by Turo
posted on 14 October 2024
Stuart never planned to become a Turo host, but a bad car accident caused him to reassess his occupation. Two years later, he’s very glad he did.
After a debilitating accident, Stuart needed a new source of income. So, he decided to list his car on Turo.
The move turned out to be an incredibly positive one: the Gold Coast host now has five cars on the platform and earns good money while working only 17 hours a week.
How Stuart became a host
When Stuart first arrived in Australia from the UK, he dived into a new trade as a painter and rope access technician – work he thoroughly enjoyed.
But, after suffering a serious neck injury from a car crash in 2022, Stuart was forced to give up the physical work he’d excelled at for so many years.
With bills to pay and a family to support, Stuart knew he had to come up with a plan. Supervisor and office-based roles related to his old job weren’t really working for him, so he turned to Turo.
He knew about Turo from his travels in Hawaii and noticed it had since launched in Australia. Given he no longer needed his car for work and was after a new income source, he decided to test the waters and create his first Turo listing.
From side hustle to successful business
Stuart’s single listing quickly turned into several. His earnings from his first car enabled him to expand his vehicle portfolio, and he now shares five cars on Turo. He’s also achieved All-Star Host status, meaning he’s one of Turo’s highest-rated and most experienced hosts.
Initially, his Turo gig was treated as a side hustle to bring in extra income. However, he’s managed to turn it into a full-time, profitable operation. Stuart estimates he can make up to $280 per car per week (or even more!), depending on demand.
Flexibility and family time
Stuart loves being a host, as it gives him the opportunity to indulge his passion for cars.
He also appreciates the social aspect of car sharing, which allows him to interact with and support people from all walks of life.
He’s served the CEO of a major Australian mining company, a neurosurgeon and several high-level athletes, along with numerous other guests from around Australia. He has many repeat guests and even stays in touch with a few.
For Stuart, though, the main benefit of hosting is that he enjoys flexible hours and much more time with his family. In his previous job, his working week was up to 50 hours long, but his car sharing business only requires about 17.
And because he no longer has to undertake physical labour, he’s also experienced massive relief from the strain of his injury and an overall improved quality of life.
Stuart’s hosting tips
For anyone interested in hosting on Turo, Stuart offers the following tips:
- Communicate constantly with each guest, and be open and accessible
- Be available to help guests with any questions or problems that arise
- Most importantly, be clean and take pride
What do Stuart’s guests have to say?
It’s little surprise Stuart’s become an All-Star Host. He’s got a perfect score across the board, with each of his five cars and his hosting abilities consistently awarded 5 stars. He’s also got a response time of 0 minutes and a 100% response rate.
Check out some of the glowing reviews from guests below.
