Car-sharing applications such as Turo are rapidly gaining in popularity and, by 2023, will be a highly relevant transport service for getting around Canada.
The car-sharing concept is already well established in the province thanks to companies such as Communauto and Louélec. However, there are new, lesser-known car-sharing options available to Canadians. One of these new options is Turo, a virtual car-sharing platform for private individuals. In other words, Turo lets anyone view their rental car from their mobile phone or computer.
Turo’s mission is simple: to connect vehicle owners and renters. The company also takes care of securing the transaction between the two parties and supporting owners with the management of their insurance claims in the event of damage or accidents. It’s a turnkey service that’s much more flexible than typical car rental services.
A service that deserves to be known
Turo recently unveiled a partnership with the Jonas Brothers to further promote their platform. The company is therefore looking to strengthen its presence in areas where Turo is not yet well known.
Founded in Boston in 2009 as Relay Rides, Turo has brought to the automotive world what AirBnb has brought to the hospitality world: an easy way to make a short-term loan between a renter and an owner.
In Canada, Turo has expanded rapidly in recent years. Many cities further afield, such as Chicoutimi, QC, now have a large number of vehicles for hire on Turo. More and more Canadians are beginning to see the value of Turo’s service.
Why rent a car on Turo?
Turo’s success can be attributed to a number of factors, including their customer service. Turo puts the customer in direct communication with the owner via their mobile application. Turo customers benefit from excellent customer service, as they can contact the vehicle owner directly at any time.
Secondly, posting your rental car on Turo allows you to make substantial savings on the costs of using and maintaining your vehicle. For those interested, Turo is offering an online tool which calculates the potential revenue generated by displaying a vehicle on their platform. In most cases, the income from a single rental is enough to pay off the monthly payments on your vehicle.
What’s more, Turo makes it possible to maximize the use of each vehicle on the road. According to a study in Quebec by the Léger polling firm, the personal vehicles of Quebecers remain unused and immobile for an average of 95% of the year. So it’s not so difficult to find a few times when you can hire your car on Turo without disrupting your daily activities.
Finally, again according to the Léger survey, more than 80% of Quebecers feel they could not do without a car. Turo’s offer is therefore highly relevant to drivers who don’t need to take their car out every day and who want to avoid embarking on a long and complex process of buying a new vehicle.
