If you’ve needed a rental car in the past few years, chances are high that you’ve considered using Turo.
Originally, Turo launched as an app that allowed people to rent out their cars when they weren’t using them. Over time, however, people began to use the service to create their own rental car fleets, similar to Airbnb hosts owning multiple rentals in which they’ve never lived.
While many people have positive experiences with the app, there are always occasional horror stories. For example, one woman rented a car on Turo only to discover she was being tracked with an AirTag. Another person rented their own car out on Turo and detailed the miserable time they had trying to get it back.
In short, life isn’t always easy for someone using Turo. In a recent video from TikTok user Erik Lizar (@erik_lizar_lasvegas), viewers learned another reason why.
What Went Wrong With These Turo Rentals?
In Lizar’s video, he explains that some recent rental incidents have left him with an “interesting couple situations.”
First, he says that a Jeep just came back into his possession, which the renter claimed had three slashed tires.
“And so, he put the spare on one of them and took two used tires,” Lizar states.
However, Lizar’s Turo issues didn’t stop there.
“Now we’ve got another customer that’s messaging me saying that the car was stolen and that they’re on the phone with the police and they need my help to get the car back,” he shares.
The Turo Owner Searches for the Stolen Car
In a series of follow-up videos, Lizar details his journey trying to get his “stolen” car back.
According to Lizar’s first video, the renter tried to get him to be involved in the finding of the car rather than hand the situation over to the police. She also gave a convoluted explanation for what led to the situation, which Lizar suspects is “straight lies.”
Later, Lizar tracked the car. It took him back to the area from which it was allegedly stolen. Thus, he went to get it.
When he arrived, he found the car. While the outside was spotless, the inside had a host of issues, which Lizar went on to describe.
What Did These Turo Renters Do to This Car?
After inspecting the car, Lizar discovered that it was now in a sorry state. The interior was filled with cigarette ash and Patron bottles. Additionally, the car had been driven excess miles to what was agreed upon.
“I guess she thought that if she reported it stolen that she wouldn’t be responsible for all of the post-trip fees,” Lizar speculates.
Even though she filed a police report—as evidenced by the fact that the police later showed up—she was still on the hook for damages. Consequently, the whole situation ended up being fortuitous for Lizar, as he “tripled the revenue” of the car with the additional fees. Not only that, but he was able to rent the car out again 24 hours after he got it back.
@erik_lizar_lasvegas Damaged tires and a stolen car. Stay tuned for updates. This could get interesting! #stolencar #vegasturoking #turo #vegas #wow @PresidentialMama ♬ original sound – vegasturoking
What Should a Turo Host Do In This Situation?
According to Turo, a host should fully document all alleged damages and issues with relevant photos and screenshots. They should then provide them to the company within 24 hours.
From there, Turo will work with the host to come to a resolution. This could involve resolving the situation directly with the guest or filing a claim with Turo directly.
It’s unclear what one should do if the renter claims the vehicle was stolen, but the host does not believe their claim. In general, Turo states that a host whose vehicle has been stolen should contact a Turo representative and follow their directions. If this results in a police report needing to be filed, Turo says the action must be taken within 24 hours.
The Mary Sue reached out to Turo via email and Lizar via TikTok direct message and comment.
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