From Memorial Day to Labor Day, demand goes through the roof. This is your chance to make the real money—the kind that proves your Annualized ROI isn't just a fantasy.

But here’s the deal: The high utilization that makes you rich can also destroy your fleet. A single A/C failure or roadside breakdown in July will wipe out weeks of profit and earn you a guaranteed 3-star review. You just can’t risk it.

Preparing for summer isn't just cleaning the windows; it’s about shifting your operations into survival mode. Here are the five must-do steps to ensure your fleet is tough enough to handle the summer rush without breaking down—or breaking your bank.

1. Do a Proactive "Maintenance Blitz" (Before the Heat Hits)

You have to find and fix potential breakdowns before they strand your guest on the side of the highway. Proactive maintenance is cheap; emergency repairs are brutally expensive.

A. Conquer the Heat: Check Your Coolant

The summer heat puts massive strain on engines, especially when your car is running all day in city traffic.

  • Flush the System: Have your mechanic quickly check your engine coolant (antifreeze). If it's old, it's losing its corrosion protection. This simple flush can prevent catastrophic engine overheating.
  • Hoses and Belts: Get them checked for cracks or softness. A $5 rubber hose failing under pressure is a $5,000 engine disaster. It's the cheapest insurance you can buy right now.
  • A/C Check: Run the A/C on max cold. Does it blow ice? If not, get the refrigerant topped off or the system checked now. A weak A/C is a guaranteed bad review when it’s 95 degrees outside.

B. Basics Under Pressure: Tires and Brakes

More driving means more wear. Don't push your luck.

  • Tire Life: Check your tire tread depth. If they look iffy, replace them early. Road trips are rough, and properly inflated tires (check the PSI on the door frame!) reduce the risk of blowouts and save you gas money.
  • Brakes: Take care of thin pads now. You don't want a renter texting you about grinding brakes in the middle of their trip.
  • Battery Test: Heat kills batteries faster than cold. Ask your mechanic to test the health of your car battery; replacement is cheaper now than when it fails in a hot parking lot.

2. Shift Your Rates: It’s Time to Be Aggressive

Turo’s Dynamic Pricing is great, but you’re the expert here. Summer demand is so high you can—and should—be manually setting higher prices than the algorithm suggests.

A. Lock in Premiums for Weekends and Long Trips

  • Manual Override: Go into your calendar and manually boost every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday rate from June through Labor Day by 10–15%. Guests expect premium prices for peak summer travel. Don't be shy about it!
  • Optimize Discounts: Since demand is high, temporarily raise your weekly/monthly discount rates. Why offer 30% off when the utilization is already at 90%? Aim for the highest possible daily rate for every single booking.

B. Track the Fun: Exploit Local Spikes

The algorithm often misses local, one-off events—and that's pure cash for you.

  • Audit Local Events: Check your city’s official calendar for every major concert, festival, or convention. Mark those specific weekends and manually set a premium price boost ($30–$50 per day) three months ahead of time. You’ll catch the early planners and make a killing.

3. Stock Up: Cater to Summer Niche Demand

Think about what people need in the summer—and offer it for extra cash.

  • Highlight Adventure: If you have a Jeep or a rugged SUV, update your photos and description to feature its roof rack, its 4x4 capability, and its potential for beach/mountain trips. This justifies a higher premium.
  • Offer "Trip Extras": This is easy profit! Add a Trip Extra for a bundled "Beach Kit" (towels, a small cooler) or "Camping Kit." Charge a simple $20-$30 fee and provide basic, easily replaceable items. It shows thoughtfulness and nets you passive revenue.
  • Cleanliness Matters Most: Sun shows everything. Get the best UV protectant for dashboards and make sure interiors are flawless. Sand and crumbs are the enemy of 5-star reviews in the summer.

4. Master the "90-Minute Turnover" Workflow

With back-to-back bookings, you might have only two hours between trips. Your cleaning process needs to be military-grade fast.

  • Designate a "Quick-Stop": Find a self-service car wash or a detailer near your drop-off spot that you can rely on for rapid turnover. Time is money.
  • The QC Check: Have a second person (or just yourself, using a checklist) do a final Quality Control check for any missed sand, console crumbs, or water bottles. A negative review over a little dirt is unforgivable during the summer rush.
  • Bulk Stock: Don't waste time running to the store. Buy your welcome kit essentials (wipes, water) and cleaning supplies in bulk. Your time is better spent processing the next booking.

5. Get Your Safety and Claims Protocol Ready

More trips mean more opportunities for minor bumps and scratches. Be prepared, not panicked.

  • Review Your Policy: Take five minutes to re-read your Turo protection plan or commercial insurance policy. Know exactly what your deductible is for a claim. No surprises!
  • Damage Photo Prep: Make sure the Damage Photo Checklist (the one you use for pre- and post-trip photos) is stored digitally and easy to access on your phone. Prompt, clear damage photos are the only way you win a dispute with Turo.
  • Quick Templates: Pre-write simple, professional templates for communicating with guests about potential damage, late returns, or roadside issues. This saves you stress and ensures you maintain that high standard of communication, even under pressure.

Tackling these five points will put your fleet is a profit-generating machine during the summer months and protect your sanity from those costly, frustrating breakdowns.