Myrtle Beach International Airport Ends Association with Turo Rentals

Passengers flying into Myrtle Beach International Airport in South Carolina, will now have to look for alternatives to rent a car, as the airport recently cut ties with the peer-to-peer car rental company, Turo. Turo operates in a similar way to Airbnb, where “hosts” rent out their cars to those in need.

One of the hosts, Matthew McCarty, who has been associated with Turo for about four years and runs his own fleet of 23 cars under the brand ‘Rent My Wagon’, was blindsided by the airport’s decision. Having left his teaching career for this business venture, McCarty is understandably anxious since Turo forms his primary source of income.

Major Implications for Turo Hosts

Upon seeing a sign last week at the airport notifying “No Turo cars, all vehicles will be summoned and towed,” McCarty expressed his concern saying, “I’m going to be out of business, and honestly, I’m afraid I may lose my house if this is the case. I don’t have a backup plan.” His process involves leaving the car in the economy parking lot, paying the $10 parking fee, and guiding customers on how to access their rental. According to McCarty, he has spent over $30,000 in parking fees alone at the airport and is perplexed about the reason behind the airport’s decision to let go of this considerable business.

A Contentious Move by the Airport Authorities

The Horry County Department of Airports, in a statement, clarified that the reason for terminating their relationship with Turo is due to “contractual and parking capacity challenges.” However, this decision has met with criticism from Turo and its associated hosts, who suggest a lack of good faith on the part of the airport authorities during negotiations.

Turo countered the airport’s move with a statement displaying disappointment toward Myrtle Beach International Airport officials for what it called an “unlawful” refusal to create a peer-to-peer car-sharing permit. This, they argue, would have promoted consumer choice and enabled locals to benefit from tourism dollars. Presenting its case, Turo urged the authorities to review their decision while also expressing its commitment to advancing mobility and economic opportunities for all South Carolinians.

Disruption for Other Turo Hosts

Matthew McCarty is not the only Turo host feeling the heat from the decision. Travis Wells, another host with three cars available for hire, shares McCarty’s sentiment and claimed to have never noticed any parking capacity issues at the airport, shedding doubts on the airport’s stated reasons. Wells remarked, “There’s always plenty of parking at the airport, always. We always use the back corner D16 lot where there’s nobody parked there.”

Both McCarty and Wells have proactively reached out to local county council members to discuss possible solutions, however, they claim to have received no responses.