by Turo
posted on 6 March 2025
This International Women’s Day, we’re putting the spotlight on Savannah – a Turo host in Canberra who’s championing sustainability through car sharing.
What started as a small way to earn extra income has turned into something much bigger for Savannah.
Since starting her Turo journey with a single Tesla, she’s added two more to her collection – helping to grow her earnings and welcome even more guests to the EV revolution.
Turning to Turo
Canberra host Savannah is one of Turo’s earliest adopters, signing up to the platform when it launched in Australia in 2022.
She and her partner previously listed their Tesla Model 3 on another platform but were keen to transition to Turo thanks to its established global presence and strong reputation.
“As soon as we heard Turo was coming to Australia, we thought, okay, we really want to get on board,” she says. “It’s the biggest car sharing platform in the world, with a mature system and everything already set up.”
As soon as they made the switch, they started receiving a steady flow of bookings.
Growing demand enabled them to expand their vehicle portfolio from one Tesla to three, all of which are now listed on Turo and earning consistent income.
In fact, Savannah and her partner earn five times more than when they launched their first car on Turo two-and-a-half years ago.
Sharing the EV experience
Savannah has a clear preference for Teslas – one of the world’s most well-known and sought-after EV brands.
Besides their environmental benefits, she appreciates Teslas for their smooth driving, ease of maintenance, and cost savings: Savannah is able to use solar energy to charge her three cars, which reduces running expenses.
Just over half of Savannah’s bookings are existing EV owners who want a Tesla for their trip. But as EVs have gained traction in Australia, Savannah has welcomed an increasing number of guests eager to go electric.
She says that since guests can rent one of her cars for several days, weeks, or even months, they gain a deeper understanding of owning a Tesla compared to a brief test drive at a dealership.
Savannah loves being able to educate her guests about Tesla ownership, sharing the benefits of driving an EV and alleviating any of their concerns.
“You get to see a lot of different people, and it’s good to see so many interested in trying out a Tesla or an EV in general,” she says. “That means a lot of people are interested in making the switch.”
She and her partner have also developed their own instructional video detailing how to use the car. The initiative has helped streamline the handover process for both Savannah and her guests.
She’s now planning to add another Tesla Model Y to her portfolio, which will only expand and strengthen her reach.
Why Savannah loves hosting on Turo
Beyond championing EV ownership, there are many other reasons Savannah enjoys hosting.
One is that it satisfies her business drive – a trait she shares with her mum.
“My mum, she’s a super hard-working female,” Savannah says. “As long as I can remember, she’s always working and working and working.”
The other is the flexibility it offers. Savannah juggles her car sharing business with two full-time jobs, but because she can set her own schedule, she’s able to manage her bookings and guest interactions with ease.
She’s also got the freedom to lead a balanced lifestyle that includes keeping fit at the gym, daily walks with her dog, spending time with family, and travelling.
The final reason is the financial relief. Despite rising interest rates and inflation, Savannah and her partner have managed to stay financially stable and still enjoy life’s little pleasures.
“Having extra income makes life a lot less stressful with the mortgage on our shoulders,” she says. “We’ve been able to maintain the same kind of lifestyle we want. We can still go out for a good meal, still travel every now and then, and just relax without always worrying about money.”
Savannah’s top tips for new hosts
For anyone thinking of kickstarting their own hosting journey on Turo, Savannah offers plenty of valuable advice:
- Do your research: Before signing up, understand how Turo operates and the effort required to maintain your vehicles and keep your guests happy. “Every time you get a car back, you need to make sure you clean the car and have it ready,” Savannah says. “And when you do the handover, you need to spend time talking to the guests.”
- Detach from your car: Treat your car as a business, not a personal possession, to avoid unnecessary worry
- Price strategically: Adjust your prices based on competition and seasonality to attract bookings. Savannah is constantly monitoring other listings and modifies pricing on weekends when demand is higher
- Prioritise your guests: Going above and beyond for your guests encourages positive reviews and repeat bookings. For instance, Savannah and her partner often provide free delivery to make things more convenient for their guests
- Learn from feedback: Insights from guests – both positive and negative – allow you to continuously improve your business
- Familiarise yourself with the app: The Turo app is one of Savannah’s favourite hosting tools, as it’s easy to use and allows her to set her own schedule and preferences
