Rent a Car at Aeroporto Internacional de Cardiff (CWL)

What payment cards do you accept?We accept:
• American Express (excluding American Express Traveller’s Cheque cards)
• Diners cards
• Discover cards
• Visa credit cards
• Visa debit cards
• Mastercard credit cards
• Mastercard debit cards
We don’t accept Visa Electron, Maestro cards, Cirrus cards, JCB cards, any pre-paid cards – even if they carry the Visa or MasterCard logo – or any other cards not listed above.

We do not accept Digital Payment Cards.

Can I pay by cash?
No, regrettably, we are not able to accept cash.
In Northern Ireland, credit cards must have available credit, and debit/cheque cards must have available funds to cover the estimated amount of rental charges plus up to GBP 1500 for any incidental charges. Upon collection of the vehicle Avis will require you to leave a pre-authorised deposit of up to GBP 1500 on a credit or debit card to cover collision damage excess, theft, fines, penalties and fuel/electricity charges (as applicable). Avis shall be entitled to withhold all or part of the deposit should we incur any expense as a result of your actions either whilst you were in control of the vehicle, or for any other reasonable administrative costs relating to your rental. If Avis zero excess cover is purchased, pre-authorisation will only be in the amount of the rental, fuel/electricity charges (as applicable) plus GBP 250. 

Can I get a refund when I have prepaid?

When you pre-pay in advance, there will be no refund of the prepaid amount if the car rental is less than the prepaid voucher (e.g. for unused days, where you decide to return the car early).

If you return any optional products early and, as a result, your rental no longer meets the requirements for a special offer, you will lose the benefit of that special offer. This may result in a higher overall charge for such products.

What happens if I am late in making payment?
If you are late in paying us, interest will be calculated at 4% per year above the base lending rate of National Westminster Bank PLC from time to time.

Visa and MasterCard debit cards are accepted. We do not accept any pre-paid card even if they carry the Visa or MasterCard logo.

Do I need to bring my driving license with me?Yes. All drivers must bring all parts of their valid driving licence with them. They must bring both their driving licence and either an international driving licence or an official English translation, by a notary, of their driving licence if:

• a driving licence was issued in Europe and you are renting in a country outside Europe,
• a driving licence was issued in a non-European country, and you are renting outside that country. Except for customers from the following countries who can rent with their national drivers licence and passport: Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and United States, or
• a driving licence was issued in a non-roman alphabet like Arabic, Greek, Russian, Hebrew or Japanese.

We do not accept digital driving licenses.

What other documentation do I need to supply?
If you hold a UK driving licence and are renting a car or van, you must bring a DVLA licence code with you when collecting your vehicle. Codes can be requested from https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence (you will be asked to submit your driving licence number, National Insurance number and home postcode), or by calling the DVLA on 0300 083 0013 (Monday to Friday 8am - 7pm, Saturday 8am - 2pm). The code (which will be valid for a maximum period of 21 days from the point it is generated) must be presented to the store and still be valid when picking up any vehicle from us.

Is there a minimum length I must have held my license for?
Yes. All drivers must have held their licences for at least 1 year. If a licence does not show the driver has held it for the minimum period, then they must provide evidence, such as:

• Previous driving licences
• Or a letter from their driving licence authority stating that they have held it for this minimum period.

I have unspent convictions on my licence, can I drive?

If any driver has any unspent driving convictions for

• careless, reckless or dangerous driving
• driving or attempting to drive whilst under the influence of drink or drugs
• using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks
• theft or unauthorized taking of a vehicle
• license offences
• accident offences
• failure to provide information offences
• racing offences
• been disqualified or

if they have two or more unspent convictions for offences not listed above unfortunately, they will not be able to drive our vehicles.

Public liability insurance is in accordance with the insurance laws of the country.  Customer may inquire at the time of rental for additional information of the benefits, conditions and acceptance.

Note: Some credit cards provide insurance coverage, with certain limitations, as a benefit of using the card to rent vehicles.  The customer is advised to contact the card issuer before the rental.  Any waiver must be discussed directly with the location upon arrival.

Late Return Fee: 10.00 UKL

 How old do I need to be to rent a vehicle?

Minimum Age = 23 for car groups A, B, C, E, G and I, minimum age - 25 for car groups D, F, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O and P + 1 years experience.

How do I know if there are minimum age restrictions on my rental?
When you book, you'll be told if there are any minimum age restrictions for the vehicle you request. If you're not sure, please check your booking confirmation email - or call the reservations team.

 I'm under 25, do I need to pay a young driver surcharge?

If you or any of your drivers are under 25 when you pick up the vehicle, you will each have to pay a young driver surcharge. The cost for this will be £40.00 per day.

If you rent the vehicle for more than 10 days, you will be charged for a maximum of 10 days and get cover for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days.

Are there any maximum age restrictions?

Some of our locations have a maximum age restriction on their insurance policy. Anyone over the age of 75 you will need to contact us to make your booking. The maximum age limit in Jersey is 80 years old. In the Shetlands and Isle of Man the maximum age is 78.

I'm over 75, do I need to provide extra information or pay a senior driver surcharge?

If you or any of your drivers are over 75 on the day you return the vehicle, you will need to advise us prior to pickup up your vehicle. At some locations, we will seek approval to rent from our insurer.

In Northern Ireland, for any customers that are aged 75 years and over, we would require the following:

• Confirmation that you drive on a regular basis;
• Provision of a letter from your insurance company to confirm that you have an up-to-date insurance policy, and have not had any accidents in the past 5 years;
• Provision of a letter from your doctor confirming that you are in good health and fit to drive; and
• A driving assessment carried out in terms of your Avis rental agreement by a member of our staff sitting with you in the vehicle.

Can I have a vehicle delivered to me?

Avis does not offer a delivery and collection service.

Electric Vehicles

How much battery charge should I return an electric vehicle with?
You must return the vehicle with at least a 70% battery charge, or the same % battery charge as it had at time of pick up.

What am I charged if I fail to return an electric vehicle with the required 70% battery charge, or the same % battery charge as it had at time of pick up?

We charge a fixed amount dependent on the battery life showing on the factory-installed battery gauge. This is the Pay on Return rate. The amounts charged are set below:

• The payment card that was used to make your booking. For some vehicles, two payment cards in your name will be required. One of these must be a credit card, in addition to the payment card used to make your booking.
• Photo ID featuring a recognisable photo taken in the last 10 years. We will accept your passport or driving licence if it contains a photo, a national identity card or any other form of government issued identification.
  
  

The amount of the pre-authorisation taken on pick-up of the rental vehicle is calculated as follows:
(The vehicle rental price* + UKL 300 (or if applicable, the equivalent amount in your local currency) MINUS (Any sum you have already paid when making a "Pay Now" booking)

* The "vehicle rental price" includes the vehicle rental cost and all optional extras you've requested, calculated at the start of the rental based on the intended length of the rental. For the avoidance of any doubt, any "Pay at Location" amount you owe in relation to the vehicle rental (including any optional extras) will be included as part of the pre-authorisation and will be charged to you at the end of the rental (using the card provided for the purposes of the pre-authorisation, unless agreed otherwise).

** If you buy our "Fuel Up Front" product, we will reduce the UKL 300 (or if applicable, the equivalent amount in your local currency) by the amount we charge you for the "Fuel Up Front" product

The UKL 300 (or if applicable, the equivalent amount in your local currency) is included as part of the pre-authorisation in case we have to charge you at the end of the rental for any of the following:
i. costs to refuel the vehicle (where relevant);
ii. additional rental charges in circumstances where you fail to return the vehicle or any optional extras at the end of the agreed rental period (or to the agreed return location);
iii. any additional charges or fines you incur relating to your use of the vehicle (which we have been notified of prior to you returning the vehicle, which will include, for example, charges relating to traffic violations); and/or
iv. costs incurred as a result of exceeding any relevant mileage restrictions.
Where the pre-authorisation we take does not cover the charges you incur, we will request you make a further payment for the additional amounts owed.

Can I let anyone else drive?
Yes, but only if we have approved them.  You must not let anyone else drive the vehicle.

We charge a fee for every Additional Driver we allow to drive the vehicle. The price is £12.99 per day, per driver. 
If you rent the vehicle for more than 10 days, you'll only be charged for a maximum of 10 days and get cover for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days.
All additional drivers must meet our age, driving licence and ID requirements.

If any additional driver is outside of our age restrictions, we will also charge a driver surcharge.

Can I pick up the vehicle outside your normal opening hours?
No, unfortunately we are unable to offer an out of hour's pick-up service at this time.

My rental has a mileage allowance.  I have driven more than the allowance, how much will I pay for excess mileage
Many of our vehicles are provided with unlimited mileage. If a mileage allowance applies, it will be stated on your rental agreement and in your booking confirmation email.  If you go over the mileage allowance, the price depends on the vehicle and location but you can expect it to cost between 12 pence and 21 pence for every mile you've driven over the allowance.  Your excess mileage charge will be stated on your rental agreement.

Can I smoke in the vehicle?
No, it is against the law to smoke in public places within the United Kingdom.  The vehicle is considered a public place so you are not allowed to smoke in it.  If we believe anyone has smoked in the vehicle during the rental period, a specialist cleaning charge will apply.

Are there any roads or zones where I need to pay a fee before I can enter?
Yes, certain areas, such as the centre of London, have congestion charging zones meaning you need to pay a fee if you wish to drive in certain areas, on certain days and during certain times.  In addition, there are toll roads and toll bridges which require you to pay a fee if you wish to use them.  If you do not pay these charges before you enter such areas or use such roads or bridges, you will incur a fine. 

We recommend you check the Internet to find out about any restricted areas before you travel.  Websites such as www.urbanaccessregulations.eu provide useful information.  If the rental location is in or near a restricted area, we will tell you about it when you pick up the vehicle.  We are unable to tell you about any other restricted areas.

I have been caught speeding, and didn't pay a parking charge, what will I have to pay?
You are responsible for all fines and charges issued as a result of you or your additional drivers using the vehicle. Fines and charges could include:

• All parking fines or charges
• Toll charges
• Towing charges
• Clamping costs
• Traffic fines or charges
• Speeding fines
• And any other charges or fines

If a fine or charge is sent to us because you haven't paid a charge or complied with the law, we will take payment for:

• Our adminstration fee of £30 for each fine or charge issued in the United Kingdom to cover our costs of dealing with the fine or charge, or
• Our administration fee of between €24 and €45 for each fine or charge issued in any other country, which will be charged in the currency of the country where the fine occured
• Plus the fine or charge if we have to pay it

I've left the interior of the vehicle very dirty and made it smell.  Will I be charged to clean it?
Yes, if the interior of the vehicle is especially muddy, dirty, stained or smelly, and our standard cleaning procedure will not fix it, you will be charged a Specialist Cleaning Charge of between £14 and £75.00.

Avis Travel Partner

I'm not familiar with the country I am travelling to; do you offer travel assistance and support

Yes, we offer Avis Travel Partner which provides assistance from language translation to lost property services and much more. We provide this service on behalf of a third party and will provide you with details when you pick up the vehicle.

How much does Avis Travel Partner cost?

The fee for the Avis Travel Partner service will depend on where you're renting but you can expect it to be between £7.75 and £8.99 a day. If you rent the vehicle for more than 10 days, you'll only be charged for the maximum of 10 days and get to use Avis Travel Partner for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days.

Roadside Assistance

What happens if I break down because of a mechanical failure?
All our vehicles are maintained to the manufacturer's standards, and they're roadworthy when you pick them up so mechanical failure in our vehicles is rare. So long as you're using the vehicle in a country we've agreed to, we provide roadside assistance or recovery free of charge. You can only use our roadside assistance provider to help you. You'll find their contact details inside the vehicle.
 
What happens if I break down because of a non-mechanical failure or in another country?
You must tell us if you break down or have an accident.  If you need roadside assistance, we will arrange this for you but you will have to pay for it.  You will also be charged for any costs we incur getting the vehicle back on the road in the country of rental.  This may include, but is not limited to:

• Call out and recovery costs of around £83.40
• Repair costs
• Loss of use
• Repatriation costs
• A damage processing fee of £66.00 (only applicable if damage has ocurred)
• Any costs to take you, and/or any of your passengers to another location
• Electricity for electric and hybrid vehicles (Where the cable is in working order)

What products do you have to protect me if I break down because of a non-mechanical problem?
Roadside Assistance Plus provides roadside assistance if you break down as a result of…

• Flat batteries
• Flat tyres
• Keys locked in the vehicle
• Lost keys
• Running out of fuelor electricity

Provided you are using the vehicle in a country we have agreed to.  You will only need to pay for the costs of any additional items needed to get the vehicle back on the road - like fuel, electricity or tyres.

How much does Roadside Assistance Plus cost?
The price will depend on where you're renting but you can expect it to be GBP 5.00 a day. If you rent the vehicle for more than 13 days, you'll only be charged for a maximum of 13 days and get cover for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days.

What happens if I don't return the incident report form or European accident form?
If you are involved in an accident, or the vehicle, keys, any accessories, any vehicle documents or any optional extras are damaged, lost or stolen; you must complete and return an incident report form and if available, the European accident report form.

If you fail to send them to us, we will charge you a damage processing fee of £66.00

Can I pick up the vehicle from one rental location and return it to another?
Yes, some rental locations let you collect the vehicle and any optional extras from one rental location and return them to another.

How much is the One Way fee?
The price depends on the rental location. If you want to pick up the vehicle and return it to a different location in the same country, you can expect it to be between £20.00 and £70.00. If you want to pick up the vehicle in the UK Mainland and drop it off in another country, you can expect it to be between £700 and £4,000.

How do I get a One Way rental?
You can request a one-way rental when you book, or you can ask for it when you get to the rental location.
If you asked for a one-way rental when you booked, the fee will be included in your rental price.

How much will it cost if I did not request a One Way rental but return the vehicle to a different location?
You will be charged a one-way fee at the pay at location prices available on the day you return the vehicle.

The prices we give you for optional extras when you book will generally be the price you will pay. Exchange rates or other reasons beyond our control may alter prices.

Customers with disabilities

I have a disability, do you offer adapted vehicles?
Yes, specially adapted vehicles are available at some of our rental locations.  Please call the Reservations team for more information.

I have a disability, do you offer hand controls?
Yes, we offer hand controls which are suitable if you have good use of your upper body, including hands and fingers.  Hand controls include a hand-operated brake, accelerator controls, a steering ball and panoramic mirrors are also available.  If you need them, they're completely free of charge.

To use hand controls, you will need to book an automatic vehicle. Please give us at least 48 hours' notice if you hand controls or panoramic mirrors fitted to the vehicle. If you need them at shorter notice, please call the Reservations team.

Popular optional extras to rent

I have small children, do you offer child seats?
Yes, we offer baby, infant, child and full backed booster seats.  A baby seat is typically suitable for a child from birth to 12 months old and weighing no more than 13 kilos.  An infant seat is typically suitable for a child aged 9 months to 4 years old and weighing between 9 and 18 kilos.  A child seat is typically suitable for a child aged 4 to 11 years old and weighing between 15 and 36 kilos.  A booster seat is typically suitable for a child aged 8 to 11 years old and weighing between 20 and 45 kilos.

In some rental locations, we may arrange for a third party to fit the seat for you. But remember, it is always your responsibility to check the seat is fitted correctly before you drive away.

Please note: In the United Kingdom all children must normally use a child car seat until they're 12 years old or 135cm tall. 

How much are your child seats?
The fee for renting a seat is £11.99 a day. If you rent the vehicle for more than 7 days, you'll only be charged for a maximum of 7 days and get to use the seat for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days.
 
If the seat is damaged, lost or stolen, you will have to pay for a replacement. This is likely to cost between £60.00 and £90.00 on top of the hire fee.  If you can show the damage or loss was not in any way your fault or due to your negligence, we will refund this cost to you.

I'm not familiar with the area; can I rent a GPS (satellite navigation system)?Travel Companion Tablet - This provides a GPS service as well as other useful features you may need when travelling. The fee for hiring Travel Companion Tablet is between £9.99 and £14.99 per day depending on features activated. If you rent the vehicle for more than 10 days, you'll only be charged for a maximum of 10 days and get to use the device for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days. If the Travel Companion Tablet is damaged, lost or stolen, you'll have to pay for a replacement. This is likely to cost from £300.00 on top of the hire fee. If you can show the damage or loss was not in any way your fault or due to your negligence, we will refund this cost to you.

Please note: In some countries, it is against the law to use a GPS that tells you where speed cameras are. If you plan to travel outside of the United Kingdom you should check to see whether you can use our GPS as it will give you speed information. 

Do you offer an audio tour guide service on your GPS?
No, unfortunately we do not offer an audio tour guide service at this time.

I want to be able to access the internet anywhere I go, do you offer a solution?

Travel Companion Tablet - This provides unlimited data per day, as well as other useful features you may need when travelling. The fee for hiring Travel Companion Tablet is between £9.99 and £14.99 a day depending on features activated. If you rent the vehicle for more than 10 days, you'll only be charged for a maximum of 10 days and get to use the device for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days.

If the Travel Companion Tablet is damaged, lost or stolen, you’ll have to pay for a replacement. This is likely to cost from £300.00 on top of the hire fee. If you can show the damage or loss was not in any way your fault or due to your negligence, we will refund this cost to you. If any Travel Companion Tablet accessories are damaged, lost or stolen, you'll have to pay for a replacement. This is likely to cost from £2.00 to £10.00 on top of the hire fee. If you can show the damage or loss was not in any way your fault or due to your negligence, we will refund this cost to you. 

Please note: In many countries, including the United Kingdom, it is illegal to drive while using a handheld mobile phone, tablet or other communications device. It is your responsibility to drive safely and according to the laws of the country you're driving in.

I'm intending to drive along toll roads; do you offer a device to make this quicker and easier for me?
No, unfortunately we do not offer any electronic toll charging devices at this time.

Winter equipment to rent

I'm concerned about the road conditions, do you offer all-weather tyres?
No, unfortunately we do not offer all weather tyres at this time.

I'm going skiing, do you offer snow chains?
No, unfortunately we do not offer snow chains at this time.

I'm have brought my own skis with me, do you rent ski racks?
No, unfortunately we do not offer ski racks at this time.

I've left my hands-free kit behind, do you rent them?
No, unfortunately we do not offer hands-free kits at this time.

I'm moving items, do you rent blankets?
No, unfortunately we do not offer blankets at this time.

I'm moving items, do you rent trolleys?Yes, the fee for enting a sack trolley is £8.99 a day. If you rent the vehicle for more than 10 days, you'll only be charged for a maximum of 10 days and get to use the sack trolley for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days.

Optional extras available to buy

 I've left my USB charger behind, do you sell them?
No, unfortunately we do not sell USB charges at this time.

I've left my mobile charger behind, do you sell them?
No, unfortunately we do not sell mobile charges at this time.

I want to charge my device in the car, do you sell car chargers?
No, unfortunately we do not sell car charges at this time.

I've left my iPhone 5 cable behind, do you sell them?
No, unfortunately we do not sell iPhone 5 cables at this time.

I want to keep the vehicle for longer, what should I do?

If you want to extend the rental please contact us as soon as possible. At the latest, this should be before the end date and time on your rental agreement. Extra days will be charged at pay at location prices.

What happens if I don't extend the rental?

If you fail to extend your rental and are late returning the vehicle, we will charge you for an extra days rental plus a late return administration fee for each day or part of a day until the vehicle is returned.

The late return administration fee is £15.00

Unless we agree otherwise, you are only allowed to use the vehicle in:

• England 
• Scotland 
• Wales
• Northern Ireland

If you want to drive into Republic of Ireland from Northern Ireland, your rental will be subject to a cross border fee of GBP 26.86, and you must agree this with us in advance of travel. Rentals that start in mainland UK cannot be taken into Republic of Ireland (or indeed any other country unless we expressly agree otherwise).

Please note that if you are permitted to take the vehicle outside of the United Kingdom, it is your responsibility to make sure you comply with legal requirements applicable in the relevant country/countries you travel in.