u/Longjumping_Frame311

Update to my previous post.

guest may have been arrested + possible accident involved. How to handle reimbursement?

I went ahead and retrieved the vehicle from impound to stop storage fees from increasing. Police still would not provide details, but from everything I’ve gathered, it sounds like the guest may have been arrested and there may also have been some kind of accident involved.

Important detail: THE LIGHT WORKS JUST FINE, and the guest originally claimed the headlights/taillights were “already out” when they picked up the car, but:

•	no issue was reported at pickup

•	no photos were provided

•	previous trips had no lighting complaints

•	there is still no official documentation showing the impound was caused solely by a lighting issue

At this point I’m trying to figure out the best way to handle reimbursement and damages through Turo.

Questions:

•	If a guest gets arrested / vehicle impounded during a trip, are impound + towing + retrieval costs typically reimbursable from the guest?

•	Can I include:

•	impound fees

•	towing fees

•	gas/time costs to retrieve the car

•	lost income

•	diminished value if there was an accident

•	Since there’s no proof the light issue existed at handoff, how would Turo usually look at that?

•	Would it make sense to replace both headlights/taillights properly (dealer/OEM standard) and submit that, or would Turo likely push back without clear proof of damage/failure?

•	If there was an accident involved, should I wait for the official report before submitting everything?

Trying to handle this correctly without accidentally eating costs that should belong to the guest.

I’m a Turo host and currently dealing with a weird situation. Trying to understand how responsibility is usually handled in cases like this.

Guest got pulled over during the trip and later told me the car was impounded. He claimed one of the taillights/brake lights was out “from the beginning,” but:

•	He never reported it at pickup

•	No photos were sent

•	No documentation/ticket was provided

•	Previous trip had no reported lighting issues

•	My check-in photos unfortunately don’t specifically show the light illuminated

I contacted the county/police department myself and got a case number. One officer hinted there “may have been an arrest involved,” but another officer later refused to give any details because I’m “not an involved party,” so now I honestly don’t know what the actual stop/impound reason was until 3-5 business day in future.

The car is currently in impound and release fees/storage are adding up.

My questions:

•	If a bulb failed during the trip, is that automatically considered host negligence?

•	How does Turo usually handle situations where neither side can fully prove whether the light was already out at handoff?

•	Does a possible arrest / unrelated driver issue usually change liability for tow & impound fees?

•	Should I retrieve the vehicle ASAP to mitigate storage costs, or wait for official documentation first?

Trying to handle this correctly without accidentally admitting fault for something I can’t actually verify.

I’m 17, graduated Highschool early, based in the US Atlanta GA, and I’m trying to figure out if becoming a mechanic is actually worth it long term.

Current situation:

I’ve been running a small Turo car rental setup with 4 cars now

I do most of my own maintenance and repairs to save money

Right now I’m low on cash, so I’m planning to work at CarMax as a detailer for a few months just to survive

My experience:

Basic maintenance such as oil, trans fluid, spark plugs, brakes etc…

Suspension work like shocks, control arms, end links.

Dealt with issues like Turbo, PCV, and electrical.

Managing multiple car for rental

So I’m not completely new, but I also don’t have any formal shop experience.

My questions are:

1. Is starting as a detailer then going into sales at CarMax a good move if I want to make money, or is it a waste of time?

2. Should I try to move into a lube tech / apprentice role as fast as possible instead?

3. Is going to trade school actually worth it for mechanics in 2026, or is it better to learn on the job?

4. Do mechanics still make good money today, or is it mostly flat-rate struggle unless you’re very experienced?

5. Long term, does it make more sense to:

• stay in the mechanic path (dealership / shop)

• or build toward owning a small shop / mobile mechanic business?

6. Given that I already have some experience managing cars and trying to make money from them, should I even go “all in” on being a mechanic, or keep it as a skill and focus more on business?

Right now the plan is:

Work at CarMax short term to pay my bills. Then figure out whether to go deeper into mechanic work or pivot

I’d really appreciate honest advice from people in the industry — especially what you would do if you were starting over today.

I’m 17, based in the US Atlanta GA, and I’m trying to figure out if becoming a mechanic is actually worth it long term.

Current situation:

I’ve been running a small Turo car rental setup with 4 cars now

I do most of my own maintenance and repairs to save money

Right now I’m low on cash, so I’m planning to work at CarMax as a detailer for a few months just to survive

My experience:

Basic maintenance such as oil, trans fluid, spark plugs, brakes etc…

Suspension work like shocks, control arms, end links.

Dealt with issues like Turbo, PCV, and electrical.

Managing multiple car for rental

So I’m not completely new, but I also don’t have any formal shop experience.

My questions are:

1. Is starting as a detailer then going into sales at CarMax a good move if I want to make money, or is it a waste of time?

2. Should I try to move into a lube tech / apprentice role as fast as possible instead?

3. Is going to trade school actually worth it for mechanics in 2026, or is it better to learn on the job?

4. Do mechanics still make good money today, or is it mostly flat-rate struggle unless you’re very experienced?

5. Long term, does it make more sense to:

• stay in the mechanic path (dealership / shop)

• or build toward owning a small shop / mobile mechanic business?

6. Given that I already have some experience managing cars and trying to make money from them, should I even go “all in” on being a mechanic, or keep it as a skill and focus more on business?

Right now the plan is:

Work at CarMax short term to pay my bills. Then figure out whether to go deeper into mechanic work or pivot

I’d really appreciate honest advice from people in the industry — especially what you would do if you were starting over today.

I’m 17, based in the US Atlanta GA, and I’m trying to figure out if becoming a mechanic is actually worth it long term.

Current situation:

I’ve been running a small Turo car rental setup with 4 cars now

I do most of my own maintenance and repairs to save money

Right now I’m low on cash, so I’m planning to work at CarMax as a detailer for a few months just to survive

My experience:

Basic maintenance such as oil, trans fluid, spark plugs, brakes etc…

Suspension work like shocks, control arms, end links.

Dealt with issues like Turbo, PCV, and electrical.

Managing multiple car for rental

So I’m not completely new, but I also don’t have any formal shop experience.

My questions are:

1. Is starting as a detailer then going into sales at CarMax a good move if I want to make money, or is it a waste of time?

2. Should I try to move into a lube tech / apprentice role as fast as possible instead?

3. Is going to trade school actually worth it for mechanics in 2026, or is it better to learn on the job?

4. Do mechanics still make good money today, or is it mostly flat-rate struggle unless you’re very experienced?

5. Long term, does it make more sense to:

• stay in the mechanic path (dealership / shop)

• or build toward owning a small shop / mobile mechanic business?

6. Given that I already have some experience managing cars and trying to make money from them, should I even go “all in” on being a mechanic, or keep it as a skill and focus more on business?

Right now the plan is:

Work at CarMax short term to pay my bills. Then figure out whether to go deeper into mechanic work or pivot

I’d really appreciate honest advice from people in the industry — especially what you would do if you were starting over today.

I’m 17, based in the US Atlanta GA, and I’m trying to figure out if becoming a mechanic is actually worth it long term.

Current situation:

I’ve been running a small Turo car rental setup with 4 cars now

I do most of my own maintenance and repairs to save money

Right now I’m low on cash, so I’m planning to work at CarMax as a detailer for a few months just to survive

My experience:

Basic maintenance such as oil, trans fluid, spark plugs, brakes etc…

Suspension work like shocks, control arms, end links.

Dealt with issues like Turbo, PCV, and electrical.

Managing multiple car for rental

So I’m not completely new, but I also don’t have any formal shop experience.

My questions are:

1. Is starting as a detailer then going into sales at CarMax a good move if I want to make money, or is it a waste of time?

2. Should I try to move into a lube tech / apprentice role as fast as possible instead?

3. Is going to trade school actually worth it for mechanics in 2026, or is it better to learn on the job?

4. Do mechanics still make good money today, or is it mostly flat-rate struggle unless you’re very experienced?

5. Long term, does it make more sense to:

• stay in the mechanic path (dealership / shop)

• or build toward owning a small shop / mobile mechanic business?

6. Given that I already have some experience managing cars and trying to make money from them, should I even go “all in” on being a mechanic, or keep it as a skill and focus more on business?

Right now the plan is:

Work at CarMax short term to pay my bills. Then figure out whether to go deeper into mechanic work or pivot

I’d really appreciate honest advice from people in the industry — especially what you would do if you were starting over today.

I’m 17, based in the US Atlanta GA, and I’m trying to figure out if becoming a mechanic is actually worth it long term.

Current situation:

I’ve been running a small Turo car rental setup with 4 cars now

I do most of my own maintenance and repairs to save money

Right now I’m low on cash, so I’m planning to work at CarMax as a detailer for a few months just to survive

My experience:

Basic maintenance such as oil, trans fluid, spark plugs, brakes etc…

Suspension work like shocks, control arms, end links.

Dealt with issues like Turbo, PCV, and electrical.

Managing multiple car for rental

So I’m not completely new, but I also don’t have any formal shop experience.

My questions are:

1. Is starting as a detailer then going into sales at CarMax a good move if I want to make money, or is it a waste of time?

2. Should I try to move into a lube tech / apprentice role as fast as possible instead?

3. Is going to trade school actually worth it for mechanics in 2026, or is it better to learn on the job?

4. Do mechanics still make good money today, or is it mostly flat-rate struggle unless you’re very experienced?

5. Long term, does it make more sense to:

• stay in the mechanic path (dealership / shop)

• or build toward owning a small shop / mobile mechanic business?

6. Given that I already have some experience managing cars and trying to make money from them, should I even go “all in” on being a mechanic, or keep it as a skill and focus more on business?

Right now the plan is:

Work at CarMax short term to pay my bills. Then figure out whether to go deeper into mechanic work or pivot

I’d really appreciate honest advice from people in the industry — especially what you would do if you were starting over today.

I’m 17, based in the US Atlanta GA, and I’m trying to figure out if becoming a mechanic is actually worth it long term.

Current situation:

I’ve been running a small Turo car rental setup with 4 cars now

I do most of my own maintenance and repairs to save money

Right now I’m low on cash, so I’m planning to work at CarMax as a detailer for a few months just to survive

My experience:

Basic maintenance such as oil, trans fluid, spark plugs, brakes etc…

Suspension work like shocks, control arms, end links.

Dealt with issues like Turbo, PCV, and electrical.

Managing multiple car for rental

So I’m not completely new, but I also don’t have any formal shop experience.

My questions are:

1.	Is starting as a detailer then going into sales at CarMax a good move if I want to make money, or is it a waste of time?

2.	Should I try to move into a lube tech / apprentice role as fast as possible instead?

3.	Is going to trade school actually worth it for mechanics in 2026, or is it better to learn on the job?

4.	Do mechanics still make good money today, or is it mostly flat-rate struggle unless you’re very experienced?

5.	Long term, does it make more sense to:

•	stay in the mechanic path (dealership / shop)

•	or build toward owning a small shop / mobile mechanic business?

6.	Given that I already have some experience managing cars and trying to make money from them, should I even go “all in” on being a mechanic, or keep it as a skill and focus more on business?

Right now the plan is:

Work at CarMax short term to pay my bills. Then figure out whether to go deeper into mechanic work or pivot

I’d really appreciate honest advice from people in the industry — especially what you would do if you were starting over today.

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