Is Avis a Good Car Rental? (Top 5 Issues + Comparisons)
Among the major car rentals, Avis is a middle-of-the-road performer in customer satisfaction despite its status as one of the leading three companies in the business – Enterprise and Hertz are the other two.
Is Avis Car Rental Legit?
Avis Car Rental has been operating since 1946 after Warren Avis founded the company in Michigan.
Avis presently has its headquarters in New Jersey, a legit car rental business with over 5,000 locations across 165 countries, although its rental rates are among the highest in the industry.
Is Avis Car Rental Owned by Enterprise?
No, Enterprise does not own Avis car rental.
Avis’s parent company, Avis Budget Group, rivals Enterprise Holdings and Hertz Corporation, dominating the North American car rental market.
Is Avis Car Rental Reliable?
With more than 5,000 rental locations in service, customers are bound to encounter unpleasant experiences with unfriendly or unhelpful staff.
Still, Avis is a reliable car rental company with an industry-average customer satisfaction level, albeit with declining consumer trust in recent years.
However, renters have abundant car rental choices with a greater selection of cars at lower prices.
Avis Car Rental Problems & Complaints:
#1 Website Availability & Location Inventory Discrepancy
Several customers complained that they couldn’t get a rental vehicle at the scheduled pickup time despite having a confirmed online reservation through the Avis website – even for prepaid ones.
Further, the rental counter would claim not to have received a notification of the reservation or is overbooked.
Although rental companies typically let you reserve a vehicle class, subject to make and model availability, turning up at the counter for a confirmed reservation without any car is unacceptable.
Opt for a Pay Later reservation if possible so you won’t incur a cancellation fee whatever happens.
After your online booking, call the rental location to confirm vehicle availability.
Do the same for a second rental company at the same rental location (presumably an airport location) as a backup.
#2 Unsubstantiated Cleaning or De-smoking Charges
Some Avis customers have reportedly received credit card charges for cleaning, ranging from $200 to $450, although they returned the rental car in a clean condition or did not smoke in the vehicle.
In one case, the company waived the fee after the customer threatened legal action.
You should always take photographs of the interior and four corners of the car when you return it, so you have proof in case you need it.
#3 Higher Price for Avis-Substituted Vehicle
As noted earlier in the post, an inventory mismatch can result in the customer arriving at the scheduled pickup without a rental car.
Although the rental office would offer an upgrade, the customer has to pay for it at full price without accounting for the company’s failure to provide a car as reserved.
Canceling at pickup would incur the highest cancellation fee.
If possible, have a backup “Pay Later” reservation with another rental company at the same pickup location.
Cancellation is typically free if you have not submitted a payment method.
#4 Mystery Car or Similar
Car rentals sometimes offer the mystery car option, where the company chooses an available car when you show up at the counter.
Expectedly, customers who chose this option were surprised to find that the allocated cars either had damage or were dirty – it looked like they hadn’t been serviced or cleaned since the previous rental.
Besides the less-than-optimal car condition, the rental company provided unsuitable vehicles with the less or inappropriate type of seats than needed.
Avoid this option at all costs – they aren’t much cheaper anyway.
If your company is renting through a corporate account, feedback to the relevant department that it risks extra charges for damages and cleaning fees with a ‘leftover’ rental vehicle.
#5 Bogus Overcharges
Avis’s customers claimed to have experienced these unsupported overcharges:
- Fuel service charge.
- Late return charge.
- After-hours return charge.
- Extra rental day charges after returning the car on time.
- Cleaning fee.
The customers had to endure long, sometimes fruitless, battles with customer service to reverse those charges.
Avis vs. Other Car Rental Companies:
Avis vs. Alamo Car Rental
| AVIS | ALAMO | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 826/1000 | 837/1000 |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Pricey. | Moderate to Pricey. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 2.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 3.5/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.5/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Deposit | $250-$300 via credit or debit card hold. $100 if you prepaid with a debit card. | $300-$400 for credit and debit cards; debit cards accepted only if accompanied by a ticketed return itinerary. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges and higher rates apply, and they vary depending on the location. | Yes; charges apply and vary depending on the location. Higher rental rates may apply. |
| Unlimited Miles | Yes; standard for most vehicle classes and locations. | Available in all vehicle classes. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | NA |
| Additional Driver Fee | $3/day in New York, no max. $11/day in Nevada, max. $65/rental. $13/day in other States, max. $65/rental. Qualifying family members drive for free. | $5-$15/day, location dependent. Free for spouse or domestic partner. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay $28-$35/day surcharge, location dependent. 18-20-year-olds in NY and MI pay $41-$84/day surcharge. | 21-24-year-olds pay approx. $25/day surcharge, location dependent. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | Up to $14/day, depending on rental length. Must return the seat to the same location, or pay a $50 fee. | $12/day |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, but keep the car clean. | Yes, crated. Service animals without carrier is OK. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Can travel into Canada w/ prior arrangement; a Canadian non-resident insurance may be necessary. Can drive into Mexico only when renting from select Avis locations, through a corporate account, and with special Avis insurance. | Most US vehicles can travel into Canada. Exotics and vans may not travel outside the US. Most renting locations forbid travel into Mexico w/o additional insurance. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. $450 cleaning fee. | No. |
Despite Avis’s greater number of locations, Alamo is the better car rental with cheaper rates and marginally improved customer satisfaction.
Owned and managed by Enterprise, arguably the most reputable car rental in North America, Alamo offers a relatively good booking experience through their website, with upfront pricing for a more straightforward decision.
Avis vs. Budget Car Rental
| AVIS | BUDGET | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 826/1000 | 807/1000 |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Pricey. | Moderate. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 2.5/5 | 3.0/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Deposit | $250-$300 via credit or debit card hold. $100 if you prepaid with a debit card. | $250-$300 via credit or debit card hold. $100 for pre-paid rentals. Canadian rental holds are $500 for the 1st day and $75/day for each additional day. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges and higher rates apply, and they vary depending on the location. | Yes. Unauthorized different drop-off location incurs a minimum $45 fee. Some US locations allow one-way travel into Canada. No US rental drop off in Mexico. |
| Unlimited Miles | Yes; standard for most vehicle classes and locations. | Yes, for most vehicle classes, except Exotics and passenger vans. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | Approx. $0.25 per additional mile for cars with mileage limitation. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $3/day in New York, no max. $11/day in Nevada, max. $65/rental. $13/day in other States, max. $65/rental. Qualifying family members drive for free. | $3/day in New York, no max. $11-$13.75/day in Nevada, no max. $13/day in other States, max. $65/rental. Spouse or domestic partner drives for free. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay $28-$35/day surcharge, location dependent. 18-20-year-olds in NY and MI pay $41-$84/day surcharge. | 21-24-year-olds pay a $27/day surcharge; 18 years old or older in New York and Michigan. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | Up to $14/day, depending on rental length. Must return the seat to the same location, or pay a $50 fee. | $14/day. |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, but keep the car clean. | Yes, but cleaning fee applies if returned unclean. Renters with service animals will not incur a cleaning fee if hair and stains aren’t excessive. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Can travel into Canada w/ prior arrangement; a Canadian non-resident insurance may be necessary. Can drive into Mexico only when renting from select Avis locations, through a corporate account, and with special Avis insurance. | Yes, anywhere within the US. Can drive into Canada with prior Budget consent and non-resident insurance card. Can drive into Mexico only through corporate account and with a special insurance. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. $450 cleaning fee. | No. |
Avis owns and operates Budget, and both have similar practices.
If you want lower rates, Budget is the obvious choice over Avis, although customers’ opinion of Avis is marginally improved compared to Budget.
Avis vs. Dollar Car Rental
| AVIS | DOLLAR | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 826/1000 | 786/1000 |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Pricey. | Moderate. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 2.5/5 | 3.0/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.5/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Deposit | $250-$300 via credit or debit card hold. $100 if you prepaid with a debit card. | $200 for credit cards. $500 for debit cards. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges and higher rates apply, and they vary depending on the location. | Yes, but a one-way drop fee may apply. Fee amount unavailable at reservation. |
| Unlimited Miles | Yes; standard for most vehicle classes and locations. | Yes; standard, except for some vehicles and locations. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | Determined at rental confirmation, if applicable. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $3/day in New York, no max. $11/day in Nevada, max. $65/rental. $13/day in other States, max. $65/rental. Qualifying family members drive for free. | $13.50/day per driver. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay $28-$35/day surcharge, location dependent. 18-20-year-olds in NY and MI pay $41-$84/day surcharge. | Available at time of rental. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | Up to $14/day, depending on rental length. Must return the seat to the same location, or pay a $50 fee. | $13.99/day |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, but keep the car clean. | Yes. But keep the car clean, or risk a $50-$250 cleaning fee. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Can travel into Canada w/ prior arrangement; a Canadian non-resident insurance may be necessary. Can drive into Mexico only when renting from select Avis locations, through a corporate account, and with special Avis insurance. | Allowed anywhere within the US and Canada, subject to geographic restrictions. Driving into Canada requires prior notice at the counter. Cannot drive into Mexico without Mexico Insurance at the rental counter. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. $450 cleaning fee. | No. $400 de-smoking fee. |
The Avis vs. Dollar car rental comparison tilts in favor of the former, as it enjoys better customer satisfaction overall and has more locations, making one-way rental availability likelier.
But still, Dollar is worth considering if you value a good deal and watch for pitfalls that typically drive costs higher.
Avis vs. Enterprise Car Rental
| AVIS | ENTERPRISE | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 826/1000 | 861/1000 |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Pricey. | Pricey. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 2.5/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 3.5/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Deposit | $250-$300 via credit or debit card hold. $100 if you prepaid with a debit card. | $400-$850, depending on the vehicle class. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges and higher rates apply, and they vary depending on the location. | Yes, but only at participating outlets. A one-way drop charge applies but varies by location. Higher rates may apply. |
| Unlimited Miles | Yes; standard for most vehicle classes and locations. | Yes for most car classes. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | $0.10-$0.25 per additional mile, if applicable. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $3/day in New York, no max. $11/day in Nevada, max. $65/rental. $13/day in other States, max. $65/rental. Qualifying family members drive for free. | $5/day in New York. $15/day in other States. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay $28-$35/day surcharge, location dependent. 18-20-year-olds in NY and MI pay $41-$84/day surcharge. | $25/day surcharge. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | Up to $14/day, depending on rental length. Must return the seat to the same location, or pay a $50 fee. | $12/day; max $72/rental. |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, but keep the car clean. | Yes, but crated. Cleaning fee may apply if unclean. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | Generally, no. But allowed for select pickup trucks in Enterprise truck rental locations. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Can travel into Canada w/ prior arrangement; a Canadian non-resident insurance may be necessary. Can drive into Mexico only when renting from select Avis locations, through a corporate account, and with special Avis insurance. | Yes; anywhere within the US and Canada, except for Exotics and large vans. Can drive into Mexico with Enterprise’s special insurance. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. $450 cleaning fee. | No. |
Rates from both rentals are on the higher end, but Enterprise trumps Avis in overall satisfaction and has a broader selection of vehicles.
Avis vs. Fox Car Rental
| AVIS | FOX | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 826/1000 | NA. |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Pricey. | Low. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 2.5/5 | 2.5/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 3.5/5 | 3.0/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.5/5 | 3.0/5 |
| Deposit | $250-$300 via credit or debit card hold. $100 if you prepaid with a debit card. | $150-$1,000, depending on the rental location, payment method, and vehicle class. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges and higher rates apply, and they vary depending on the location. | Yes, available between rental locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Washington only. One-way fee may apply. |
| Unlimited Miles | Yes; standard for most vehicle classes and locations. | Yes, all vehicles. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | Nil. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $3/day in New York, no max. $11/day in Nevada, max. $65/rental. $13/day in other States, max. $65/rental. Qualifying family members drive for free. | $5-$12.99/day per driver, depending on the location ($12.99 in most locations). Additional drivers not allowed on cash rentals. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay $28-$35/day surcharge, location dependent. 18-20-year-olds in NY and MI pay $41-$84/day surcharge. | 21-24-year-olds pay $20/day surcharge. 18-20-year-olds in NY and MI states pay $25/day surcharge. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | Up to $14/day, depending on rental length. Must return the seat to the same location, or pay a $50 fee. | $10.99/day |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, but keep the car clean. | Yes, but cleaning fee applies if returned unclean. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Can travel into Canada w/ prior arrangement; a Canadian non-resident insurance may be necessary. Can drive into Mexico only when renting from select Avis locations, through a corporate account, and with special Avis insurance. | Restrictions vary by State. Check each State’s policy for details. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. $450 cleaning fee. | No. Cleaning fee applies. |
Although Fox advertises super-low rates, the higher amounts at final bills and the smaller number of locations make Avis the better choice than Fox for renting a car.
Avis vs. Hertz Car Rental
| AVIS | HERTZ | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 826/1000 | 826/1000 |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Pricey. | Pricey. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 2.5/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Deposit | $250-$300 via credit or debit card hold. $100 if you prepaid with a debit card. | Up to $200 for credit cards. Up to $500 for debit cards. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges and higher rates apply, and they vary depending on the location. | Yes, intercity fee applies. If change return location after rental started, a $10 return change fee applies. One-way return unavailable for Teslas. |
| Unlimited Miles | Yes; standard for most vehicle classes and locations. | Yes, for most vehicles. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | NA. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $3/day in New York, no max. $11/day in Nevada, max. $65/rental. $13/day in other States, max. $65/rental. Qualifying family members drive for free. | $13.50/day per driver, max $189/rental per driver. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay $28-$35/day surcharge, location dependent. 18-20-year-olds in NY and MI pay $41-$84/day surcharge. | $19/day per driver. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | Up to $14/day, depending on rental length. Must return the seat to the same location, or pay a $50 fee. | $13.99 |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, but keep the car clean. | Yes. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | Yes for vehicles with a tow bar. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Can travel into Canada w/ prior arrangement; a Canadian non-resident insurance may be necessary. Can drive into Mexico only when renting from select Avis locations, through a corporate account, and with special Avis insurance. | Yes. Restrictions apply for driving into Mexico. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. $450 cleaning fee. | No. $400 cleaning fee. |
There is nothing to choose between Avis and Hertz as both have expensive rates and enjoy a similar satisfaction level among consumers.
However, Hertz edges Avis with a greater selection of vehicles and more locations in major travel destinations.
Avis vs. National Car Rental
| AVIS | NATIONAL | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 826/1000 | 852/1000 |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Pricey. | Pricey to Exorbitant. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 2.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 3.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.5/5 | 5.0/5 |
| Deposit | $250-$300 via credit or debit card hold. $100 if you prepaid with a debit card. | $300-$400, depending on the rental location and vehicle class. $800 for luxury and performance vehicles. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges and higher rates apply, and they vary depending on the location. | Yes. Typically no drop charge for one-way rentals between airport locations. |
| Unlimited Miles | Yes; standard for most vehicle classes and locations. | Yes. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | NA. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $3/day in New York, no max. $11/day in Nevada, max. $65/rental. $13/day in other States, max. $65/rental. Qualifying family members drive for free. | $15/day per driver. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay $28-$35/day surcharge, location dependent. 18-20-year-olds in NY and MI pay $41-$84/day surcharge. | Approx. $25/day, location-dependent and subject to specific car classes. Free for govt. employees on authorized govt. travels. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | Up to $14/day, depending on rental length. Must return the seat to the same location, or pay a $50 fee. | $12-$13.99/day. |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, but keep the car clean. | Yes, crated, except for service animals. If returned unclean, a cleaning fee may apply. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Can travel into Canada w/ prior arrangement; a Canadian non-resident insurance may be necessary. Can drive into Mexico only when renting from select Avis locations, through a corporate account, and with special Avis insurance. | Yes, anywhere within the US and Canada. Limited rental locations allow travel into Mexico. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. $450 cleaning fee. | No. |
National holds the edge over Avis car rental, with higher customer satisfaction and price transparency when booking on their websites.
National also offers the smoothest experience when placing an online reservation on its website (rpd).
Avis vs. Payless Car Rental
| AVIS | PAYLESS | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 826/1000 | NA. |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Pricey. | Low. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 2.5/5 | 2.5/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.5/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Deposit | $250-$300 via credit or debit card hold. $100 if you prepaid with a debit card. | $250 for credit cards. $300 for debit cards. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges and higher rates apply, and they vary depending on the location. | Yes, depending on the rental location. |
| Unlimited Miles | Yes; standard for most vehicle classes and locations. | Yes for most vehicles. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | NA. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $3/day in New York, no max. $11/day in Nevada, max. $65/rental. $13/day in other States, max. $65/rental. Qualifying family members drive for free. | $13/day. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay $28-$35/day surcharge, location dependent. 18-20-year-olds in NY and MI pay $41-$84/day surcharge. | $25/day. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | Up to $14/day, depending on rental length. Must return the seat to the same location, or pay a $50 fee. | $14/day. |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, but keep the car clean. | Yes. $250 cleaning fee applies if returned unclean. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Can travel into Canada w/ prior arrangement; a Canadian non-resident insurance may be necessary. Can drive into Mexico only when renting from select Avis locations, through a corporate account, and with special Avis insurance. | Yes, but must notify the rental location first. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. $450 cleaning fee. | No. $450 cleaning fee. |
Avis owns Payless, but the latter’s pay-less advertisement typically sees a considerably higher final bill, making Avis the better option for a rental car.
Avis also has more locations, making finding one in your desired destination easier.
Avis vs. Sixt Car Rental
| AVIS | SIXT | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 826/1000 | NA. |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Pricey. | Low. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 2.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 3.5/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Deposit | $250-$300 via credit or debit card hold. $100 if you prepaid with a debit card. | Minimum $200. $2,500 or more for the priciest vehicle group. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges and higher rates apply, and they vary depending on the location. | Yes. $0 between airport locations. |
| Unlimited Miles | Yes; standard for most vehicle classes and locations. | Yes for most vehicles, except for some sports and premium models. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | $0.55/mile or higher, vehicle-dependent. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $3/day in New York, no max. $11/day in Nevada, max. $65/rental. $13/day in other States, max. $65/rental. Qualifying family members drive for free. | $15/day. Free for renter’s spouse and immediate family members. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay $28-$35/day surcharge, location dependent. 18-20-year-olds in NY and MI pay $41-$84/day surcharge. | Not disclosed. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | Up to $14/day, depending on rental length. Must return the seat to the same location, or pay a $50 fee. | $15/day. |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, but keep the car clean. | Yes. Cleaning fee applies if returned unclean; no cleaning fee for rental w/ service animal. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Can travel into Canada w/ prior arrangement; a Canadian non-resident insurance may be necessary. Can drive into Mexico only when renting from select Avis locations, through a corporate account, and with special Avis insurance. | Yes. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. $450 cleaning fee. | No. |
Although Sixt does not enjoy Avis’s reputation, it has lower rates, and the reservation experience on its website is better with upfront pricing.
A significant caveat to the above is both companies’ subpar customer satisfaction, so you need to be extra careful with the add-ons when signing the contract (rpd).
Avis vs. Thrifty Car Rental
| AVIS | THRIFTY | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 826/1000 | 768/1000 |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Pricey. | Moderate. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 2.5/5 | 2.5/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 3.5/5 | 3.0/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Deposit | $250-$300 via credit or debit card hold. $100 if you prepaid with a debit card. | $200 for credit cards. $500 for debit cards. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges and higher rates apply, and they vary depending on the location. | Yes, at select locations. One-way drop fee applies. |
| Unlimited Miles | Yes; standard for most vehicle classes and locations. | Yes, standard. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | NA. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $3/day in New York, no max. $11/day in Nevada, max. $65/rental. $13/day in other States, max. $65/rental. Qualifying family members drive for free. | $13.50/day per driver. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay $28-$35/day surcharge, location dependent. 18-20-year-olds in NY and MI pay $41-$84/day surcharge. | Not disclosed. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | Up to $14/day, depending on rental length. Must return the seat to the same location, or pay a $50 fee. | $13.99/day. |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, but keep the car clean. | Yes. But $50-$250 cleaning fee if returned with damage or unclean. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Can travel into Canada w/ prior arrangement; a Canadian non-resident insurance may be necessary. Can drive into Mexico only when renting from select Avis locations, through a corporate account, and with special Avis insurance. | Yes. Can cross into Mexico only with Mexico Insurance. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. $450 cleaning fee. | No. $400 smoke cleaning fee will apply if evidence of smoking found. |
Avis betters Thrifty with improved customer satisfaction, according to JD Power, and the former has more locations, making it easier to locate one in your travel destination.
Avis vs. Turo Car Rental
| AVIS | TURO | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 826/1000 | NA. |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Pricey. | Very low. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 2.5/5 | 5.0/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 3.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Deposit | $250-$300 via credit or debit card hold. $100 if you prepaid with a debit card. | $200-$750, depending on car class and renter’s age. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges and higher rates apply, and they vary depending on the location. | Possible; must be within host’s pickup areas or radius. Fee applies. |
| Unlimited Miles | Yes; standard for most vehicle classes and locations. | No. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | Varies by host; typical range is $0.15-$0.50/mile. The priciest luxury or sports models can exceed $3/mile. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $3/day in New York, no max. $11/day in Nevada, max. $65/rental. $13/day in other States, max. $65/rental. Qualifying family members drive for free. | No. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay $28-$35/day surcharge, location dependent. 18-20-year-olds in NY and MI pay $41-$84/day surcharge. | 18-20-year-olds pay $50/day surcharge. 21-25-year-olds pay $30/day surcharge. 18-21-year-olds must buy the Minimum or Standard insurance. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | Up to $14/day, depending on rental length. Must return the seat to the same location, or pay a $50 fee. | Availability varies by host. Best to bring your own. |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, but keep the car clean. | Prohibited in vehicles without a “pet-friendly” label and the host’s consent. Allows service animals. $150 + 3% processing fee for cleaning. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Can travel into Canada w/ prior arrangement; a Canadian non-resident insurance may be necessary. Can drive into Mexico only when renting from select Avis locations, through a corporate account, and with special Avis insurance. | Yes, within the US and Canada. Prohibits driving into Mexico. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. $450 cleaning fee. | No. $250 + 3% processing fee for violation. |
Comparing Avis against Turo isn’t like-for-like, but Turo gives a better overall rental experience than Avis due to its significantly higher vehicle types and availability and appreciably lower rates.
Avis Car Rental FAQs:
Does Avis Car Rental Have Unlimited Miles?
Most Avis rental cars in a vast majority of locations offer unlimited miles as standard, except for pricier vehicle groups at some locations.
Does Avis Car Rental Charge for Mileage?
Only a few vehicles and locations will have mileage-limited options for rental, in which case Avis will advise when you request your rate information.
Does Avis Car Rental Allow Pets?
Dog and cat owners will be happy to know that Avis allows renters to travel with their pets as long as they keep the cabin clean and free from pet hair or stains.
Avis cleaning fee can cost up to $450, so renters beware.
Does Avis Car Rental Allow Towing?
Avis car rental does not allow towing with any of the company’s vehicles.
Does Avis Car Rental Allow Out-of-State Travel?
The rental company allows renters to cross state borders and drive into Canada, although the latter will require a non-resident insurance card (a.k.a. yellow card) available at Avis.
Avis prohibits US-rented cars from crossing into Mexico unless:
- You’re a US resident renting through a corporate account.
- You rent from specific locations in Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Texas.
- You give Avis advance notice.
- You purchase special insurance from Avis.
- You return the rental vehicle to the US.
Does Avis Charge for Additional Drivers (incl. Spouse)?
Additional drivers who can drive for free include:
- Renter’s parent, sibling, or child (only in California).
- Renter’s spouse or life partner in all States.
- Renter’s employer and co-workers renting through a corporate account.
- The additional driver to a renter with a driving disability.
These drivers must pay the additional driver fee:
- Renter’s friends and extended family members.
- Other drivers not listed in the preceding paragraph.
In any case, all renters and additional drivers must meet Avis driver requirements.
What Is Avis’s Cancellation Policy?
For reservations without a credit card (Pay Later option), cancellations do not incur a penalty.
For pre-paid reservations using a credit card:
- Cancel at least 24 hours before pick-up time: refund the pre-paid amount, minus a $50 processing fee.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before pick-up time: refund the pre-paid amount, minus a $150 processing fee.
- No prior cancellation and no-show: no refund of pre-paid amount.
References:
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/travel/avis.html