Can I drive to the airport and leave my car with some company for them to rent it out?

[alanh]

I will soon be going to the Oakland airport for a long trip.

I could have sworn that there was a company that was more than happy to let me leave my Tesla with them for the duration while they rented it out, earning me money while I was away.

However the closest thing I can find is Turo, but it doesn't quite work like that. I would need to arrange everything myself: Communicating with the 'guest,' cleaning the car, etc.

Am I crazy, or is there some option like I'm thinking of? Drop off the car, no worries?

 

[afadeev]

Am I crazy, or is there some option like I'm thinking of? Drop off the car, no worries?

Sure, just tell us where you park and where you leave the keys, and have a nice trip.
Expecting to find your car when you left it is entirely optional.


a

 

[RayK]

Closest thing I can find is AURA. They even have a Tesla Model 3 on their web page. No idea if they operate in the SF Bay Area.

 

[Misterbee]

There was a company that offered that. I even had an account, but I don’t recall the name. Pandemic killed it, understandably…

 

[jjrandorin]

Am I crazy, or is there some option like I'm thinking of? Drop off the car, no worries?

I have no idea of if something like that exists, but most people dont even want to leave their car with people they know, and give them the keys. You are talking about giving the car to some strangers and having them rent it out for you like a apartment rental company or something.

That seems like a horrifically bad idea, if something like that even exists.

 

[one2many]

 

[Shelburne]

Personally, I would have to be nuts (not saying you are tho) to leave my car with a company that would then rent it out to a total stranger. If you do this, you should seriously look into the liability issues if there is an accident or breakdown while your $50,000+ car is in the hands of a total stranger

 

[rpiotro]

What about your insurance? Most companies will deny a claim if they discover it was used for livery. Unless you specifically had a policy that covered that. Then it would get quite expensive.

I'm sure anybody that rented it would treat it with kid gloves. /S

 

[EVRider-FL]

If it’s a one-time thing, in my opinion it’s not worth doing. Too much risk. If you plan to do this multiple times, consider partnering with someone on Turo if you don’t want to handle the logistics yourself.

I’ve only rented Teslas from Turo a few times, but those owner had full-time rental cars, they didn’t rent the cars they drove. I don’t know if that’s typical for Turo hosts.

 

[davewill]

What could go wrong?

 

[afadeev]

I'm sure anybody that rented it would treat it with kid gloves. /S

Didn't you hear - FSD has made human drivers obsolete.
This is the reality of the new Robotaxi world - Teslas safely and reliably making money for its owner while he travels.

 

[Adam3]

WTF?

 

[one2many]

Yep caught my M3 snaking out the other night. Not
sure if it for money or the sexy "S" down the block. Kids ??

 

[oreobbq]

Yep caught my M3 snaking out the other night. Not
sure if it for money or the sexy "S" down the block. Kids ??

Lol better enable sentry mode to keep one2many's randy Tesla away.

 

[alanh]

If you do this, you should seriously look into the liability issues if there is an accident or breakdown while your $50,000+ car is in the hands of a total stranger

What about your insurance? Most companies will deny a claim if they discover it was used for livery. Unless you specifically had a policy that covered that. Then it would get quite expensive.

With Turo, for example, they provide insurance during rentals, with multiple levels of coverage available. Presumably a service such as the one I am asking about would operate similarly.

 

[bo3bdar]

I will soon be going to the Oakland airport for a long trip.

I could have sworn that there was a company that was more than happy to let me leave my Tesla with them for the duration while they rented it out, earning me money while I was away.

However the closest thing I can find is Turo, but it doesn't quite work like that. I would need to arrange everything myself: Communicating with the 'guest,' cleaning the car, etc.

Am I crazy, or is there some option like I'm thinking of? Drop off the car, no worries?

Here's one that is still working, but apparently not Oakland.

Avail Car Sharing - Borrow a Car with Daily Local Rentals

Borrow a car from a person like you with Avail. Rent a car by the day or the week from neighborhood locations in Chicago and Denver with coverage from Allstate.

availcarsharing.com

I remember the one you were talking about, and it wasn't named Avail. RelayRides maybe? Turned into Turo.

 

[Hiline]

I would be nervous about even Turo. Not sure how confident I’d feel that a stranger driving my relatively new car would not abuse or scratch it. Even cleaning up the interior after each rental sounds like a lot of work/money.

 

[bo3bdar]

I would be nervous about even Turo. Not sure how confident I’d feel that a stranger driving my relatively new car would not abuse or scratch it. Even cleaning up the interior after each rental sounds like a lot of work/money.

Actually, for Avail, or the one OP was talking about, one perk is that they would do the cleanup, and in fact give you a free car wash whether the car is rented out or not. Plus free parking at the airport, whether they rent it or not.

I really like the idea, but I also bought the cheapest Model 3 possible so I wouldn't have to worry about it. It's just a car.

 

[S&B's M3]

I don't even like my wife driving mine and we've been married 48 years, let alone a perfect stranger.

 

[S4WRXTTCS]

Lots of people think this is a terrible idea.

But, this is Oakland where a moving target would be harder to hit.