How Poker, Family Needs, and a Chance Encounter Shaped My Path
Hello everyone! Today, I want to share with you the somewhat unconventional journey that led me to become a host on Turo, the popular car-sharing service. It’s a tale of passion, necessity, and serendipity – all converging to lead me down a path I never expected.
The Spark: A Passion for Poker
My story begins with a deck of cards. I’ve always had a love for poker – the thrill of the game, the strategy, and, of course, the potential winnings. However, living three hours away from the nearest casino posed a significant challenge. This distance meant that my poker sessions were few and far between, limited by the practicalities of travel.
The Need: One Vehicle for a Family of Five
Adding to the complexity was our family situation. With three kids and only one vehicle, coordinating family logistics while also indulging in my poker hobby became a juggling act. The need for a second car was apparent, but difficult to justify the cost just for the occasional casino trip. It also isn’t really practical to leave my wife home with 3 kids and no car.
The Discovery: Stumbling Upon Turo
This is where Turo came into the picture. In preparation for one of my rare poker outings, I discovered Turo – a service where you can rent a variety of vehicles from local owners. I like to describe it as the Air B&B for cars. The idea was perfect for my situation. I could rent a car for my casino trip without the long-term commitment of owning a second vehicle. I chose to go with the cheapest vehicle I could rent nearby and ended up in Jakes 2019 Toyota Corolla. Nice guy, good host and a reliable ride. Everything I needed for my trip. I will say that as a large mammal, it was a bit of a tight fit.
The Turning Point: A Chance Casino Encounter
The real game-changer happened at the poker table. I ended up seated next to a guy who, as it turned out, was not just a poker enthusiast but also a successful Turo host. He shared his experiences and insights about renting out several vehicles on the platform and I had the opportunity to ask him questions.
Do you make money?
He did on most of his fleet, but one vehicle “just paid for itself”.
Have you ever had any issues?
One time he had someone not return his vehicle! I was shocked at how nonchalant he was describing the scenario. He had a vehicle tracking device on the vehicle and the police were able to recover the vehicle from him. He was a police officer himself and elected not to press charges because he didn’t want to deal with going to court. I sure as heck would have pressed charges but understand why a police officer wouldn’t want to take a day off to go to court.
Do you need special insurance?
No, you get insurance through Turo. As I later learned, this is one of many details you can configure about your vehicle listing on Turo where the more coverage/lower deductible options earn you less money and vice versa.
This conversation was the catalyst that got the gears in my head churning. From what I gathered at the table, this guy was probably a better Turo host than poker player.
The Research: Finding the Perfect Turo Vehicle
Back home, I dived into research, looking into the most profitable Turo rentals in my area. Turo has a calculator where you can research this for your area. At the time a Corvette ranked second in my price range. Looking at this now as I write this, the Vette has dropped off the list and is actually showing a negative ROI. Owning a Corvette had always been a dream, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to blend passion with business.
The Leap: Diving into Turo Hosting
I decided to jump in headfirst. However, my initial attempt to purchase a vehicle through Carvana was less than ideal. I will document that experience in detail in my next post. The experience was quite frustrating, to say the least. But I didn’t let this setback deter me.
The Purchase: A 2017 Corvette Stingray 2LT
Eventually, after having made several offers that were not accepted I found a dealer in Virginia who offered exactly what I was looking for – a 2017 Corvette Stingray 2LT with adrenaline red interior. The catch? I had to buy it sight unseen. Despite the risks, the dealer’s offer to deliver it directly to me for free was too good to pass up.
Today: A Thriving Turo Host
Fast forward to today, and I am a proud Turo host with a beautiful Corvette in my fleet (of one). It’s been an incredible journey, starting from a desire to play poker, navigating family needs, and serendipitously meeting someone who opened my eyes to the possibilities of Turo.
I hope my story inspires those of you considering Turo hosting or any venture that seems just out of reach. Sometimes, the most unexpected paths lead to the most rewarding destinations.
Thank you for reading my story. If you’re ever in need of a sleek ride (especially a Corvette), you know where to find me on Turo!