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Are pets allowed in rental cars?Yes, you can bring pets in your rental cars at most Avis locations; just call your pickup location to confirm before you arrive. Also return your rental car in clean condition and free of pet hair and smells to avoid a cleaning fee of up to $450. |
10 Ways to Keep Your Rental Car Clean with a Pet Passenger
Avis is happy to offer pet-friendly car rental to our customers! Feel free to take your dog on a hike or enjoy the company of your cat on a long road trip.
Like all passengers, cats and dogs in rental cars can create quite a mess, so you need to take steps to prevent yourself from incurring a cleaning fee.
Follow these simple tips to keep your rental clean while you and your pet travel around.
Know your pet
Groom ahead of your trip
Choose a car with pet-friendly upholstery
Bring a seat cover
Confine the pet to one area
Keep your pet clean and dry
Leave baking soda in the car
De-hair the car regularly
Don’t leave your pet unattended
Vacuum the interior before you return the car
On the last day of your rental, swing by a car vacuum center to perform a final, thorough interior cleaning. Vacuum all areas of the car your pet rode in, especially in the seat cracks and under the floor mats. Your Return Agent is sure to be impressed with the cleanliness of your car.
Is your pet prone to shedding? Does your dog drool? Bring mess-prevention helpers and cleaning supplies that align with your pet’s specific ways of being untidy.
Take your pet to the groomer a few days before your trip. A freshly washed and cut coat sheds less, and trimmed nails are less prone to leave scratches.
When you arrive to pick up your rental car, ask for a car with a cloth interior. Although cloth will attract more hair than leather, it’s also easier to vacuum at the end of your trip.
Before you let your pet jump inside the rental, put down a seat cover. You can just bring a sturdy blanket from home or, if your budget allows, buy a seat cover from a pet supply store.
You’ll save yourself cleaning time if you reduce your pet’s roaming space. Tell your pet to stay in one area, such as the SUV cargo area or the back seat. Use a leash to keep your pet in that space if necessary.
As much as possible, stay away from activities that will get your pet wet, muddy, covered in leaves, or otherwise dirty. If you do plan to participate in such activities, bring a carrier to keep your pet in until you can completely clean them off.
Pet smells can be just as difficult to control as hair. Keep a slightly open box of baking soda, a natural odor absorber, somewhere in the car for the duration of your rental. Make sure your pet can’t reach it and get curious about what’s inside.
Once per day, do a full sweep of the car with a lint roller or dryer sheet. These will attract any hair your pet left in the car, and it really only takes a few minutes.
At home, you might be used to leaving your pet in the car while you run errands. Even in a dog-friendly rental car, it’s wise to avoid unwanted nibbling by bringing your pet with you everywhere—or leaving the pet at your sleeping accommodations if you’re trekking somewhere pets aren’t welcome.
Although our rental cars do allow dogs, cats, and other pets to ride along, we encourage you to use these tricks to keep your vehicle clean.