My Turo car search guide

There are so many options to choose from when searching for a Turo car. Below outlines the top cars I search for, the brand of car I will never purchase, and some of my pro tips.

Note: This is not advice. I am not suggesting that you purchase these cars.

3 affordable cars.

2013 Yaris Sedan

The Yaris has earned a reliability score of 4.5 out of 5 from J.D. Power. Well-maintained Toyotas are estimated to last around 200,000 - 250,000 miles. Maintenance costs are at only $256 per year.

2013 Honda Civic

A properly cared for 2013 Honda Civic will last about 300,000 miles, which is great for a budget-friendly compact car. Regular annual maintenance is more affordable than the competition. Repair Pal estimates the costs to be $387 per year.

2013 Mazda 3

A well-maintained 2013 Mazda3 is estimated to run for about 250,000 miles, which is only 50,000 miles less than the top-rated Toyota Corolla. Regular annual maintenance costs are affordable, too, at $460 per year.

Cars I will NOT purchase.

Any Nissan vehicle

Nissan's CVTs are known to be notoriously unreliable & many owners complain about having to repair or even replace their car's transmission. Transmission replacements can cost as much as $4000.

Mechanics can help.

Get the car inspected

I always have my cars inspected by a mechanic. However, before I found a good mechanic, I used Firestone and took advantage of their low cost inspections and their numerous locations. Their job is to find every issue the car has - because they want the business.

Pro Tips

Streamline your car search

I use Facebook marketplace and Craigslist to search for cars. Both allow you to save search criteria and will notify you when a car meets your needs.

Build a complete budget

Before I purchase a car, I establish my complete budget that accounts for both the purchase of the car and items needed to get the car ready for renting.

Find the right auto insurance

Most insurance companies do not allow you to rent your personal car on Turo. As a Host, it is important to make sure you have the correct personal coverage.