Avis was founded by William Avis in the United States in 1946. Its first car hire outlet, at Willow Run Airport in Detroit, was the first airport car hire depot in the world. While Australian entrepreneur Eric McIllree eventually negotiated a deal with Avis for the rights to the name, he commenced operating under the name in 1955 with FJ Holdens stationed at six Australian airports. At the time, McIllree had the sole concession for car hire at airports, and by 1971 he had rented one million vehicles.
Today Avis has over 200 rental locations across Australia, including at all major airports and city centres. From these locations, Avis rents over a dozen types of vehicle including compact cars, standard cars, full size cars, and 4WDs, along with a selection of specialty vehicles, such as hybrid and luxury cars. Aside from cars, Avis also rents utes, vans, trucks and buses.
As Avis and Budget share the same owner, at airports you may find the two rental agents working side by side or even sharing the same desk. If you’re looking for the Avis desk but can’t find them, look for the Budget desk.
Avis has won a number of awards for its operations in Australia, including the “Most Satisfied Customers - Car Rental” award from Canstar Blue in 2021 and the “Quality Service Silver Award” from Readers Digest, also in 2021.
Customers renting with Avis can earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Points, while Accor Live Limitless members can earn reward points tied to their rental days.
If you have a query, or need assistance booking an Avis vehicle, contact us.
Avis Important Rental Information
Excess Reduction Guide
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Avis offers compact cars, economy cars, intermediate cars, SUVs, wagons, and passenger vans. The available range of vehicles varies per location.
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa, and Diners Club credit cards are accepted for vehicle payments with Avis. You can also pay with a Visa or Mastercard debit card.
Both credit and debit card payments require a $200 security hold ($400 for commercial vehicles) in addition to the estimated total cost of the vehicle. You won’t have access to these funds until the rental period is completed. The refund usually takes 2 to 10 days, but the amount of time depends on your bank.
Avis’s minimum age requirement for drivers is 21; however, drivers aged between 21 and 24 will need to pay a young driver surcharge.
Any valid driver’s licence printed in English meets Avis’s licence requirements. If your licence isn’t in English, you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP).
Yes. Basic cover is included in the rental quote, but if the vehicle is stolen, damaged, or a third-party loss occurs, you’ll have to pay up to the Rental Vehicle Excess amount listed in your Avis rental agreement.
You won’t be charged for mechanical breakdowns, however if you require roadside assistance for a non-mechanical issue, like flat tyres, running out of petrol, or locking your keys in the car, a $198 call-out fee will apply.
All Avis vehicles are fitted with e-Tags, meaning your toll road usage will be recorded and your nominated credit card will be charged by RMS for any amounts accumulated.
No. Avis doesn’t require you to wash the hire car prior to drop-off, but it’s advised you return the vehicle in fair condition to avoid cleaning fees.
Yes. Return the hire car to Avis with a full tank of petrol to avoid extra charges.
If your rental period is yet to commence, you can modify your booking with the VroomVroomVroom app or contact our customer care team to make the required changes. Otherwise, if the rental period has commenced, you’ll need to contact the Avis depot you collected from, bearing in mind that any changes may alter the total cost of your rental.
Unlike other comparison sites where you’re required to input discount codes upon booking, our rates on Avis vehicles already have applicable discounts applied, resulting in the sharpest available rates on every search.
