posted on October 8, 2026
Moving to a new location comes with plenty of logistics to manage. From securing accommodations and coordinating full-service movers and vehicle transport to figuring out your new commute, temporary moves often mean settling quickly in an unfamiliar city. When it comes to getting around once you arrive, renting a car offers a flexible transportation option during a temporary move.
Instead of committing to a long-term lease, relying on ridesharing apps, or navigating a traditional rental process, booking a rental car on Turo lets you find a vehicle that fits your plans. Explore a wide range of makes and models, choose a convenient delivery location where available, and take advantage of discounts that may be available for bookings of one month or more.
In this guide:
- Comparing your transportation options
- Why long-term rentals on Turo make sense
- Common scenarios for a temporary move
- Tips for choosing the right transportation for a temporary move
- Frequently asked questions about transportation for temporary moves
Comparing your temporary move transportation options
Whether you’re heading off to college using local movers, relocating temporarily for work, or staying with family for a few months, you need reliable, flexible transportation. While public transit and ridesharing can get you around, sticking to a timetable can be tedious, and costs can add up quickly. Plus, not all cities or situations are conducive to cycling or walking (especially if you’re hauling a big grocery shop).
Across almost every situation, renting a car is the most convenient transportation solution for temporary moves. Securing your own set of wheels means you can get around at your own pace, commute with ease, and feel like a local in your new home.
Book a car for your entire stay or rent a vehicle only when you need it (whether that’s road tripping over the holidays, visiting family nearby, or taking a day trip to a nearby town). Renting on Turo is particularly flexible: explore thousands of different car makes and models, book for any length of time, and get your car delivered straight to your accommodation. If you’re staying for one month or more, you can often score the best deal with discounts available for long-term bookings.
| Option | Cost | Flexibility | Best for | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renting a car | $$ | High | Temporary moves of any length | Full control over schedule and route; monthly rentals built for exactly this scenario; only pay for a car for the days you really need one |
| Public transportation | $ | Low | Dense, well-connected cities only | Limited or unreliable in many US cities; doesn’t cover errands, appointments, or exploring beyond transit lines |
| Rideshare/taxis | $$–$$$ | Medium | Occasional, short trips | Costs compound fast over weeks or months; availability varies by location |
| Cycling/walking | Free | Very low | Very short stays in walkable areas | Weather-dependent, limited by distance, doesn’t work for errands or bad weather |
Why long-term rentals on Turo make sense for temporary moves
Temporary moves often last multiple weeks or months, making long-term car rentals on Turo a perfect fit. Unlike traditional car leases, renting a car on Turo gives you access to a vehicle for as long as you like (with no fixed contract or multi-year agreements locking you in). Choose the vehicle that suits your trip, get it delivered to your accommodation where available, and look for discounts offered on bookings of one month or more.
Plus, unlike traditional rental companies, booking a long-term rental on Turo means:
- A wide selection of vehicles: Unlike a generic rental fleet, you’ll find unique car makes and models ready to rent on Turo (from convertibles to eye-catching sports cars) along with reliable everyday vehicles (like SUVs, EVs, trucks, and more).
- Get the exact car you choose: There’s no “similar models” on Turo. Each vehicle listing is unique, so the car you book is the car you’ll drive, with filters for fuel type, number of seats, transmission, and features like snow tires, sunroofs, and even pet-friendly rental cars.
- Delivery options and thousands of pickup locations: Skip the long lines at crowded car rental counters and ditch the need for in-person paperwork. Many cars on Turo can be delivered to your home, hotel, or office, while thousands more are available for pickup at convenient locations across the US, including airports and train stations.
- App-based car rental experience: The entire car rental process happens in the Turo app, and the in-app messaging makes it easy to chat with the vehicle’s owner and confirm details throughout your trip. Need to extend your booking? Jump into the app to submit a request.
- Discounts for long-term bookings: The biggest advantage of booking a monthly rental on Turo is the discounted pricing that may be available. Filter by your temporary move dates to see what you could save.
One car doesn’t have to cover the whole move
Think you need to book the same car for your entire trip? Think again. Another key advantage of renting a car Turo is booking the exact car you need for as long (or as little) as you need it. Matching the vehicle type to each part of your temporary move ensures you have the right wheels for everything from moving day to weekend road trips and beyond.
Rather than committing to one vehicle (and paying for its size and cost) for the entire stay, consider booking a truck for moving day, switching to a compact car for day-to-day travel, then booking something bigger (like an SUV) for a one-off weekend trip.
The benefit is convenience: pay for a large truck only on moving days, then switch to a compact EV to save on fuel costs for day-to-day commuting. You can book a different vehicle for each leg of the move and easily switch as you need throughout your temporary move with Turo.
Common scenarios for a temporary move
Moving to a new location for college, a work assignment, or an extended family vacation? Along with securing temporary housing, finding the right rental car is key to ensuring a smooth transition (whether you’re relocating nearby or making a cross-country move).
Here’s how to match your temporary move with the right rental car.
An extended work trip or temporary assignment
- Recommended rental car: A reliable, easy-to-park sedan or compact car
- Top features to look for: Good fuel economy for daily commuting, comfortable for longer highway stretches if the assignment involves regional travel, and easy for downtown parking
If you’re taking a new contract, accepting a temporary transfer, or visiting a client for a month or more, you’ll need a reliable car to get you between meetings, office days, and site visits. If you’re wondering how to get a car when relocating for work, renting a car at your destination is a practical option. Consider booking a car for the first month of your work assignment; this lets you test it on your daily commute and extend the booking if it’s the right fit (or book another vehicle for the rest of your stay).
Moving to a new city
- Recommended rental car: A pickup truck for the move itself, then a smaller everyday car once settled
- Top features to look for: Cargo bed or trunk space, towing capacity if needed, a second, smaller vehicle once the boxes are unpacked
A new job, a new home, or a new chapter; whatever the reason, moving to a new city means juggling plenty of logistics at once. Along with booking relocation services and even short-term storage solutions, it’s important to think beyond getting your stuff from point A to B. Secure a truck for moving day, then switch to a car better suited to daily driving. On Turo, you can book for the day, the weekend, or multiple weeks, and easily request an extension as needed.
Studying in a new city
- Recommended rental car: A compact or economy car
- Top features to look for: Budget-friendly rates, easy parking near campus, and enough space for the odd grocery run or weekend trip
Staying at a different campus for the semester or taking a class out-of-state? Studying somewhere new for a few months is different from a typical college move: you’re settling in for a few weeks, but you know exactly when you’re leaving. Check the parking situation at your new campus and book a rental car that can handle tight campus lots and downtown streets.
An extended family vacation
- Recommended rental car: An SUV or larger sedan
- Top features to look for: Passenger and luggage space, comfort for day trips, and room for extra gear if the visit involves airport runs for family
Not every trip is a temporary move for work or study. A multi-week family trip or an extended visit to see family shares the same requirements: reliable transportation for a few weeks, not a few days. On Turo, you’ll find plenty of 6-, 7-, and 8+-seater cars available to rent for any length of time, many with ample room in the trunk for plenty of suitcases, too.
Spending a season in a different climate
- Recommended rental car: A sedan or SUV with AWD for winter climates; a compact car or convertible for a warmer-season stay
- Top features to look for: AWD for snowy roads, extra time spent outdoors calling for a more open-air option in warmer weather
Escaping the cold and heading to Florida or Arizona for the season? Snowbirds who trade bitterly cold winters for warmer weather and sunnier days need a reliable mode of transport to get around. The same goes for spending a season in a cooler climate. Ski season trips need a capable vehicle that can handle snowy roads, with the right tires and features to handle harsh winter driving.
Renting a car at your destination means no car shipping logistics, no long drive, and full flexibility on your end date. If you’re unsure exactly how long you want to stay or don’t need a car for every day of your trip, renting a car on Turo can be a particularly cost-effective option.
Tips for choosing the right transportation for your situation
Picking the right mode of transportation when making a temporary move means considering how long you’re staying, what you’re doing day-to-day, and who you’re traveling with. Here are a few things to consider before you book:
- Estimate your length of stay realistically: It’s tempting to lock in an exact end date, but temporary moves tend to shift; a work assignment gets extended, and a family visit can easily run longer than planned. Give yourself a realistic window rather than a rigid plan that can’t flex as things change.
- Think about how much you’ll actually be driving: Commuting to a temporary job every day is a very different situation than the occasional errand run during a family visit. Be honest about your day-to-day movements.
- Check how walkable or transit-friendly your destination is: In a dense city with solid public transportation, a car might only matter for the occasional weekend road trip. But in a more spread-out area, renting a car becomes much more essential.
- Match the vehicle to the moment, not the whole stay: You don’t need to book one vehicle for your entire temporary move. It’s often more cost-effective to rent something smaller for everyday use and add a bigger vehicle only when you need it: moving day, a weekend trip, or whatever the occasion calls for.
- Book ahead when you can: This is especially important for seasonal moves or back-to-school timing, when demand (and prices) tend to climb.
Frequently asked questions about transportation for temporary moves
What’s the best transportation option for a temporary move?
For most situations, renting a car strikes the best balance of cost and flexibility. It gives you full control over your schedule without the long-term commitment of a lease, and it flexes with you if your plans change; something public transportation and rideshares can’t always do over a stay of weeks or months.
Can I rent a car on Turo for several months?
Yes. On Turo, it’s easy to book a car for multiple weeks or months, and rates are typically cheaper the longer you book. You can browse available vehicles for your dates directly in the app to see what’s available near you.
What happens if my temporary move gets extended?
If your plans change, you can request an extension through the Turo app instead of starting the booking process over. This feature helps with uncertain timelines that come with temporary moves, whether that’s a work assignment running long or a family visit stretching out.
Is renting a car cheaper than rideshare for a multi-week stay?
It depends on how much you drive, but rideshare costs add up fast when you use them regularly over weeks or months. A longer-term rental is usually more cost-effective if you’re driving daily, or even just a few times a week.
Do I need a car if I’m moving somewhere walkable?
Not necessarily full-time. In a walkable, transit-friendly city, you might only need a car for the one-off trip outside your usual radius: a day trip, an airport run, or a big grocery haul. Booking a car just for those days, rather than the whole stay, is often the more practical option.
Rent a car for your temporary move with Turo
No matter how long you’re settling in somewhere new, you don’t need to buy, lease, or commit to a car you’ll only need once and awhile. Turo lets you book the right vehicle for exactly the length of your stay, then extend, swap, or wrap up whenever your plans call for it; no lock-in contracts or rigid lease terms.
Browse monthly car rentals to find cars on Turo that fit your situation, whether that’s a compact car for day-to-day driving or something bigger for the parts of your move that need more room. It’s a fully digital process from booking to pickup, so you can spend less time on logistics and more time settling in.
Ready to get moving? Find the perfect rental car for your temporary move.
Share your car, earn extra cash
Cover your car payments or earn some extra cash by sharing your car whenever you’re not using it.
Get startedHit the road
Browse thousands of cars for every occasion and budget near you, or wherever you’re going.
Browse cars
Lucinda Starr
Lucinda Starr is a travel and automotive writer with 5+ years of firsthand experience road-tripping across Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. She writes road trip guides for Turo, drawing on her experience behind the wheel to share practical insights on long-distance drives, destinations, and vehicles. Her travels have taken her across Australia’s East Coast, Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, the Northern Rivers, Byron Bay, and both islands of New Zealand. One of her most memorable journeys was an 11-day, 2,600+ km route from Auckland to Punakaiki and Queenstown. Lucinda has a particular passion for classic, rugged 4WD vehicles and the freedom they bring to exploring new places.
