The Direct Bookings Guide

01 · Straight answers

Before you go direct

5 entries

The straight answers — no marketplace spin.

When a renter buys insurance, what’s covered — and what does it cost me?

Your car is protected on every trip — and it costs you nothing out of pocket.

At checkout the renter picks one of two paths: use their own full-coverage policy (verified free via Canopy Connect), or buy on-trip protection through your site.
When a renter buys protection, that money lands in your own Stripe / Square account.
At month-end you settle only that amount with the insurer (Bonzah) — nothing comes out of your pocket.
Setup is a ~5-minute request-access form; Bonzah sends portal credentials in 3–4 days, you connect them, and on-trip protection goes live.

Coverage limits and deductibles depend on the plan and your state.

What does 1Now cost?

A flat monthly subscription by fleet size — no per-booking commission.

Keep 100% of every booking — no marketplace commission taken from your revenue.
No setup fee, no onboarding fee, and your website is included.
Pricing scales with your fleet size; plan tiers (starter / professional) add Turo sync and analytics.

Ask your rep for the current rate for your fleet size.

How fast can this be live on my website?

Usually live within about a day of onboarding.

A private, fully branded rental site — your company name, your domain, bookings live within 10 minutes.
Custom domain with SSL, plus branding edits with no code.
Already have a site? Ask about embedding the booking flow into it.

It’s your storefront — not a listing on someone else’s marketplace.

How are other hosts actually doing?

225+ Turo hosts run their direct business on 1Now today.

Northside Car Rental (Orlando): strong direct revenue inside three months.
SunCoast Rentals: high booking volume at a healthy daily rate.
Manage the whole fleet in one place — classes, pause/resume, and more.

Ask for an example host with a fleet like yours.

Does the site verify licenses and insurance?

Yes — every renter is verified before the trip starts.

ID via Vouched — a live selfie + driver’s-license scan (Stripe Identity also available).
Insurance via Canopy Connect — the renter connects their carrier and it confirms the policy.
Two links after payment; statuses flip to green in your dashboard.

~$2 per verification, 5 free credits to start — repeat customers don’t need a new ID check.

02 · From day one

We know how to get you bookings

5 entries

We’ve taken 250 operators direct — here’s how the winners fill their calendar.

Phase 1 · Days 1–3

Foundation Setup

Get your brand launch-ready — you just approve & send.

Approve your logo & color theme (~20 min).
Order business cards & brochures with a QR code (~30 min).
Place QR stickers in each vehicle and send 4–6 photos per car for listings.
Share your past renter list for later SMS marketing.

Win: your brand is launch-ready and vehicles are prepped to attract renters.

Phase 2 · Days 4–7 · First strategy call day 5

Facebook Marketplace Launch

This is where your first bookings come in.

First strategy call with your Profit Specialist (~45 min).
Post one listing per vehicle plus one combined fleet listing.
Share flyers in travel-nurse and local travel groups.
Set up a DM auto-reply with your booking link.

Win: your first direct booking inquiries arrive within 48 hours of going live.

Phase 3 · Days 8–10

Google Business Profile + Local Partnerships

Be the rental business that pops up first on Google.

Create & verify your Google Business Profile and upload 3 posts.
Drop business cards at 5+ nearby hotels.
Contact 3+ body shops with a partnership offer.
Drop brochures at local restaurants near your lot.

Win: you’re on Google and 10+ local partners are referring renters to you.

Phase 4 · Days 11–14

SMS Marketing + Referral Engine

Turn one-time renters into repeat customers.

Set up your CRM sub-account and toll-free number.
Send your first weekly promo SMS to past renters.
Launch a referral program with renters, friends & family.
Add a “Book Direct” link to your email signature.

Day 14 win: direct bookings flowing across Facebook, Google, partners & SMS — at 0% commission.

Start free today · No calls · No ads

The Card Drop Playbook

5 card drops a day → 50+ local relationships in two weeks.

90 seconds per stop on the route you already drive — about 8 minutes a day.
Hotels and body shops first: their customers need a rental today.
Use the same word-for-word pitch and offer 15% off for booking direct.
Total cost ~$30 for printing — the cheapest way to land booking #1.

Most hosts get their first 5–10 direct bookings exactly this way.

03 · We’ve got you

Once you’re live

9 entries

The day-to-day questions hosts ask once they’re up and running. A real person always picks up — chat replies in ~10 min, email in 2–3 hrs.

How do my renters extend their trip?

They ask for more days right from their booking. You get a message, approve it, and the extra days are added and charged automatically.

How do my renters verify ID and insurance?

It’s built into booking. Before they get the car, they upload their ID and we confirm their insurance. You see the result on the booking.

What insurance options can I use?

Renters can add damage cover at checkout, and we can confirm a renter’s own insurance. You set what’s required, per car.

How do my renters book a vehicle?

They pick a car on your site, choose dates, verify ID and insurance, pay, and sign the agreement. A few taps, start to finish.

How do I manage my bookings?

Everything’s in one app. See every trip on your calendar, message renters, take payments, and track each car.

How does the security deposit work — and why does it show as cancelled?

We place a hold on the renter’s card, not a charge. When the trip ends with no issues, we release the hold, which can show as “cancelled” on their statement. That’s normal — the money was never taken.

How do I send ID or insurance verification links?

From the booking, send the renter a verification link by text or email. They complete it and the result shows on the booking.

Is calendar sync two-way with Turo?

Yes. Bookings on Turo and on your own site keep each other up to date, so the same car can’t be double-booked.

Why aren’t my Turo bookings blocking dates on 1Now?

Usually the Turo connection needs to be linked or refreshed in settings. Check that your Turo calendar is connected. If dates still aren’t blocking, start a chat and we’ll sort it out.

Own your customer.Keep the profit.