Airbnb stock went public this year and went gangbusters. VRBO and other home-sharing sites have started to crop up on a booming market as well. These things are working because the concept of renting out expensive things that have certain limitations, like a home or apartment, is a brilliant idea. Of course, cars and trucks are similar and have also taken to sharing personal vehicles for people to use for short periods of time. In the case of the 2021 Ford Bronco, this idea has an extra twinge of genius due to the crazy-high demand and super-backed-up supply. Well, in the meantime, you can rent one on Turo. 

The 2021 Bronco might be available sooner than you think

As noted by MotorTrend, the full-size Bronco and baby Bronco Sport might as well be PS5s on wheels. More people want them than currently exist. This is a manufacturer’s dream and the consumer’s nightmare. This means getting one is hard, frustrating, and expensive. However, there is another way, and it doesn’t involve scalpers. 

Turo is a site similar to Airbnb in that its users offer up their personally owned cars for others to rent out for short periods of time. Frankly, it’s genius. Of course, there are car rental companies, but like hotels, most options are either painfully basic (while still being pricey) or very fancy and also crazy expensive. Turo fills that gap by offering basic vehicles typically for less money than the rental companies and more unique and fun vehicles for enthusiasts. 

Will the Bronco be on Turo?

There is currently one Bronco Sport Outer Banks Edition in Area 51 Gray on Turo in the San Francisco Bay Area. Granted, it’s not the big daddy Bronco, so it has the turbocharged three-cylinder engine making 181 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque. Even though it is the little guy, it at least comes in the Outer Banks package, which comes with Ford’s G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Terrain) modes and luxury goodies like a heated steering wheel and leather-trimmed seats. 

Although you can’t really buy one now, you can figure out if you want to

This certainly won’t replace the desire to own a Bronco and give it hell on the back roads with impunity. Still, as most people haven’t even seen one in person, much less driven one, this could allow people to figure out if it’s something they actually want. Sure, you can test drive one at the dealership (if they have any), but a test drive isn’t very informative. They tend to be short, and the salesperson holds your hand. 

If you find one on Turo, you can spend as long as you want with it, assuming you have the bread for it. Spending a week or even a weekend can give a much better idea of what it is like to live with. 20-30 minutes with a salesperson is really not very informative. 

If you aren’t familiar with Turo, this is how it works

Like Hertz or Enterprise, you put your location and time frame in the system, and the site will show what is available. You can limit vehicle type and price range to refine your search and make it easier. Because of the nature of the service, the roster of cars is many times deeper than that of any traditional rental-car service. This is what makes it so fun. You can find anything from an F-150 to a Lamborghini Aventador. 

Although (as far I know) there is only one Bronco Sport available right now, there will undoubtedly be more in the coming months. Yes, it isn’t a free test drive, but it may help to inform your decision in the long run, which could promise to save you a lot of money and heartache ultimately. Seeing as how you can’t get one right now anyway, you might as well take the time to see if it’s worth all the fuss.