Renting a car is a great way to get around without having to worry about maintenance or repairs. But it’s essential to make sure you’re covered in case of an accident.
Turo is a popular car rental service that offers insurance coverage for its vehicles. But what if you have your personal auto policy with Geico? Does Geico cover Turo?
I will cover everything you need to know about Geico and Turo in this article!
Does Geico Cover Turo?
No. Geico insurance does not cover Turo rentals. This is because Geico is against peer-to-peer car-sharing platforms like Turo and Getaround. It will only cover you when you are driving the car and not when the vehicle is in commercial use.
It treats Turo like just like ride-sharing platforms such as Uber. Uber is covered by personal auto insurance only when going to pick up a customer and just after the customer gets in uber provides coverage.
To be clear, I would rather answer this question in the case of a Host and a Guest.
Does Geico Cover Turo: For Guests;
The majority of insurance companies (including Geico) do not regard Turo as a rental company. Because of this, the insurance that covers you for car rentals
may not extend to Turo.
Geico extends to rental companies like Enterprise, Hertz, Alamo, etc, but not a Turo car.
The problem insurance companies like Geico have with vehicles listed on Turo is that they have a large number of claims.
The assumption is that if a renter damages a vehicle, the host will notice the damage and file a claim through Turo.
A host can fail to inspect the damage early and can no longer file a claim with Turo. When a claim can no longer be filed through Turo, hosts file a claim with their Geico insurance policy saying that the car was damaged while it was parked. To avoid making losses Geico avoids covering cars on Turo.
In line with this, Geico doesn’t cover Turo or any peer-to-peer car-sharing platform that allows people to rent out their cars to others.
The best option to get covered is to get a Turo protection plan. (More on this is explained below)
Does Geico Cover Turo: For Hosts;
For hosts, Geico does not cover your car when you rent it out to Turo on the Turo platform. It will only cover it when you are driving.
Your policy will cover a colleague who borrows your car but not when you rent it on Turo. This is because renting it is business use. Geico does not cover the business use of your car unless you have a commercial policy.
There are two options here;
- Upgrade to a commercial policy
- Use Travelers protection package via Turo
How Do Turo Insurance works;
In Turo, liability protection is available through Travelers Excess and Surplus Line Company. Remember that if in case you have personal insurance, it will kick in before your Turo protection plan.
For Guests
You will choose between three protection plans which provide different levels of coverage;
- Premier
- Standard
- Minimum
These protection plans cost a percentage of your total trip price.
| Coverage | Premier | Standard | Minimum | Decline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | 65% to 100% of the trip price | 40% of the trip price | 15% to 25% of the trip price | No cost |
| Minimum charge per day | $14 | $12 | $10 | No cost |
| Coverage limits | Up to 750,000 Up to $1250000 in NY | The minimum amount of third-party liability insurance coverage required by the state. | The minimum amount of third-party liability insurance coverage required by the state. | The minimum amount of third-party liability insurance coverage required by the state. |
Minimum
- Cost: 15% to 25% of the trip price. Minimum of $10/day.
- Third-party liability coverage: Minimum amount required by the state.
- Deductible: $3,000.
Standard
- Cost: 40% of the trip price. Minimum of $12/day.
- Third-party liability coverage: Minimum amount required by the state.
- Deductible: $500.
Premier
- Cost: 65% to 100% of the trip price. Minimum of $14/day.
- Third-party liability coverage: Up to $750,000.
- Deductible: $0
To buy the premier package you must be 21 years or older. Also, it is not available for all vehicles or trips.
For Hosts
It is important for a host to choose the protection plan that makes sense to him or her.
If you are opting for this protection, a percentage of the trip cost is taken by Turo.
Every protection plan includes liability insurance, physical damage reimbursement, and access to 24/7 road assistance.
Here are the 5 packages available for hosts;
| Protection Plan | Plan Price | Deductible |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | 10% of the trip price | $2500 |
| 85 | 15% of the trip price | $1625 |
| 80 | 20% of the trip price | $750 |
| 75 | 25% of the trip price | $250 |
| 60 | 40% of the trip price | $0 |
With a 60-protection plan, a host has to pay absolutely zero deductible but remember Turo takes 40% of the trip cost. It has benefits such as;
- Rental reimbursement coverage of up to $50 per day with a 10-day maximum.
- Exterior wear and tear reimbursement.
- Pays for loss of income while your vehicle is being repaired.
With the lowest protection plan being 90, Turo will take 10% of the trip cost and in case you get into an accident, there will be a $2500 deductible and there will be no replacement vehicle reimbursement during a repair. Also, it does not include exterior wear and tear and also loss of hosting income during the repair.
Concluding Thoughts-(Summary of Does Geico Cover Turo)
In conclusion, most insurance companies including Geico do not cover Turo unless you get special coverage (commercial).
If you decline Turo’s protection plans, make sure your own auto policy limits are sufficient to cover you in case of any eventuality.
Don’t hesitate to call 1-800-947-AUTO (2886) for more inquiries.
