Two attacks and two separate truck rentals were made through the same app, but other than the app used were not connected, according to law enforcement officials. For some, this is the first time they may have heard of the car rental app Turo.
What is Turo?
Turo is an app that allows vehicle owners to loan their cars to other drivers.
It was originally called RelayRides and started in August 2009.
Forbes said it operated differently than traditional car rental companies by allowing customers to rent a specific make and model from the car’s owner. The app also coordinated the pick-up and drop-off process.
Turo says it is not a rental car company, instead it “is a peer-to-peer car rental marketplace where you can rent directly from trusted local car owners.”
“Turo hosts share their own personal cars and set their own prices, discounts, vehicle availability, and delivery options,” the company said.
Users must be 18 years old, have a valid driver’s license and provide a home address. Users pay by credit or debit cards.
A customer’s credit and criminal history can be requested to verify a person’s account, the company said on its online help page.
The type of car that can be rented will depend on the driver’s age with a vehicle considered “Super Deluxe Class” reserved for people 30 and older.
For drivers under the age of 25, there is a “young driver fee” of either $50 a day (ages 18-20) or $30 (ages 21-24).
When someone books a rental, the host will confirm the license, which must be presented to the host at pick-up.
Turo is international, serving not only the U.S. but also parts of Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and France.
Vehicles can be driven anywhere in the country where they were rented. Hosts cannot limit taking the car out of state or province.
As for the incidents in New Orleans and Las Vegas, the company confirmed both the cars used were rented through the company, but “do not believe that either renter had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat, and we are not currently aware of any information that indicates the two incidents are related.”
The company is working with law enforcement on the investigation.
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