One of the simplest settings in your Turo dashboard—the Advance Notice minimum—is actually a powerful tool that determines how many trip requests you receive and how much control you have over your schedule.

The key is finding the sweet spot: set the notice low enough to catch valuable last-minute bookings without leaving yourself stressed and unprepared.

Why Low Notice Wins

The data is clear: travelers are spontaneous.

Setting your minimum lead time low is the quickest way to boost your car's visibility and booking volume.

  • Capturing Last-Minute Demand: Many guests prefer last-minute trips—about 58% of all trips are booked less than two days before the start time. Dropping your advance notice setting is the main way to capture this highly motivated segment.
  • Book Instantly Synergy: Turo has made Book Instantly the standard for all bookings. Listings with this turned on tend to earn more per month because guests love the convenience. A short advance notice turbocharges this feature by making your car available almost immediately.
  • Search Ranking Boost: Listings that maximize availability and accommodate convenience (like shorter advance notice) often receive a boost in the Turo search ranking, increasing your car's exposure.

How Much Time Do You Actually Need?

Your best advance notice setting is dictated entirely by your personal routine and logistics. If your car is always stored at home with a lockbox and you clean it right after every drop-off, you can set your advance notice to the minimum (e.g., 1 hour). This is how high-volume hosts maximize their earnings.

If you have a full-time job or your car is stored 20 minutes from home, a 3-hour or 6-hour buffer is more realistic. This allows time for the critical pre-trip checklist: cleaning, refueling/charging, and taking those necessary pre-trip photos.

If you have a complicated schedule or use your Turo car often, you can set the notice to 1 or 2 days. Be aware that this saves you stress but comes at the cost of losing almost 60% of the last-minute market.

The Operational Non-Negotiables

If you set a short advance notice, you must have the following processes locked down to maintain your All-Star Host status:

You must use the Trip Buffer Setting. This works with advance notice and prevents overlapping trips by setting the number of hours you need between trips. If you set your advance notice to 3 hours, your trip buffer should be a similar number to guarantee cleanup time, even if a guest returns early.

Cleaning is Mandatory. Guests expect a "sparkling clean" car. A 3-hour notice means you must be able to wash the exterior, vacuum the interior, wipe down surfaces, and eliminate any odors within that window. Failing to provide a clean car leads to low ratings and poor performance metrics.

Pre-Trip Photos are required for insurance. You must take and upload clear, detailed pre-trip photos documenting the vehicle's condition before the guest picks up the car. If a trip starts within one day of being booked and the host skips these photos, the protection plan may be voided for physical damage claims.

Remember to set your available pickup and return hours (e.g., 9 AM – 10 PM) in your general host settings. This works with the advance notice to make sure you only get trips that fit your available window.

Use the Setting, Don't Let It Use You

The Advance Notice minimum is a dial you should adjust based on your current workload, not a fixed setting.

Reducing it dramatically boosts your chance for bookings, particularly during peak seasons (April–August and October–December).

If you can streamline your cleanup and photo process, setting the notice low is the clearest path to maximum booking volume and high earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Where do I adjust the advance notice setting?

A: You access your vehicle's Trip preferences page under the Vehicles tab in Host mode. From there, you can manage the advance notice, trip buffer, and trip duration settings.

Q2: What happens if I accept a trip without cleaning the car in time?

A: Guests expect vehicles to be sparkling clean. Failing to provide a clean car leads to low ratings, poor performance metrics, and may eventually lead to removal from the platform.

Q3: How often should I update this setting?

A: You should adjust your trip preference settings frequently. If you see an opening in your calendar, you can temporarily lower the advance notice (e.g., from 6 hours to 1 hour) to try and fill that gap with a quick booking.