On Tarlen, your business only grows when you can consistently give guests a 5-star rental experience.
Like the wider hospitality industry, carsharing runs on trust. Whether they’re business travelers or weekend adventurers, guests expect your car to be safe and reliable.
The fastest way to lose reputation is with problems you could have prevented, dirty seats, bad odor, a dashboard warning light, or overdue maintenance.
And the fastest way to earn them is to show your guests you care. That means a clean car, attention to detail, and staying on top of regular service.
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Your guest’s first impression, both when they first see your car on Tarlen and when they meet you for pickup, shapes their whole experience. That impression drives their final rating and whether they’ll book with you again.
We’ve already covered the first part: how to take photos that make guests stop scrolling and choose your car.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to maintain your car to earn 5-star ratings and stand out as an exceptional host on Tarlen.
Why keep your vehicle cleaned and maintained
- Builds your reputation: A review section full of happy guests raving about their experience is one of the best ways to grow your reputation on Tarlen. Ignore maintenance, and it’ll quickly turn into low ratings and negative reviews, the fastest way to damage your standing as a host.
- Encourages repeat bookings: Guests return when they trust you. Consistently providing a high-quality experience makes them confident they’ll have a smooth trip the next time.
- Protects your vehicle’s value: Regular maintenance helps your car hold its value, so you can recover more when it’s time to sell. At Tarlen, we advise our Host to sell after 4years of consistent booking to help you recoup some of the car’s value. (See our Financial Planning for Hosts guide to understand why this matters.)
Best practices for providing a 5-star experience
#1. Be thorough when cleaning
Guests expect a spotless vehicle inside and out. Wash the exterior to remove dirt and bugs. Wipe down the dashboard, windows, and seats.
Scrub any stained upholstery, and vacuum away debris, hair, and crumbs. If you’d rather not do it yourself, invest in a professional car wash between trips.
#2. Keep it smelling fresh
A clean scent builds trust. Air out the vehicle by rolling down the windows. Don’t just mask strong odors with air fresheners, find the source and remove it.
There are simple DIY methods to remove bad odor, like leaving containers of coffee grounds or baking soda inside for a few hours, can help. For stubborn smells, consider an ozone treatment or professional services.
#3. Set buffers between trips
When bookings start coming in, it can be tempting to schedule back-to-back with little time between bookings. But always leave yourself time to clean and reset.
A good rule of thumb: keep a 3–6 hour buffer between one trip ending and the next starting. That way, the next guest receives a car that feels brand new.
#4. Plan ahead for maintenance
And when you have scheduled maintenance coming up, block out that time on your calendar so that guests don’t book it on the platform.
If your guests book a car they think is available, you’d then have to cancel and that’ll be a negative customer experience for them.
Stick to a strict service schedule for:
- Oil changes
- Tire rotations
- Brake checks
When you have maintenance coming up, block out the dates in your calendar so guests can’t book during that period. Last-minute cancellations create a poor experience and will hurt your reputation.
#5. Keep your car trip-ready
- Fix issues before every trip: Address any problems, dashboard warning lights, low tire pressure or tread, dents, scratches, or other visible damage before handing the car over.
Unresolved issues can cause breakdowns and disrupt your guest’s trip. Even if nothing goes wrong, visible problems like bald tires or warning lights make guests feel unsafe. Resolve them before accepting a booking.
- Fill the tank: Meeting your guest with a full tank is good etiquette and shows you care. Guests are expected to return the car refueled. If they don’t, you can request reimbursement for refueling charges.
#6. Don’t cancel
Canceling a confirmed trip undermines your guest’s trust, and their trust in the car-sharing model itself. To prevent this, block your calendar whenever the vehicle isn’t available.
On Tarlen, cancellations can even lead to deplatforming.
Hosting on Tarlen is more than just renting out a car. You should be ready to create a trustworthy, and memorable experience for every guest.
When you keep your vehicle clean, well-maintained, and trip-ready, you don’t just earn 5-star ratings, you set yourself up for a lot of success in your carsharing business.
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