1. The Platform Rules in Plain Language
Turo's policy: exterior dash cams are allowed; interior (cabin) cameras are allowed only if clearly disclosed in the listing BEFORE booking, and audio recording is restricted — several jurisdictions require all-party consent, and secret interior recording is a listing-killing violation on every platform. Getaround and traditional rental companies run similar rules with stricter interior limits. The compliance formula: exterior recording freely, interior only with listing disclosure, audio generally off.
- Exterior cameras: allowed, no disclosure needed
- Interior cameras: only with listing disclosure
- Audio: keep off — consent laws and platform rules
2. Why Exterior-Only Is the Smart Host Setup
The host's real risks are exterior: guest accidents, hit-and-runs while parked, theft of the vehicle itself, and dispute stories after return. A dual-channel exterior cam (A5 class, 4K front + 2K rear) documents driving behavior and collisions; parking mode via hardwire documents what happens between trips. The claims that decide host payouts — 'the damage happened during whose trip?' — are settled by exterior footage with GPS time stamps, not cabin video.
- Trip-period collision evidence
- Between-trip parking capture
- GPS time stamps settle 'whose trip' disputes
3. Theft Recovery: The 4G Option Hosts Are Adding
Vehicle theft is the tail risk every host thinks about. A 4G-connected camera (P85 class) does double duty: it records like any dash cam and reports the car's GPS position to your phone continuously — which is also a strong deterrent note in your listing ('vehicle equipped with GPS tracking and exterior cameras'). Some insurers for peer-to-peer fleets price tracking-equipped vehicles better; check with your policy provider.
4. Power and Discretion: Making It Guest-Proof
Guests unplug what looks invasive and ignore what looks standard. Setup accordingly: hardwire behind the mirror so there is no 12V plug to pull, choose a no-screen or discreet body (F5-class behind-mirror or P85 mini), and skip any interior camera unless you genuinely need it and disclose it. Clean the SD card between trips — guests notice a full storage card more than the camera itself.
- Hardwire behind the mirror
- Discreet no-screen body
- Format the card between trips
5. For Fleet Hosts: The Multi-Car Math
Hosts running 3+ vehicles on Turo are effectively small fleet operators, and the math that works: one dual-camera kit per car at factory pricing (roughly half retail from MOQ 1 piece — many host-operators co-order with other hosts to hit MOQ), a shared SD card standard, and a disclosure paragraph reused across listings. We supply host fleets across the US, UK and Australia; the P85 4G unit is our most-repeated host reorder. WhatsApp us for the fleet sheet — host pricing applies from 10 units.