by Alec Fraser
posted on 12 February 2021
The host stories series showcases the best and brightest of hosts on Turo. Italian-born, London-dwelling host Carlo knows a thing or two about creating a travel experience to remember, especially with his background as a private jet broker. His journey with Turo began with one car — a red Vauxhall Corsa — in 2018, to over 700 trips and a fleet of seven in 2022. Here’s how Carlo has made car-sharing work for him.
How’d you get started?
I discovered car sharing in 2017. My dad, who lives in Italy, came to visit me in the UK. We wanted to escape the hustle and bustle of London for the weekend, but needed to get out of town.
Luckily, Turo was there to help us. I loved how easy it was to find and book a car, and decided I’d like to give [sharing] a car on the platform a go, especially if I could make some money in the process.
The first car I bought was a bright red Vauxhall Corsa — a perfect car for around town — which, after a few months, proved to be very popular with Turo guests (and even made it on the cover page of some early Turo marketing campaigns, too!)
What cars do you list on the platform?
A whole range. Anything from small hatchbacks for quick weekends away and running errands around town to 7-seaters for big family trips. When I’m picking which cars to list, I go for a mix of stylish and affordable, but always well maintained.
How did you turn sharing on Turo into a full-time venture?
The passion for the sharing economy and Turo as a company is what fuels me. I’m always looking for ways to grow both personally and professionally, and Turo is a big part of that!
Why did you decide to stick with Turo?
The London Turo team & the management are truly exceptional — it really is the people that make the difference. I was one of the early hosts on the platform when it launched in the UK, so I was lucky enough to get to know the CEO, Andre, at the first anniversary event, too.
He’s an inspiring leader who’s put together an incredible team, who’ll continue to succeed if they keep doing what they’re doing! It’s been a really exciting journey so far; watching the company grow from something small, to something that’s all over the UK and plastered across the London transport network is amazing to see. Chapeau!
What advice do you have for new hosts?
If you are passionate about cars, the sharing economy and being part of a community, just do it! It doesn’t necessarily have to be a primary source of income, but if you have some spare time to run a side hustle, it’s great fun — especially if you’re looking to bring down the ownership costs of your car and have a positive environmental impact in your community. Every little helps!
Have your cars ever been damaged during a Turo trip?
It doesn’t happen often, but I have had instances where my cars have been left unlocked or damaged, and I’ve had one instance where my car was totalled. However, Turo was great at managing insurance claims and keeping me in the loop.
What’s your most memorable experience as a host?
Like I said, being part of a community is a great part of being on the platform, and I’ve really felt a part of it as the country navigates the pandemic.
Some of my regular guests have needed a car to help get them to work at the hospital, or to support their families, and being able to help out key workers, whose work saves lives, is something I’m really proud of.
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The views, opinions, and responses represent the experiences of Turo hosts and do not necessarily reflect those of Turo. The earnings results are applicable to the hosts featured and do not represent the experience of all hosts on Turo nor do they represent an average. Results from car sharing on Turo may vary. If you have questions about hosting on Turo, please contact a customer support representative here.
Alec Fraser
Alec is the Business Development Manager on the Turo UK team. He loves a good road trip when abroad, and likes to hit the (field) hockey pitch when at home.
