Car rental has been a good business for many years. It gives great chances for new business owners and investors. Between 2024 and 2028, the global income from car rentals is expected to grow by 13.5 billion US dollars. Because of this growth, many business owners want to create powerful mobile apps to attract new customers and grow faster. But building an app like Turo is not easy. It needs proper planning, good design, and some technical knowledge, which many people may not have.

If you’re also planning to build a car rental app like Turo, this blog will help you. Keep reading to learn everything you need from key steps in app development and important features to the cost and tools required.

What is the Turo App?

Turo is a popular car rental app with over 10 million users. It is available in more than 5,500 cities around the world.Instead of renting from a traditional company, Turo allows you to rent cars directly from local owners.

This peer-to-peer model means users can choose from many types of cars: small, fuel-saving cars, big family cars, or even classic vehicles. Turo makes the process safe by including secure payments and insurance coverage for every trip. It’s a flexible, easy, and different way to rent a car, which is why many people choose Turo over traditional rental services.

Car Rental App  – Market Analysis

By the close of 2030, the global car rental app market is projected to expand significantly, growing from an estimated value of around $140 billion in 2023 to approximately $295 billion. User penetration is projected to increase significantly, growing from 4% in 2025 to 11.5% in 2029.

In addition, online bookings are forecasted to contribute nearly 78% of the total revenue in the car rental sector by the end of 2029. The United States is expected to dominate the global market, with revenues projected to hit $35 billion in 2025.

A recent analysis also suggests that the average revenue per user (ARPU) in this sector may climb to about $172.80, reflecting growing consumer demand and digital adoption.

Top 10 Apps Like Turo for Easy Car Rentals in 2025

Here is a list of ten car rental apps similar to Turo. The table gives basic info like the number of downloads, user ratings, when each app started, and whether you can use it on Android, iOS, or both.

How Does a Car Rental App Work? (Step-by-Step)

A car rental app connects people who need a car with people who own one. The app makes it easy to search, book, pay, and drive all from your phone. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Sign Up to Get Started

To begin, download the app or visit the website and create a free account. You can sign up using your email, phone number, or a social media profile. After registering, you can start searching for cars available in your location by entering your city and rental dates. It only takes a few minutes and gets you ready to browse hundreds of car options.

Step 2: Select Your Car and Confirm the Booking

Once your account is ready, use the app to look through different types of cars small, large, luxury, or electric. Use filters to narrow your search based on your needs, such as price, car type, or specific features. After choosing a car, select the rental dates and send a booking request. You must present your driver’s license or ID for verification. If the car owner approves, you’ll get a confirmation message with all the details.

Step 3: Meet the Owner and Receive the Car

On the day of your trip, you’ll either meet the car owner to pick up the vehicle or have it delivered to your location, depending on the owner’s settings. Before taking the car, walk around it, check for any damage, and take a few photos for safety. This helps both you and the owner avoid any misunderstandings later.

Step 4: Use the Car for Your Trip

Now you can enjoy your ride. Whether it’s for a road trip, errands, or business, you’re free to use the car during the rental period. Just drive responsibly and follow the app’s guidelines. Turo also offers insurance coverage, so you’re protected in case something unexpected happens.

Step 5: Give the Car Back and Finish the Trip

When your rental ends, return the car to the owner at the agreed location and time. The owner will check if the car is in the same condition. If all looks good, the trip is marked as complete. If there’s a problem, the app’s support team can help solve it. After returning the car, both you and the owner can leave ratings and reviews to help others on the platform.

Turo Business Model – Explained Simply

Have you ever wondered how the Turo app makes money?

Turo is a popular car rental app that lets people rent cars from other people, not from companies. This kind of app is called a peer-to-peer car rental platform. If you’re thinking about building an app like Turo, it’s helpful to know how it works and how it earns money.

Here’s a simple step-by-step look at how Turo’s business model works:

• Car Owners List Their Cars: People who have a car can list it on Turo. They choose the price, availability, and other rules for renting their car.
  
• Renters Book the Cars: People who need a car search the app, find a car they like, and book it for the dates they need.
  
• Turo Manages the Rental Process: Turo takes care of everything else like payments, insurance, and customer service. This makes things easy and safe for both the car owner and the renter.
  
• Turo Takes a Share of the Rental Fee: For each booking, Turo takes a small percentage as commission. The balance is paid to the car owner.

Turo Revenue Streams – How It Makes Profits

Turo generates income through multiple channels:

• Rental Commission: Takes 10%–35% from each booking.
  
• Paid Advertisements: Car owners can promote their listings for more visibility.
  
• Premium Subscriptions: Offers extra features and tools for paying members.
  
  • Add-on Services: Earns from services like:
    
  • Roadside assistance
    
  • Extra insurance
    
  • Car delivery (if applicable)
    
• Corporate Partnerships: Works with travel brands and large companies to expand services.

Key Features to Include in Your Car Rental App

For Renters:

• Sign up/login
  
• Car search with filters
  
• View car details & pricing
  
• Booking & calendar integration
  
• Payment gateway
  
• In-app messaging
  
• Ratings & reviews
  
• Trip history

For Car Owners:

• List a car
  
• Set pricing & availability
  
• Manage bookings
  
• Upload car documents
  
• Earnings dashboard
  
• Communication tools

For Admin:

• User & vehicle management
  
• Booking overview
  
• Payment control
  
• Dispute resolution
  
• Analytics & reporting

Developing a App Like Turo – 7 Crucial Steps You Must Follow

Building a car rental app like Turo is not too difficult, but you must follow a few important steps to make it work well.

1. Conduct Market Research

2. Choose the Right Tech Stack

3. Design a Smooth UI/UX

4. Develop the Application

5. Test and Ensure Quality

6. Launch and Market the App

7. Provide Ongoing Support and Updates

1. Conduct Market Research

Before building your app, you need to learn more about your audience and competitors. Ask questions like:

• Who will use the app?
  
• What problems are they facing?
  
• What features do other car rental apps like Turo offer?

Also, look at reviews from apps like Turo to find what users like and dislike. This helps you come up with smart ideas and avoid common mistakes.
Creating a user persona (a basic profile of your ideal customer) is also helpful for planning your app design and features.

2. Choose the Right Tech Stack

The tech stack is the group of tools and technologies used to build your app. Choosing the right ones is very important. It affects how fast, safe, and flexible your app will be.

Ask yourself:

• Would you like the app to be developed for Android, iOS, or both platforms?
  
• Should you use cross-platform tools like Flutter or React Native?
  
• What backend and database should you use for speed and safety?

It’s best to talk to experienced developers or a trusted app development company to choose what fits your budget and goals. Using the wrong tools can lead to problems later.

3. Design a Smooth UI/UX

UI (User Interface) is how your app looks. UX (User Experience) is how it works and feels. A good design is simple, clean, and easy to use.

Things to include:

• A clean layout with easy to read text and clear buttons
  
• Simple filters to help users search by location, car type, price, or dates
  
• Quick access to important actions like booking, canceling, and messaging

A well-designed app helps users trust your brand and makes them want to use it again.

4. Develop the Application

Now is the time to bring your idea to life as a fully functional app. Your development team will build:

• The user side of the app (for people who want to rent cars)
  
• The owner side (for car owners who list their vehicles)
  
• The admin panel (for you to manage users, cars, payments, etc.)

Key features to include:

• Login and signup
  
• Car listings with pictures and details
  
• Secure payments
  
• Booking calendar
  
• GPS tracking
  
• In-app messaging
  
• Insurance options

Make sure your app works fast and protects user data.

5. Test and Ensure Quality

After development, testing is very important. This helps catch errors and make sure everything runs smoothly.

Do the following:

• Check that all features work (like booking, payments, maps, and messaging)
  
• Test the app on different phones and screen sizes
  
• Let a small group of people (beta users) try it and give feedback

Fix any bugs or problems before you launch. A tested and reliable app builds user trust and reduces complaints.

6. Launch and Market the App

Once your app is complete, launch it on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Each store has rules, so follow them carefully.

After launch, tell people about your app. You can:

• Promote on Facebook, Instagram, and Google Ads
  
• Offer discounts or referral rewards to new users
  
• Work with car owners to grow the number of listings.
  
• Ask happy users to leave positive reviews

Good marketing helps your app grow quickly and reach the right audience.

7. Provide Ongoing Support and Updates

Launching your app is just the beginning. You must keep it running smoothly and make improvements over time.

Things to do regularly:

• Fix bugs and crash issues quickly
  
• Update the app to work with new Android and iOS versions
  
• Add new features based on user suggestions
  
• Watch analytics to see how people use the app

When you listen to your users and improve often, they will keep using your app and recommend it to others.

Cost of Developing Your Own Car Rental App Like Turo

Creating a car rental app like Turo involves different stages, and each stage has its own cost. The total cost depends on the features you want, how complex the app is, and the team you hire to build it. Below is a breakdown of the cost.

1. Research and Planning

This is the first step. It includes understanding the market, studying competitors, and building a strong business plan. This helps you know what users expect. The cost for this part is usually between $1,000 and $5,000, depending on how detailed your research is.

2. Frontend Development

This section focuses on the design and functionality of your app for users. It includes the design and layout of the screens they see. A simpler design will result in lower costs. More screens and complex designs will cost more. The average cost is between $3,000 and $10,000.

3. Backend Development

The backend is the part that works behind the scenes to make the app run.It handles data, servers, and connections between users. This step also includes building admin controls and API integration. It can cost between $5,000 and $15,000, depending on how big and secure your app needs to be.

4. Core Features

This step includes building all the main features your app needs. Some of these features and their costs are:

• Vehicle Listings (search and filters): $1,000 – $3,000
  
• Booking Process (calendar and confirmations): $1,000 – $3,000
  
• Payment System (secure online payments): $1,000 – $2,000
  
• GPS and Geolocation: $1,000 – $3,000
  
• Messaging System (chat between users and owners): $1,000 – $3,000
  
• Insurance Integration: $1,000 – $3,000
  
• Rental Agreements (e-signatures and documents): $1,000 – $2,000
  
• Vehicle Tracking (real-time updates): $1,000 – $3,000
  

These features are important and help the app run smoothly for both renters and car owners.

5. Testing and Quality Check

Before launching your app, it must be tested on different devices to make sure everything works correctly. Testing helps find and fix any bugs or errors. This stage typically costs between $2,000 and $5,000.

6. Launch and Maintenance

After launching your app, you’ll need to keep it updated and running well. This includes regular fixes, improvements, and customer support. The cost to launch and maintain the app typically ranges from $2,000 to $5,000.

Launch Your Turo like App with Team Tweaks

Are you looking to build a car rental app similar to Turo? Team Tweaks makes it easy. We create strong and user-friendly apps that connect car owners with people who want to rent. From booking to payments and tracking, we handle everything your app needs to work smoothly.

Whether you’re a startup or an established business, we help you launch your peer-to-peer car rental app with the right features, smart design, and solid backend support. Our mission is to help you launch quickly and scale your business.

Why Choose Team Tweaks?

• Experience – We have built many on-demand apps for various industries.
  
• Full Support – From planning and design to launch and maintenance, we take care of everything.
  
• Custom Features – We include all the features you need: car listings, payments, insurance, GPS tracking, and more.
  
• Simple Design – We focus on making your app easy to use for both renters and car owners.
  
• Secure & Scalable – We develop apps that are protected, dependable, and designed to grow with your business.

Choose Team Tweaks to build your Turo-like app and create something your users will love.

Services We Offer at Team Tweaks

At Team Tweaks, we offer a wide range of development and digital services to help you build strong and successful apps and platforms:

• Mobile App Development – Custom Android and iOS app solutions for all industries
  
• Progressive Web App Development – Fast and reliable web apps that work like mobile apps
  
• Web Development – Sleek, responsive, and modern websites designed for high performance
  
• Smart Water Management – IoT-based solutions to monitor and manage water systems
  
• Digital Marketing Services – Complete online marketing strategies to grow your brand
  
• SEO Services – Improve your search engine ranking and reach more customers
  
• Uber-like App Development – Build custom apps for ride-sharing and taxi booking services.
  
• On-Demand App Development – Build apps for services like home cleaning, repairs, or delivery
  
• Grocery App Development – Easy-to-use apps for online grocery shopping and delivery
  
• Food Delivery App Development – End-to-end food ordering and delivery platforms
  
• Ecommerce App Development – Online store apps with shopping cart, payments, and more
  
• Logistics Management Software – Tools to manage transport, delivery, and warehouse systems

We provide secure, reliable, and scalable solutions tailored to drive your business growth.

Final Thought

The car rental market is growing fast, and apps like Turo show how much people like simple, flexible travel options. If you want to build a similar app, now is the right time. Team Tweaks can help you turn your idea into a working product. We have experience building custom apps that are fast, secure, and easy to use. Our team will guide you from start to finish, so you don’t have to worry about the technical part. Let’s build your car rental app and grow your business together.