Avis Car Rentals FAQs Avis Car Rentals FAQs

Avis requires that each customer and additional driver meet the Avis minimum age requirement, present a valid driver's license and an acceptable driving record, and present an Avis-honored charge card or cash rental qualification at the time of rental.

The driver's license must be valid at the time of rental, and remain valid throughout the rental period. All drivers must meet Avis' requirements. Driver's licenses accepted in the U.S. are:

• Any license issued by any U.S. state, territory or possession.
• A license issued by a Canadian province.
• A license issued by a country that participated in the 1949 Geneva convention on Road Traffic or the 1943 Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automobile Traffic.
• A license issued by a country that has a reciprocal agreement with the U.S.

If you intend to rent outside your home country, you may also be required to present an International Driver's Permit. International Driver's Permits are valid only if presented with the original local license. An International Driver's Permit it not acceptable by itself. In addition, at the time of rental, the renter, authorized driver or additional driver may be subject to an electronic DMV check or may be required to sign a declaration attesting that they have a valid license that is not currently suspended, revoked, expired, cancelled or surrendered. A temporary driver's license is acceptable only if it has no restrictions and is valid for the entire period of the rental. Individuals with learner's permits may not operate Avis vehicles.  Additionally, if you intend to rent outside of your home country, Avis may require that you present a valid passport, as  secondary form of identification at the time of your check-out.

At the time of rental, the renter or authorized driver may be subject to an electronic DMV check from the state that issued the driver's license, or may be asked to sign a declaration attesting to specific criteria:

• The renter/authorized driver has a valid license that is not currently suspended, expired, revoked, canceled or surrendered.
• The renter/authorized driver has not, within the last 36 months, had 1 or more convictions for reckless driving.
• The renter/authorized driver has not, within the last 48 months, had 1 or more convictions for driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated (DWI), or driving while alcohol impaired (DWAI).
• The renter/authorized driver has not, within the last 36 months, failed to report or leave the scene of an accident.
• The renter/authorized driver has never been in possession of a stolen vehicle or used a vehicle in a crime.
• The renter/authorized driver has not, within the last 24 months, had 3 or more convictions for moving violations (including seat belt violations).
• The renter/authorized driver has not, within the last 36 months, had 3 or more accidents.

When renting at an Avis airport location, commonly accepted forms of identification include:

• A round-trip airline ticket, e-ticket, or travel itinerary to or from the airport of rental, disclosing a return date and showing the renter's name
• A valid U.S. passport or current U.S. military identification card. The name must match the name on the renter's U.S.-issued driver's license
• A current vehicle insurance card. The name and address must match the name and address on the renter's driver's license; OR a current copy (within the last 60 days) of your cellphone bill, home telephone bill, bank statement or utility bill which shows your name and current address. Your name and address must match the U.S.-issued driver's license in order to provide the renting location with proof of an accurate address.
• Canadian citizens entering the U.S. by air must present a valid driver’s license and passport.
• Canadian citizens entering the U.S. by car, train, bus or ship may present an enhanced Canadian license instead of a passport.  Enhanced licenses contain the words: enhanced or permis de conduire plus
• Customer with a foreign driver’s license (other than a U.S. or Canadian driver’s license) may be required to also present a valid passport as a secondary form of identification at the time of check out. The name on the passport must match to the name displayed on the foreign driver’s license.  

Commonly accepted forms of identification when renting at an Off-Airport location:

• A current copy (within the last 60 days) of your cellular phone bill, home telephone bill, bank statement or utility bill which shows your name and current address. Your name and address must match your U.S. issues driver's license in order to provide the renting location with proof of an accurate address; OR a valid U.S. passport or current U.S. military identification card. Your name must match the name on the your U.S.-issued driver's license.

Forms of identification accepted may vary by rental location. You may wish to contact your pick-up location to confirm that the forms listed above are accepted at that specific location.

Avis does not require a deposit to reserve a car. However, an Avis honored charge card must be presented at the time of rental. Acceptable charge cards are as follows:

Avis Charge Card
American Express
AT&T Capital
China Union Pay
Diner's Club International
Discover
GE Capital
JCB
MasterCard
Sears
Visa

Split Billing Option:

Avis also offers a split billing payment option which provides billing flexibility. Customers may split their rental charges on two separate credit/debit cards. In addition, corporate customers have the ability to charge counter products, optional services that are not covered as a company expense to a personal credit card. Customers who wish to split their rental charges on two separate credit/debit cards can choose to split the rental charges by one of the following ways:

• Dollar Amount
• Rental Days
• Services
• Rental Days & Services.

"Pay Now" Online Reservations:

For more details, please click here.

Please note: Credit and debit cards used to pay online may not be acceptable at certain locations. Please check the terms and conditions on your reservation confirmation to be sure of acceptable cards at the location where you are picking up your rental. The credit or debit card presented at the counter must be identical to the one used to make the "Pay Now" reservation.

Debit Card Policies

Most U.S. locations accept bank debit cards with the Visa or MasterCard logo as credit identification at the time of rental if you are at least 25 years of age. In most cases, U.S. locations will perform a credit check for debit card renters to determine credit worthiness at the time of rental. The renter must meet Avis' minimum criteria in order to rent. Currently, at all U.S. and Canada locations, debit cards are not acceptable as credit identification at the time of rental for all makes and models identified in the Avis Signature Series and for certain other premium vehicles. Debit cards are also not acceptable as credit identification at the time of rental at locations in the Metropolitan NY Tri-State area, Hartford, CT, Philadelphia area, Mississippi or Louisiana locations as well as other locations across the country. Canada locations do not accept bank debit cards as a form of credit identification. Debit Cards are acceptable for payment at the completion of your rental.

Also be advised that some Avis locations do not accept debit cards as a form of payment. Upon paying your rental with a Debit Card, Avis will generally request an authorization hold against your account for the estimated charges of the rental but reserves the right in its sole discretion to request extra value based on certain factors as we deem appropriate. Some exceptions may apply. THESE FUNDS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR USE. When the rental is over we will process the reversal but the bank may take time to post it back to the account.

If you fail to return the vehicle as agreed, Avis will obtain additional authorizations from your account to cover the rental charges.

Avis is not responsible for any returned checks or over-drafts based on this policy.

This policy applies to both U.S. residents and foreign renters. Positive identification in addition to your driver's license may be required.

In the United States, debit, cash or check cards can be used at the end of the rental for payment of rental charges. For acceptable credit identification and payment methods in countries outside of the U.S., please search for the specific location's Terms and Conditions.

Note: Prepaid debit/gift cards are not acceptable methods of credit identification to pick up a car at any location. One of the above mentioned cards must be presented. Prepaid debit/gift cards are accepted at time of return only.

Avis rents to customers between the ages of 21-24 with an Avis-honored credit card and valid driver's license. At the time of reservation, we will automatically apply an additional $27-per-day underage surcharge in the U.S. and $35 per day in Canada for drivers 21-24. If you have any questions about underage driving restrictions, please contact Avis prior to your arrival at the rental counter.

Exceptions:

In New York State, the minimum age to rent is 18 with a $52-per-day surcharge for renters age 18-20 and a $35-per-day underage surcharge for renters age 21-24.

Michigan, will continue its minimum rental age of 18 with a $41-per-day surcharge for customers between the ages of 18-20 and a $28-per-day surcharge for customers between the ages of 21-24.

In Quebec, the minimum age to rent car groups A, B, C, D & E is 21 with an under age fee of $20 per day for renters age 21-24. For all other car groups, the minimum age is 25.

In Saskatchewan, the minimum age is 18. No underage fee applies.

Government Personnel (civilian or military) minimum age policy is as follows:

For Personnel (FEMA, U.S. Postal Dept., Navy and Army) not using the Government Leisure Pass, minimum age is
* 18 years (No underage surcharge will apply) with Government Travel or Purchase order
* 21 years (No underage surcharge will apply) without Travel or Purchase order

When using the Government Leisure Pass the renter is subject to underage fees as specified by the renting location.

Renters between the ages of 21-24 may not rent vehicles in the following car classes:

• Full-Size SUVs
• Luxury
• Minivans
• Passenger Vans
• Premium SUVs
• Signature Series