Avis Car Rental Reviews 

When I fly into Charlotte the car is ready with papers inside. I get in & go. Piedmont Triad, different story. Made reservation months ago, arrived on time & here I am, over an hour later & still no car. Not impressed!

You make a reservation – but they never have cars available. There’s always an hour wait for a vehicle! You make a reservation – they never have a car ready. They are a joke. Long, long lines to check in, and then an even longer wait for a vehicle. Poor, poor service.

Biggest scam artist going customer services don't answer the phone nobody helps you never ever book there very very disappointed

If I could give a lower rating I would. To make a very long and frustrating story short, my daughter and I had car trouble on the road and were the recipients of the worst customer service I have ever experienced. We had to fight our way through the most frustrating automated menus mulitple times only to receive incorrect information or useless information. Our problem was solved only due to the goodness of strangers with no assistance from Avis. And then- days after I returned the car, charges kept appearing on my credit card. Thirty dollars one day, $11 dollars a few days later. When I called to find out what was going on- you guessed it. Got zero help. Again- fought through the automated menu and was given a different number to call which took me to an obvious AI trying to sell me a medical device! Here is the bottom line-- use TURO. Always. Car rentals don't care about their customers one iota.

Rented me a nasty smelly rental. I am in Maryland/DC for a business trip and couldn’t even put any clients in this dusty nasty vehicle. I’m not sure if the stains are human body fluids or whatever but the vehicle just sat there as I had to find other transportation to get around. They do not care and just want your money. For goodness sake clean the vehicle or get it off your lot!!

Do yourself a massive favour and hire a car somewhere else. This is the second time in 3 months that Avis have applied wrongful charges, they are basically robbing customers, I don't know how they get away with it, they are fraudulent.

Hired a car through booking.com, price was good (please do not be fooled by that), I opted out of their pre-pay fuel offer and off I went. Now a few months ago I hired from Chicago airport a car from Avis and they charged me a non-pkg fee of around $100. When I asked about it they said it was a fuel charge, even though I brought the car back full and the receipt from them proved as much. They then said I need to provide fuel receipts to prove it (I know what you're thinking, you've brought the car back full, surely that is proof enough). Well not for Avis, I then had a long tedious email exchange from the most unhelpful customer service team. It turns out if you bring the car back full you need to show your receipts. Nobody tells you that, funny that.

I was wise to the bullshit that Avis try and so this time I took my receipts to the checking-in person (pretty much the most miserable person I've ever met) and showed her my receipts. She then said I don't need any receipts because I've been marked in as "full". I didn't trust this person and so went to the desk in the main office, where I was told that yeah I've been marked in "full" and I don't need to show receipts. I flew home to England and guess what, a couple of days later I was then charged a non-pkg fee of $125 for fuel. I then have another long tedious email exchange with a customer service person, who said I need to show receipts. I explained everything, said I didn't keep them as I was explicitly told I didn't need them and now she is saying I'm not entitled to any fee refund.

Awful company, just look to overcharge you, unfair fees process and terrible customer service. You will come to them for the low prices, but you'll leave having paid more. I absolutely guarantee it!!!!

Avoid if you’re dealing with Norwich and booking a train station pickup

I booked a car for collection at the Norwich train station branch. Shortly before pickup, Avis rang to tell me I’d have to collect from the airport instead, because a £300 deposit was required.

Three of the four confirmation emails I received never mentioned this deposit. The fourth had a vague line buried in the small print. When I raised this, the person on the phone insisted it had been “clearly stated.” It wasn’t.

Changing the collection point at the last minute over a condition that was never properly disclosed isn’t acceptable. If you’re relying on collecting from the station, check directly with the branch first, or book elsewhere.

**A Huge Disappointment. Never Again, AVIS!**

When planning my trip, I compared several car rental options. I found some very attractive prices with low-cost companies, but I decided to go with AVIS, believing that, as one of the largest car rental companies in the world, I would receive better service, proper assistance, and greater peace of mind. What a mistake!

My experience was the complete opposite of what I expected.

When I returned the car at Ben Gurion Airport, I was told that the €1,000 security deposit would be released within a maximum of 24 to 48 hours. However, a week has now passed, and the money has still not been released back to my credit card.

This delay is not just a minor inconvenience. It has resulted in late payment interest and penalties, my credit card being blocked, and potential negative consequences for my credit history.

When I called customer service internationally to complain, I was told that they had simply **forgotten to process the deposit release**. They apologized, but that raises a very important question: who is going to cover the interest, penalties, and other expenses caused by their mistake?

To make matters worse, I later received an email telling me to contact the rental location directly. Now I am left worrying that they will simply pass the responsibility from one department to another while I continue to bear the financial consequences of a mistake that was not mine.

It is unbelievable that a company of AVIS's size and reputation can handle a situation so poorly. I have rented cars from other companies, including low-cost providers, and I have never experienced anything like this.

I chose AVIS specifically because I expected a higher standard of service and greater peace of mind. Instead, I have ended up dealing with financial problems and wasting my time chasing a refund.

**This is not just about releasing a security deposit. It is about honoring the promised deadlines and taking responsibility when a mistake is made.**

AVIS has been a profound disappointment. After this experience, I will never rent a car from them again.

Avis not only charged me more than the Expedia quoted price, they billed me for a toll charge that occurred 2 hrs after I returned the vehicle and was boarding my plane. Their phone agent told me I had to have been the one driving because the next rental was after the toll charge. Even though their employees had the car, keys, and I had the receipt showing the return. That's the last time with Avis/Budget.

Terrible Experience and Unsafe Vehicle

I reserved and paid for a large SUV, comparable to a Ford Bronco, at Avis at the Las Vegas airport. Instead, I was given a tiny all-electric vehicle that was completely unsuitable for my trip to remote hiking areas with no charging stations and dirt roads. The employee at the counter was dismissive, made me feel unreasonable for expecting the vehicle I paid for, and offered no apology, refund, or reasonable alternative.

I returned the next day and was given a replacement SUV with serious mechanical and electrical problems. The check engine light repeatedly came on, and the vehicle stalled several times while driving on the freeway! I had to pull over, turn off the engine, and restart the vehicle just to keep moving. This was extremely dangerous.

I contacted Avis roadside assistance and submitted a service request, but nobody showed up. I wasted another hour trying to get help with no success.

Avis wasted my vacation time, provided an unsafe vehicle, and offered absolutely terrible customer service. I have rented from Avis many times in the past and had good experiences, but this was completely unacceptable.

I will never rent from Avis again. I strongly recommend choosing another rental company.

If you are renting from Avis Rome airport, please check your rental agreement before you leave the office.
I had car insurance added without my consent and only spotted it after I returned the car.
Despite my protestations both with the Rome depot and through many emails to Avis customer services, they have refused to refund me.

Avis shut down their location because of a category 3 hurricane and kept my reservation so I called immediately (day before reservation) and asked to be moved to the next day when the airport opens back up and they tried to charge me $250 for the date change. Even though they were closed anyways!!!!!!!! And no one could help me they just kept saying they had no options. That’s so sad and so disappointing. I didn’t expect much but this was worse than expected.

AVIS BLAMED ME FOR DAMAGE I HAVE ON VIDEO FROM DAY ONE! 😠😠😠

I’ve rented from Avis for many years, so I was disappointed by this experience in Italy.

In Milan, the car was parked at a separate location away from the main office, and I wasn’t given the opportunity to inspect it with an Avis representative. The rental agreement listed some existing damage, but I noticed additional marks. I pointed them out to the staff member assisting other customers, who told me not to worry and to mention them when returning the car in Rome. I also recorded a video documenting the car’s condition before driving away.

After returning the vehicle, I was charged nearly $1,000 for damage I didn’t cause. The photos Avis provided appear to show mostly dust and minor marks that were already there, without clearly establishing the damage being claimed or when it occurred. I’ve been disputing the charge and providing video evidence, but despite multiple emails, I haven’t received a response. Instead, Avis continues attempting to charge my credit card.

My advice to other renters: if you already have a reservation with Avis and can’t find an alternative, document everything before leaving the lot. Don’t rely on verbal assurances. Insist on a documented inspection with a staff member, even if you’re short on time, and be especially careful when the vehicle is kept at a location separate from the rental office.

I was told not to worry about the damage at pickup, yet I’m now being charged for it. That’s been a frustrating and disappointing experience, especially after years of renting from Avis. I’ll update this review once the dispute is resolved.

My advice to other renters is to film everything before you leave the lot and not to rely on a verbal “it’s fine.” Insist on a documented inspection with a staff member, even if you’re short on time.

I was told not to worry about the damage at pickup, and now I’m being charged for it, which left me feeling taken advantage of. I’ll update this review once the dispute is resolved.

An absolutely unacceptable experience with Avis at Luton Airport on Sunday 4 October 2026.

Despite reserving a vehicle in advance, receiving confirmation and paying a substantial deposit, I arrived at the agreed collection location only to be told that no vehicle was available.

There had been no advance warning, no satisfactory explanation and no workable contingency arrangements.

Instead, I was advised to travel to Stansted Airport. How a customer without a car is expected to travel to another airport to collect a vehicle they had already booked and paid for at Luton is beyond me.

Several hours of discussions followed, including suggestions that an alternative vehicle might be arranged at additional cost. Ultimately, no suitable vehicle materialised.

The car was required for an important family wedding journey involving passenger collections in Luton and Hertfordshire before travelling to Clearwell Castle, Gloucestershire.

With time running out and funds already committed to the original booking, we had no choice but to arrange emergency taxi transportation costing over £200.

Despite this considerable additional expense, we arrived too late and missed the wedding rehearsal entirely.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, not an appointment that could simply be rearranged.

The situation caused substantial financial inconvenience, unnecessary stress and significant disruption to several people. I also had to arrange an alternative rental independently for the return journey.

A confirmed reservation should mean something. Customers deserve advance warning, competent communication and meaningful assistance when a company cannot fulfil its commitments.

I am seeking reimbursement of the additional financial losses and appropriate redress for the disruption caused.

An appalling failure of customer service and accountability.

2 hours to find us a car due to over booking.
Charged us for 2 weeks breakdown even though we already had that cover which I told the representative 6 times.
Dreadful after care.

Mirror every single review here. Awful awful company. Promised and paid a premium for a car they said they know they can’t get. Absolute disgrace

I rented from Avis in Sanford, early September for a week. The vehicle was returned with a full tank, yet they charged my cc for fuel service.
For 3 weeks now, I have been trying to get the fuel charge refunded. I provided the gas receipt showing the date, time and location, quite close to the airport.
At first, the excuse for charging the fuel fee was that "the system miscalculated " the fuel level. I know that a human had to check the car for damages, log mileage and the fuel level. The receipt showed the tank at 8/8.
Now they claim that any delay would be with my bank yet no one has given a date of the alleged refund processing.
They also charged me for toll while the car was parked and I was asleep, the single key in my possession. Then they charged the same amount the following day with no explanation or backup. Initially the rep said the additional charges were for adjustments to the rental itself.
I found that there was a class action against Avis for these types of post rental charges. Wish I had seen that prior to using them.
The car itself was good, checking in took a while, the agent was helpful.
Bad company to do business with.

Charged $900 for a one-way fee on a $200 two day rental. DO NOT BOOK WITH AVIS EVER. Called to dispute and was told there is nothing they can do about it. It would have been cheaper for me to drive the 1400 miles back to where I picked it up from AND fly back home. Disgusted and completely robbed of $900.

I reserved and prepaid for a compact car this morning for an early commute tomorrow. When I arrived, I handed my license and credit card to the agent, Andy. Partway through checkout, he stopped to help the customer behind me. I was then told a Toyota recall issued at 11am meant he couldn't rent out either of the two cars on the lot.

I understand a recall isn't this location's fault. How it was handled is the problem.

Andy asked whether I could drive a 12-passenger van. I said I could, but that I'd reserved a compact on purpose for the gas mileage. He called another location, and while on the phone he laughed and told them I couldn't drive a large vehicle. That is not what I said.

After about 25 minutes of waiting, during which I had to rearrange school pickup for my kids, the solution offered was that I take an Uber across town to get a car from another store, with the fare taken off my rental. I declined and asked to cancel. Andy said he couldn't cancel a reservation and that I'd have to call. When I asked for the number, he threw a sheet of paper at me with no obvious phone number on it.

I stayed calm and asked him more than once simply to be kind. Each time, the answer was that he'd done everything he could and it wasn't his fault. When I said I'd be leaving a review, he said he didn't care.

While standing at the counter, I booked a car with Enterprise. I was greeted warmly there and was in and out in under 10 minutes.

Cars become unavailable; that happens. But a customer who prepaid should be able to cancel on the spot and be treated with basic respect while it gets sorted out. Neither happened here. I would not recommend this location to anyone.

They'll make a reservation, have you fly across the country, then wind up deciding NOT to rent a car to you. Absolutely despicable, unethical behavior.