

FAQ

Can Canadians use Turo?

Yes, Turo is available in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., France, and Australia. As it becomes more popular, it could add more locations around the world.

Is Turo cheaper than other rentals?

The price you pay to rent a car depends on so many variables that Turo isn't always the cheapest option. It definitely pays to check other car rental agencies for your specific travel needs.

How much can I make on Turo in Canada?

Play around with the Turo Carculator tool to see how much you could make. Enter your vehicle information, like make, model, and car value, to find the estimated return on your investment – in this case, using it for Turo.

How does Turo work?

Sign up with Turo and browse the selection of privately owned vehicles you can rent. Select dates and a pickup location before paying. Pick up the car and return it to the agreed-upon location at the end of your rental period.

What does the Turo app do?

Use the mobile app to search for vehicles to rent, or become a Turo host and list your available vehicles. The mobile app also displays maps, so it's easy to locate your pickup and drop-off locations.

What happens when you pick up a car from Turo?

To pick up your rental car, arrange to meet the host and get the keys in person or get the key out of a lockbox with a code the host gives you. Your host might even be able to unlock the vehicle remotely, so you don't need to meet at all.