Turo Insurance: How Does It Work In Canada?

Are you thinking about taking a camping trip in northern Ontario over the summer? How about a ski trip in British Columbia over the winter? Or perhaps you’d prefer to explore the Maritimes during the fall.

Wherever you feel like going, you can rely on Turo to make your travels more manageable in the long run.

In today’s article, we’ll go over what Turo is and why it’s beneficial for Canadian drivers. We’ll also focus on the ins and outs of Turo insurance and how it works in Canada.

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If you want to learn more about Turo, be sure to continue reading.

What is Turo?

Turo is an innovative car-sharing platform that allows car owners to share their vehicles with “guests” for a small fee. Drivers can use Turo to find a wide array of vehicles, ranging from traditional SUVs to luxury sports cars.

How to borrow a car with Turo

Getting the perfect vehicle for your vacation or a night on the town is a simple task when you use Turo.

All you have to do is follow these simple steps:

Step #1 — Search for a car

First, you’ll need to enter your location (or the location of your vacation home) and the preferred dates. You’ll then be given a list of available vehicles listed by local car owners.

Step #2 — Book your excursion

Visit the Turo mobile app or website to book your excursion and choose your protection plan (more on this shortly).

Step #3 — Enjoy your adventure!

Once you’ve finalized your trip, you can either wait for the vehicle to be delivered or pick it up yourself. Once you’ve obtained your new ride, don’t forget to confirm the transaction on the mobile app. Now it’s finally time to hit the open road and start your vacation!

Why should drivers use Turo in Canada?

There are several reasons why Turo is an excellent option for drivers that are looking for a temporary vehicle. Some of these reasons are:

Fantastic value — Drivers that use Turo get access to some of the best vehicles at some of the lowest prices. Vehicle sharing costs start at $25 a day.

Easy and free cancellations —Drivers can cancel their trip for free 24 hours before the start date.

Flexible delivery services — Whether you want to pick up a vehicle in your hometown or deliver it to your vacation property, you can make travelling easier by using Turo.

Turo insurance — what are the options for car owners and guests?

When it comes to insurance Turo has a variety of coverage and protection plan options for both car owners and guests.

Turo car insurance for vehicle owners in Canada

Turo provides a “standard protection plan” for car owners that share their vehicles on the platform.

The Turo insurance Canada standard protection plan provides the following types of support for vehicles owners:

Third-party liability coverage — All vehicle owners that opt for the standard protection plan get access to $2,000,000 in third-party liability coverage (provided by Economical Insurance and ICBC).

Physical damage protection — This aspect of the standard protection plan financially protects vehicle owners if the vehicle is physically damaged or stolen during the trip. Vehicle owners will receive the actual cash value of their car if it is damaged or stolen during the trip.

Reliable roadside assistance — Get roadside support from the Turo team 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Roadside assistance fees may apply under certain circumstances.

*As a car owner, if you choose to register your personal vehicle to be used in the Turo program you must let your insurance advisor know. There are a limited number of insurance providers who will allow the car to be used in the Turo program. At Surex, only Intact and Economical allow for this. Once the vehicle owner has registered with Turo, their regular insurance policy will require extra coverages to be added to cover the increased risk of being driven in a ride-sharing program. Your insurance advisor can make sure you've got everything you need.*

Turo car insurance for guests in Canada

Turo offers three different types of car insurance options (protection plans) for guests in Canada:

• Minimum
• Standard
• Premium (only available on trips that are two days or longer in a model that is worth less than $25,000)

Each option offers varying levels of coverage, but guests should note that all of the protection plans come with $2,000,000 in third-party liability coverage.

You can learn more about the various protection plans that are available by visiting the Turo Help Centre.

What is the Turo insurance cost for guests in Canada?

Your Turo insurance cost will vary depending on the type of protection plan that you opt for.

Here’s a rundown of the protection plan pricing options for guests in Canada:

• Minimum protection plan (less than $250 for the trip) — 25% of the trip cost/a minimum fee of $7.50 per day
• Minimum protection plan (more than $250 for the trip) — 18% of the trip cost/a minimum fee of $7.50 per day
• Standard protection plan — 40% of the trip cost/a minimum fee of $12 per day
• Premium protection plan — 80% of the trip cost/a minimum fee of $15 a day

*Please note that Turo only offers protection plans in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.*

Do you need your own car insurance policy in order to borrow a car from Turo?

No, you don’t need to have your own car insurance policy to use Turo if you invest in one of their protection plans. 

If you have a personal auto insurance policy, Turo’s third-party liability provider will supplement your coverage. 

Although you don’t have to buy a protection plan from Turo, their team highly recommends it. Many Canadian car insurance companies don’t cover peer-to-peer car sharing activities. So, unless you know that your provider has you covered, you should opt for a protection plan from Turo.

Speaking of car insurance…

Save up to 25% on car insurance with your Surex insurance advisor

Whether you’re borrowing a car from Turo, or driving your own vehicle, car insurance is extremely important. Having a quality car insurance policy allows you to get peace of mind, as you know that if something serious happens to your vehicle, you’ll most likely be covered.

If you’re looking for quotes from Canada’s top-rated car insurance companies, reach out to one of our Surex insurance advisors today.

Our advisors can provide you with a collection of quality quotes in ten minutes or less — that’s less time than it takes to drive around the block!

Contact us today to get started and learn how to save as much as 25% when you bundle multiple policies with one of our carriers.