In recent years, Canadians have struggled to rent cars from rental companies due to supply shortages, especially during peak travel and tourism months. Thankfully, however, they were provided with another option. To fill the car rental void, Turo, Canada’s leading peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace, stepped in to offer Canadians a unique alternative that connected communities.
Turo officially launched in Canada in 2016 and in Nova Scotia in 2019. Since then, the service has connected local car owners, or hosts as they’re called, with eager travellers in search of the perfect vehicle for their next adventure. Now, Turo has expanded to the rest of Atlantic Canada, which means there are even more opportunities to experience the marketplace and even become a host yourself.
Turo helps Canadian hosts generate hundreds of dollars of extra income each month, which can be beneficial for offsetting costs associated with car ownership such as insurance, maintenance, gas and parking.
“We’ve realized the cost of car ownership is the highest in the country in the Atlantic region, which is why we want to inspire local residents to consider listing their vehicles on Turo, turning the cost into an earnings opportunity,” says Cedric Mathieu, senior vice president and head of Turo in Canada.
In addition to the high cost of ownership, data show that cars in Atlantic Canada sit idle 95 percent of the year. Despite these costs, the majority (84 percent) of Atlantic car owners surveyed in Turo’s 2023 Car Ownership Index, conducted in partnership with Leger, feel it would be impossible to go without a vehicle. To tackle this dilemma, Turo offers hosts the chance to reduce the financial pressures of this fixed cost by sharing their car on its marketplace.
“Think about this: If your car is currently sitting idle, you could list your car in just a few minutes and start making money very quickly. The marketplace offers simplicity in a format that works for you, so you can make a meaningful income,” Mathieu adds.
Since its launch in Nova Scotia, Mathieu says the company has seen tremendous success. “We’ve seen thousands of guests turn to our hosts across the province, with Halifax being one of our biggest and busiest markets. With the level of demand continuing to increase as we head into the summer, our hosts are gearing up for yet another busy season.”
Chesley Long, a Turo All-Star host in Nova Scotia, confirms the demand has been high this summer. He shares that he has received bookings for dates in the summer as early as eight months in advance. Long attributes the service’s popularity to the fact that car rental companies have limited availability and higher prices. “Although I only started in the middle of the summer last year, I had a great experience and was able to capture the financial benefits of listing my car during a busy tourism season,” Long says.
He started with three cars and now has four active vehicles listed on the marketplace. He says that all four vehicles are well booked for this summer and they’re on track to make him over $15,000 this season. Thanks to Turo, Long has had the opportunity to start a scalable small business, while maintaining flexibility in his schedule. “It allows me to work from home and set my own hours while making additional income monthly. I highly encourage entrepreneurs, especially young ones, to seek opportunities like Turo that offer financial empowerment.”
Whether you’re a host or a guest, Turo offers a simple and affordable car booking experience. Furthermore, the carsharing service encourages fewer cars on the road by making the ones already in existence more accessible to more people. And with the summer travel season upon us, the marketplace offers a unique and lucrative opportunity for potential hosts in Atlantic Canada to support local tourism while personally capitalizing on strong guest demand for vehicles.
To learn more about Turo and to list your car, visit: Turo.com.
This content has been developed and paid for by Turo without involvement from The Coast’s editorial department.
