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Avis vs Hertz

Find out which has the better car rental deal for you to zoom zoom away with.

Stephanie Yip
Stephanie Yip

Updated

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We’ve simplified choosing between Avis and Hertz by comparing them across all their most important features.

This includes deposits, payment options, cancellation fees and car rental excess charges.

Here's our verdict, or read on for our full comparison.

TL;DR: Our verdict

The winner: We're giving this one to Avis as the rental company is available in more regions worldwide, has a wider variety of vehicles, more commonly offers unlimited mileage with its vehicles and allows you to tack on spouses and employees as additional drivers for free. Additional driver fees outside of these are also charged at a cheaper rate than Hertz.

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Avis vs Hertz: A thorough comparison

FeaturesAvisHertzWinner
Where can I hire a car?Avis has over 5,500 locations in:
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Australia and New Zealand
  • Canada
  • Caribbean
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • Middle East
  • United States
Hertz has 9,700 locations throughout:
  • Asia
  • Australia and New Zealand
  • Europe
  • Canada
  • Caribbean
  • Latin America
  • United States
Both (Avis is more widespread, Hertz has more locations)
What type of cars does it have?
  • Compact cars
  • Vans
  • SUVs
  • 4WDs
  • Sedans
  • Hybrid vehicles
  • Trucks
  • Luxury vehicles
  • Buses
  • Utility vehicles
  • Compact cars
  • Vans
  • SUVs/minivans
  • 4WDs
  • Sedans
  • Hybrid vehicles
  • Trucks
  • High performance vehicles
  • Wheelchair accessible vehicles
Avis
Does it require a deposit?NoNoBoth
Is insurance included?Yes. Standard rentals come with a loss damage waiver. Third party insurance is also included in certain locations. Additional insurance is available to purchase.Yes. Hertz rentals include accident damage excess to reduce your liability for loss or damage to the vehicle. Additional insurance packages can be purchased.Both
How much is excess?Avis' standard excess rates will be specified in the rental agreement.$4,650 for 2WD;

$6,001 for prestige and large vehicles,

$7,000 for vehicles heavier than 3 tonnes;

$8,250 for dream collection vehicles.

Hertz
Do I need to wash the car?No, but the car should not be returned excessively dirty or smelly.No, but the car should not be returned excessively dirty or smelly.Both
Rental requirements
  • Drivers must be at least 21 or 25 years old, depending on the location
  • Full, valid driver’s licence held for at least a year
  • Licences not written in Latin characters need an International Driving Permit (IDP)
  • Drivers must be at least 21 years old
  • Valid driver’s licence
  • Licences not written in English must be accompanied by an IDP
Both
Does it charge per mile/kilometre?No. However, some rentals have limited mileage and you will be charged per kilometre/mile for exceeding the limit.No, but if a mileage limit applies to your rental, you may be charged by the kilometre/mile if you exceed the limit.Both
Is there unlimited mileage?Yes. Typically, Avis rentals come with unlimited mileage. However, some rentals have a mileage limit.Sometimes. This depends on the pick-up location and type of vehicle. If mileage is limited, a daily kilometre allowance will be specified in the rental agreement.Avis
Does it rent to under 25s?Yes, depending on the location.Yes. In most locations, the minimum driving age is 21.Both
Does it accept cash?YesYesBoth
Does it price match?Yes. Avis matches and beats cheaper Avis rentals found elsewhere by 10%.Yes. If you find a Hertz rental cheaper elsewhere, Hertz matches and beats the rate by 10%.Both
Does it pick you up?NoIn some locations.Hertz
What are my payment options?
  • Cash
  • Credit card
  • Mastercard
  • Visa debit card
  • Traveller’s cheque
  • Cash
  • Credit card
  • Mastercard
  • Visa debit card
  • Charge card
Both
Does it accept debit cards?YesYesBoth
Does it allow for cancellations/changes?Yes. Changes and cancellations can be made online prior to rental pick-up. During the rental, you can contact your local office to make any amendments.Yes. Cancellations and changes can be made to the return date, time and location before the rental begins. Fees may apply.Both
How long does it hold reservations?At most Avis airport locations, the desk will remain open until your flight has arrived, even if it's delayed. Notify Avis as soon as you are aware of a potential delay.Hertz typically holds vehicle reservations for either two hours after the pick-up time or until 11:59pm on the pick-up date, depending on the location and vehicle type.Both
Can I add an extra driver?Yes. Partners and work colleagues of the renter may drive the vehicle, fee-free. Other drivers can be added at a rate of $5 per day, capped at $25.Yes. The renter’s immediate family and partner, employees and employers can drive free of charge if they meet the rental requirements. All other additional drivers must pay a fee of $5.50 per day, capped at 5 days. Additional fees apply for drivers aged 21–25.Avis
Do they have manual and automatic cars?YesYesBoth
Is there a points/loyalty programme?Avis' Avis Preferred loyalty programme lets members skip the rental counter in select locations and access exclusive deals and partner rewards. You can also earn frequent flyer points on hires.Hertz's Gold Plus Rewards Programme lets members enjoy speedy pick-up and drop-off and exclusive offers. You can earn points on rentals which can be redeemed for free hire.Both
Is GPS available.Yes, for a fee.Yes, for a fee.Both
BookBook your rental with Avis

Which is cheaper?

To settle the war over which is cheaper, Avis or Hertz, we conducted the same booking search on both their official websites. We looked for the same pick-up location, time and dates and located the cheapest vehicle available to us. Here's how it went:

The verdict?

If price is your winning factor then Hertz offers the cheaper rental at $163.40, but only if you pay when you book. This saves you almost $20 compared to paying at the counter which is miles ahead of Avis, which only offers you savings of $2.68 for paying early.

If you are more inclined to pay at the counter, Avis comes up cheaper but only by 2c with a rental cost of $179.99.

It's worth noting that this $179.99 rental is for a manual car. So if you only drive automatic, Hertz again comes out as the better option in this circumstance.

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What are the deals like?

Avis’s deals can cover certain vehicles and locations and include upgrades, free rental days and partner offers. You can also earn Qantas points with Avis rentals.

Hertz's deals are less centred on specific vehicles and locations and more on rate discounts and car upgrades.

The verdict?

Both companies offer similar types of deals but Hertz is less restricted to location and vehicle type.

Avis vs Hertz: Who won?

This is a super tough call but we're going to give it to Avis. True, Hertz may have come on top in the price comparison we made but Avis has more benefits attached including allowing for an additional driver for free if they're your spouse or employer, being available in more locations worldwide including Africa and the Middle East and more widely offering unlimited mileage with its vehicles.

Here's a full breakdown of each company's winning points, as found through our comparison:

Avis:

  • Is available in more regions worldwide, including Africa and the Middle East
  • Has a wider range of cars, including utility vehicles and buses
  • More vehicles come with unlimited mileage
  • Cheaper rates for additional drivers overall

Hertz:

  • Has more office locations worldwide
  • Outlines its excess insurance online, unlike Avis
  • Picks you up at select locations
  • Bigger savings compared to Avis if you pay when booking, as opposed to when you pick your car up

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