A Utah woman was charged $160 for smoking in a rental car she says she never smoked in. Baylie Merrill (@bayliemerrill) shared her experience on TikTok after using the car-sharing platform Turo for a weeklong trip in California. Neither she nor her husband smokes, and her young child was in the car the entire trip.
The rental seemed fine at first. The host was responsive, the listing had good reviews, and Merrill even contacted the host during the trip about an issue with the car’s brakes. When the trip ended, she returned the car, took her own photos, and left a positive review for the host, according to Motor1.com.
Things changed shortly after the return. The host reported that Merrill and her husband had smoked in the vehicle and provided photos of cigarettes in the cupholder as evidence. Merrill denied the claim entirely. She also noted that the trip had already come with a $150 ticket for expired vehicle registration, which she had flagged to the host herself.
Turo eventually stepped in and made things right after the case gained attention online
Merrill initially felt like Turo was siding with the host. She considered disputing the charge through her bank, but the situation changed after her video gained attention online. Turo reviewed the case, refunded the charge, and looked into whether the host had made similar claims against other renters.
“Once we were able to talk to somebody with a little bit more authority, they made everything right,” Merrill said. She added that she would still consider using the platform again in the future. The story resonated with many people who have used peer-to-peer rental services. The comment section on her video filled up with others sharing their own bad experiences.
One person remarked, “This is why with ANY car rental I ALWAYS take photos inside and out…cause of this.” while another said, “Thanks. I had a reservation. It’s now been canceled.” California has also seen its share of other troubling incidents lately, such as a California man’s fatal fall from a hotel patio that drew widespread attention.
Some commenters raised concerns about the legality of the rental itself. One person asked, “File a complaint with BBB and FTC I guarantee you will hear something back within 24 hours maybe even that day.” while another questioned whether the car could even be insured with a lapsed registration. Many users said they preferred sticking with traditional rental companies.
California has also been in the news for a police running over a suspect who killed a detective after he was served an eviction notice, a story that sparked its own wave of public debate. Turo works similarly to Airbnb, letting people rent vehicles directly from private owners. While it offers the benefit of picking a specific car and skipping the rental counter, it also comes with more unknowns compared to traditional agencies.
Merrill’s case shows how hard these disputes can be to resolve, especially when the platform appears to side with the car owner from the start. Her experience is a reminder to always document the condition of a rental vehicle carefully before and after a trip.
