Turo renter disputes $2,338 in charges for pre-existing damage

A renter, Georgina Montalvan, has faced repeated charges from the peer-to-peer car rental platform Turo totaling $2,338 for vehicle damage she claims was pre-existing. After renting a car in Los Angeles, Montalvan provided photographic evidence showing that reported scratches and bumper damage were already present.

Turo initially dropped the claim, classifying the issues as "normal wear and tear." However, the company later reopened the claim, charging $660 without an itemized bill, and subsequently issued an additional invoice for $1,678, citing "hidden" damage discovered during repairs.

Experts note that while supplemental claims for previously unseen damage are a legitimate industry practice, the situation highlights the risks inherent in peer-to-peer rentals, where individual owners may seek to repair existing damage at a renter's expense. Maintaining a photographic paper trail at pickup and return is advised as the primary defense against such claims.