My son earns through Turo as a partner of a car rental owner/host, so it genuinely pains me to leave this review, knowing it could negatively impact his endeavors. I signed up for Turo upon his recommendation and rented a 2024 Tesla Model Y from November 17-24, 2024, from a host with a 4.85-star rating. Pick-up was at 9:00 PM on November 17, and the return was scheduled for 8:30 PM on November 24. In reality, I returned the car at 7:20 PM — more than an hour ahead of schedule. The car was used a few times around LA but was mostly parked in a garage. I left a positive review since the car was in excellent condition. However, a few days later, I was blindsided by a claim for $210 in damages to the front passenger-side tire or rim. I disputed the claim, and the host assured me he would forward it to insurance. Shortly after, I received an email from Turo stating they "may charge a refundable $500 deposit towards potential damages while we review the claim." To my surprise, I then received another email from Turo notifying me of a charge for a "late return" of the car — a charge that had already been billed to my credit card. I immediately disputed it and contacted the host directly. He claimed he didn’t initiate the charge and advised me to call Turo support, even providing a number to call. At this point, I wasn’t sure whether the host or Turo was trying to scam me. Feeling uneasy, I decided to do some research and was shocked to find numerous negative reviews from angry customers detailing similar experiences. It’s truly disheartening. I understand that there are honest hosts and car owners on Turo who legitimately want to earn money. Unfortunately, unethical practices like these tarnish the app's reputation, hurting not only customers but also the honest hosts who depend on it for income. My son apologized for recommending the app, and I, too, regret placing my trust in it. Moving forward, I will stick to well-established car rental agencies like Sixt, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, and Dollar. These companies offer transparency, accountability, and a reliable system for resolving disputes fairly. I’ve been renting from them for over a decade and have never encountered issues of this nature. Their professionalism and customer service are far superior to what I experienced with Turo.