Aaa Auto Insurance: Exploring The Turo Coverage Conundrum

Turo is a car-sharing app that allows people to rent out their personal vehicles. However, it's not the same as a traditional rental car, and it can be tricky to figure out if your insurance covers you when using Turo. AAA auto insurance is only available to AAA members and includes collision coverage, liability insurance, uninsured motorist coverage, medical coverage, and rental car reimbursement. While AAA membership does not include car rental insurance, AAA auto insurance typically covers rental cars within the United States up to the same coverage limits as your personal vehicle. However, it's always recommended to review your policy and contact AAA to confirm your coverage limits before renting a car through Turo.

AAA auto insurance covers rental cars

If you have AAA auto insurance, your coverage for rental cars will typically extend to your same coverage limits in the United States. However, it is always a good idea to review your policy and contact AAA to confirm your coverage limits before renting a car. There may be instances where you want to purchase supplemental coverage from the rental car company, especially if you are renting an expensive or luxury vehicle.

Additionally, your personal auto insurance coverage limits may not always be sufficient for a rental car. For example, if you have a high deductible on your auto insurance, you may want to consider purchasing additional rental car insurance to avoid paying a high deductible in the event of an accident.

It is worth noting that AAA membership is not the same as AAA auto insurance. AAA membership provides benefits such as 24/7 roadside assistance, discounts on rental cars, and access to travel services. However, it does not include car rental insurance.

When it comes to Turo rentals specifically, there have been mixed responses from AAA customers. Some have been told that Turo rentals are covered under their insurance policy, while others have been informed that it is not covered. It is important to carefully review your specific AAA insurance policy and contact their customer support to get a clear understanding of your coverage for Turo or any other rental car services.

Turo is a peer-to-peer rental service

Turo is a peer-to-peer car rental service that allows individuals to list their cars for rent when they don't need them. It is essentially an Airbnb for cars. It is a marketplace in the sharing economy, where users can list their cars and others can hire them if they want to avoid traditional rental companies.

Turo works as one would expect: users search for cars in their destination and dates until they find a suitable option. Some cars are "instant book", while others require the user to send a request to the owner, who will manually confirm or deny the request. To rent a car through Turo, users need to submit a copy of their driver's license and proof of auto insurance.

Turo offers three protection plans with increasing levels of insurance coverage: Minimum, Standard, and Premier. In the US, any personal insurance that covers damage to the host's vehicle will kick in before the Turo protection plan, except for trips booked in Maryland. When booking a car in the US, users can choose between the three protection plans, which include third-party automobile liability insurance provided under a policy issued to Turo by the Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company.

Turo is a convenient option for those looking for cheaper rental options or solutions that traditional companies do not offer, such as off-site locations, specialty vehicles, or owners who allow off-road driving. It is also a good option for those looking for a specific vehicle type, such as electric cars, vintage cars, sports cars, or campers.

However, it is important to note that Turo experiences can be inconsistent due to varying vehicle conditions and owner requirements. Additionally, there may be extra fees, such as airport fees, pickup or return fees, and unlimited mileage charges. Users should also be aware of potential reimbursement invoices from hosts for fuel replacement, distance overages, failure to return an EV with charge, or tickets and tolls.

AAA members can receive discounts on rental cars

AAA members can receive exclusive discounts and benefits when renting cars with Hertz, Dollar, or Thrifty. These include:

• Discounts of up to 20% off the base rate on all Hertz rentals
• A free additional driver
• Free use of one child safety seat
• 10% off prepaid fuel
• Waived young renter fees for members aged 20-24
• Loss damage waiver limited to $5,000 in the event of an accident
• International benefits and discounts on standard car rentals

AAA members can also benefit from:

• Savings of up to 15% off the base rate on all Dollar rentals
• Up to 10% off the base rate on all Thrifty rentals

AAA members can save every day when renting a car using their AAA discount code (CDP#). To apply this promotional offer and AAA benefits, you must enter your zip code.

AAA members can also join Hertz Gold Plus Rewards for the following benefits:

• A faster checkout process by skipping the counter at 50+ airports
• The ability to pick your car from the best fleet and go
• Dropping off the keys and going at return
• Earning points towards free days and upgrades

AAA Premier members get all the benefits above, plus an automatic upgrade to Five Star status with 25% more points per rental.

AAA auto insurance is only available to AAA members

Different membership levels provide different levels of services. Membership may cost between $60 and $100, with a sliding scale of inclusions. For example, the AAA Premier Membership offers up to $150 reimbursement for home or car locksmith fees, up to $100 reimbursement for car locksmith fees, and up to $50 reimbursement for windshield repair or replacement per membership year.

In addition to the standard benefits of AAA membership, AAA auto insurance provides coverage for rental cars. This coverage includes collision coverage, liability insurance, uninsured motorist coverage, medical coverage, and rental car reimbursement if your own car is out of service. However, it is important to note that the coverage limits for rental cars are typically the same as those for your personal vehicle. So, if you rent a luxury car but only have coverage for a basic vehicle, you may not have sufficient insurance.

To ensure you have the right level of coverage, it is recommended to review your policy and contact AAA before renting a car. In some cases, you may want to purchase supplemental coverage from the rental car company, especially if you are renting an expensive vehicle or travelling in another country.

It is worth noting that AAA also offers a Visa Signature credit card with rental car coverage. If you charge your rental car to this card and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver, the credit card will provide supplemental collision damage coverage up to the actual cash value of most rental vehicles.

While AAA auto insurance is only available to AAA members, the association offers a range of benefits and services to its members, including exclusive perks when renting a car and discounts on auto insurance.

Turo offers its own insurance coverage

Turo is a peer-to-peer car-sharing service that allows users to rent another person's vehicle. While Turo isn't a car insurance company, it does offer protection plans through Travelers for an additional fee. These protection plans are available for both renters and owners.

Turo Insurance for Renters

Turo offers three levels of protection for renters in the US: premium, standard, and minimum. The higher levels cost more but provide extra benefits. Here are the details of each plan:

• Premium: Costing 65% of the trip price with a minimum of $14/day, this plan offers up to $750,000 in third-party liability coverage. It is only available to those 21 or older and may not be available for all vehicles or trips.
• Standard: At 40% of the trip price with a minimum of $12/day, this plan offers the minimum amount of third-party liability coverage required by the state.
• Minimum: Costing 18% of the trip price if less than $250, or 25% of the trip price if more, with a minimum of $10/day, this plan also offers the minimum amount of third-party liability coverage required by the state.

Regardless of the guest protection plan chosen, renters won't be responsible for physical damage beyond the deductible. However, they will be responsible for any mechanical or interior damage to the car. Additionally, renters must use any personal auto insurance coverage before Turo's coverage applies.

Renters can also opt to decline protection, which means they won't pay for insurance but will only receive the minimum amount of third-party liability insurance coverage required by the state. In this case, the renter becomes responsible for all costs related to physical, mechanical, and interior damage, as well as administrative claims fees and appraisal costs.

Turo Insurance for Owners

Turo offers five different protection plans for peer-to-peer hosts, with varying levels of benefits. The plans are as follows:

• 60% plan: Hosts keep 60% of the trip price. This plan includes up to $750,000 in third-party liability insurance, exterior wear and tear reimbursement, and loss of hosting income during repair or $50/day replacement vehicle reimbursement.
• 75% plan: Hosts keep 75% of the trip price. This plan includes up to $750,000 in third-party liability insurance and $30/day replacement vehicle reimbursement during repair. It does not include exterior wear and tear reimbursement or loss of hosting income during repair.
• 80% plan: Hosts keep 80% of the trip price. This plan includes up to $750,000 in third-party liability insurance but does not include replacement vehicle reimbursement during repair, exterior wear and tear reimbursement, or loss of hosting income during repair.
• 85% plan: Hosts keep 85% of the trip price. This plan includes up to $750,000 in third-party liability insurance but does not include replacement vehicle reimbursement during repair, exterior wear and tear reimbursement, or loss of hosting income during repair.
• 90% plan: Hosts keep 90% of the trip price. This plan includes up to $750,000 in third-party liability insurance but does not include replacement vehicle reimbursement during repair, exterior wear and tear reimbursement, or loss of hosting income during repair.

All plans include $750,000 of third-party liability insurance, which is secondary to any personal auto insurance coverage. Turo will also pay for eligible damage costs up to the actual cash value of the car or $200,000, minus the deductible.

It is important to note that hosts are still required by law to have their own personal car insurance for their vehicles when they are not being shared on Turo. Personal insurance policies typically have an exclusion that voids coverage when the car is shared in a peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace.

Turo also offers off-trip car insurance through the embedded insurance company Trint. This coverage is not available in every state, and hosts must have at least three vehicles listed on Turo to apply. Additionally, the coverage only applies to vehicles driven for business use, not for personal use.

Hosts can decline to purchase Turo's protection plan if they have commercial auto insurance, which covers the use of a car for business purposes. However, Turo will not be responsible for any damage to the vehicle if the plan is declined.

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