We had a prepaid reservation for a car from Lisbon airport. On pickup we declined additional insurance etc as this was covered by our credit card. After returning home additional charges (several $100) appeared on our credit card. On contacting the company the additions were for the insurance etc.we had declined. Plus a tank of gas, even though we returned the car fully fueled. Beware that Avis has you sign contracts on a tiny screen, in Portuguese, and even though the agent reassures you several times that the items discussed have been declined, you are likely to be billed for them. Plus the company never responds even if they "promise* they will have answers to you in a specified period of time. Shall never ever use AVIS again. IMO this company is unethical and fraud seems to be a common practice.
TL
tianna L.
I am writing to formally complain about…
I am writing to formally complain about the cancellation of my prepaid car rental reservation less than 24 hours before my scheduled pickup.
I was contacted by the local branch and informed that they did not have a vehicle available for my reservation. When I spoke directly with the site manager, she stated, “I don’t have any cars available for you, love.” I found this response extremely unprofessional and inappropriate, particularly in a customer service interaction. The use of “love” when communicating with a customer in this situation was unnecessarily familiar and did not reflect the level of professionalism I expect from a company representative.
What is especially concerning is that I had prepaid for this reservation and was given less than 24 hours’ notice that the company could not fulfill the reservation. I contacted corporate customer service for assistance and connected the corporate representative with the local branch. During that conversation, the branch manager stated that the location was a franchise and that there was nothing corporate could do other than move my reservation to another location or issue a refund.
This situation left me in an extremely difficult position, despite having fulfilled my obligation by paying for the reservation in advance. I should not have to deal with the consequences of a vehicle shortage or a branch’s inability to honor a confirmed, prepaid reservation with such little notice.
I am requesting that this complaint be formally reviewed, including the handling of my reservation, the communication from the local branch, and the conduct of the site manager. I would also like clarification regarding what measures will be taken to prevent customers with confirmed prepaid reservations from being placed in this situation in the future.
I expect a response addressing both the cancellation of my reservation and the unprofessional manner in which I was treated.
BE
Beth
bad customer service
had an issue with my booking and was just trying to change the driver on the car. The people at the front desk were not helpful at all and didn’t really seem interested in helping me find a solution
I’ve rented cars plenty of times and have never felt this unsupported when trying to sort out a booking
customer service really needs to improve
KC
Kristen C.
I live in Tallahassee Florida and I was…
I live in Tallahassee Florida and I was in an emergency situation and dire need of a rental car. After being scammed once and almost scammed again in the same day, I called Avis/Budget at the Tallahassee airport, they said come in. So I did,I wasn't there more than 5 minutes and Lauren was so nice, professional, and quick!! She made it possible for my husband and I to see his father before he passed away!! Excellent service from Lauren she's an angel!! Upon returning the vehicle everything went smooth as well no more than a couple minutes at the counter, I was stressed out and I can't remember the girl's name but she was sweet too!! Best customer service all the way around!! Please check with Avis/Budget before you rent anywhere else!! I would give them 10 Stars if I could!!
SI
Simon
Warning: Hidden costs added without disclosure!
Warning: Hidden charges at the counter, refund promised in writing and never paid
Anyone booking a rental car here should know exactly what they are getting into. I rented a vehicle from 06/04 to 06/15/2026 at the Washington Dulles Airport location, booked through Auto Europe (reservation number 10216685DE3), rental agreement number 638411244. What happened afterwards, in my view, points to a pattern where customers are pushed into extra costs at the counter that many will never think to question.
At the counter, I was told the toll package was essential for a longer road trip like mine. I was never informed that toll charges could also be paid on a pay-per-use basis without the package. I signed on a small digital signature pad without being shown or walked through an itemized breakdown, and I never received a printed contract. It was only when I checked my credit card statement at the hotel that I realized the 604.05 USD charge was not part of the base rate already prepaid through Auto Europe, but a completely separate, additional charge.
It gets worse. After I filed a complaint (Case ID 82547993), the assigned representative confirmed in writing on 06/28/2026 that three optional products, Personal Accident Insurance, Personal Effects Protection, and Extended Roadside Assistance, had been added to my booking without my informed consent, and offered a refund for them. I accepted that refund in writing the same day. What followed: nothing. Despite repeated follow-ups (including 07/11/2026) and copying in two additional contacts in Customer Service (a manager and a director), I was met with complete silence. No payment, no response, no explanation.
In plain terms: an Avis representative admitted in writing that I had been charged for services I never knowingly agreed to, promised a refund, and then that promise was simply not honored. If a company won't even follow through on its own written commitments, it raises real questions about how the rest of its business practices work.
Conclusion: Not recommended. Check every single line item at the counter before you sign, and don't count on a promised refund actually being paid. Be careful with the hidden costs and the customer service here.
AR
Adam R.
Deception - hidden fees
Deception at the front desk led to hidden fees.
Avis customer service were unhelpful in dealing with complaint.
I saved all of the documentation provided to me, but it was never enough for them. They make you jump through hoops to avoid a refund.
List of employees who declined to refund with unclear and non-sensical reasons:
Victor
Natasha
Adunyiswe
Buhlebenkosi
Amelia
Fezzy
AI
Anthony I.
If I could leave zero stars I would
If I could leave zero stars I would. Reserved a full size car and none were available. They gave me a Tesla which was in poor shape and dirty. I tried calling a different location to switch it out and they never pick up their calls, so I keep getting redirected to the central support number. I tried to explain the situation and when I complained that I didn’t want to just drive to another location if I can’t confirm they have cars available, he just hung up. Extremely poor customer service and quality.
MK
megan K.
Given a broken down car that had been jump started
We had a very disappointing experience with Avis and wouldn't use them again.
When we collected the car there was already a delay in handing it over, but it wasn't until later that we discovered the reason why. It turned out we had been given a vehicle that had broken down the day before and had to be jump-started that morning before being handed to us. Looking back, it explains the delay and why we experienced so many problems with the vehicle during our holiday.
The issues with the car caused significant disruption and meant we lost valuable holiday time dealing with a situation that could have been avoided if we had simply been given a reliable vehicle.
Although Avis acknowledged our complaint, the compensation offered was nowhere near proportionate to the inconvenience and time we lost. We expected much better from a company of this size, both in terms of vehicle preparation and how our complaint was handled.
Overall, it was a frustrating experience and I would think twice before renting from Avis again.