Avis Reviews 

You know when you see poor reviews and wish you'd trusted them. Yep, lesson learned. We hired a car from Avis in Italy. All was fine, lots of smiles. The hire went without issues. Then when we drop it off, the Avis staff member says he has to check our car. He immediately went directly to the front right bumper, got down on his hands and knees and searched under it, popping up a moment later to explain he found some damage.

Now how the heck did he know to go directly to that spot? He didn't slowly walk around the car thoroughly checking all of it. He just went straight to that one spot. Now I know I didn't have any accidents during my brief hire, so I'm certain that this damage was already there, in a convenient spot that it's unlikely the customer will see on their initial inspection. So I'm pretty certain that this is just a big fat scam by Avis. I can't prove it though, so it's up to you guys to decide for yourself. But I for one will steer well clear of Avis in the future.

This company is staffed by crooks! Had a reservation through Expedia with a price of $965. When I picked up the car, they didn't have the size I had booked so I was forced to take a larger car and they added gasoline pre-pay. Visa charge came to over $1200. Then upon returning the car at 0400 hrs, I had to drop off the keys in a lock box, no attendant to check the vehicle for condition. I took pictures (at pickup) AND took a video when I dropped the car off. Later that day I got an email advising of $231 in damages and charges already on my Visa. I was livid! Sent email with pictures and video, they state that they will investigate my claim of their fraudulent claim of damages. These guys are crooks! Stay clear!

Total Scam! Avis Rome set a trap and charged me €1,247 for a window!Avoid Avis Rome at all costs! In May, the rear window of my rented Fiat was broken by vandals on the street. I immediately called the Avis hotline. The agent explicitly and insistently advised me NOT to call the police, claiming it would just waste my time and that the issue would be resolved faster without a police report. Trusting their employee, I followed this advice. It turned out to be a complete trap!Because there was no police report, Avis took full advantage of the situation. They flat out charged me a maximum "Accident Repair" fee of €1,000 plus 22% Italian VAT, forcing me to pay a total of €1,247.26 just for a single Fiat window glass! No transparency, predatory behavior, and malicious advice from their staff just to extort money from tourists. I will never rent from Avis again anywhere in the world. They are thieves in suits.

Absolutely terrible experience with Avis Italy.

I received a vehicle in poor condition, dirty, covered in bird droppings, with noisy wipers and obvious signs of wear. After barely using the car and keeping it parked in a garage for most of the rental, Avis charged me for a tiny scratch they could not prove was caused during my rental.

The burden was entirely on me to dispute the charge while Avis provided minimal evidence and poor communication. Thankfully, my insurance reimbursed the amount, otherwise I would have been left paying for damage I do not believe I caused.

I travel frequently and rent cars regularly. This was by far the worst rental experience I have had. I will never use Avis again and would strongly advise others to take extensive photos and videos before leaving the parking lot.

Avoid.

Slow service when picking up the vehicle, with a wait of more than 30 minutes standing at the entrance, while only two people were handing out cars and eight people were waiting in line.
When we picked up the car, we pointed out some scratches and marks on the vehicle, to which they replied, “It’s just superficial damage; it doesn’t matter.
Because of the same marks on the vehicle, we were charged €326 upon our return, with no opportunity to respond or contest the charge because they “didn’t have time

I’ve rented cars many times, but I’ve never had such a terrible experience as I did with Avis

Never Again!!!

Never ever lease your car through Avis! We went to pick up our pre-booked and paid rental in Rome airport. We registered online with pasport etc. So we could pick up the car and go. Imagine everything did go wrong about your car rental (even before you got the car!) - and it wraps it up completely. Waiting time by the country: 1 hour+
We booked a Mercedes C class car and got a mini (with the explaination that it was the same!!)
So please do yourself a favour by not renting the car here..
Staff was ineffective beyond measure. Needing two people at several counters to deal with complaining costumers - and yes I do understand why half the people there are complaining! They have good reason to.

I had a very disappointing experience with Avis at Naples Airport.

When I booked my rental car, I prepaid all charges in advance, which is how I always rent vehicles. I deliberately decline additional insurance because I already have comprehensive cover through my existing insurance arrangements. I also always return rental cars with a full tank of fuel, so I never require any refuelling services.

At the rental desk, I was handed the agreement and keys by the Avis representative. At no point did I request or agree to any additional products or services. However, after returning the vehicle and reviewing the final charges, I discovered that the representative had added both the highest level of insurance coverage and a paid refuelling service to my rental agreement.

This makes absolutely no sense. If I had supposedly purchased a refuelling service, why would I go to the effort and expense of returning the vehicle with a full tank? The addition of both products appears completely inconsistent with my rental history and with how I actually used and returned the vehicle.

What is particularly frustrating is that these charges were not obvious until after the rental had been completed, at which point it was effectively too late to challenge them at the counter.

I expect transparency and professionalism from a global rental company. Adding expensive optional extras that were neither requested nor needed undermines that trust. I would strongly encourage anyone renting from Avis Naples Airport to carefully review every line of the rental agreement before signing, even if you have already prepaid your booking and believe everything has been settled in advance.

Unfortunately, this experience has left me feeling misled and has significantly damaged my confidence in renting from this location again.

I would like to give zero stars. Avis car hire is a scam operation that drummed up fake damage charges to charge me 100% of the rental fee so basically the cost of renting was double what I was originally quoted. Avoid unless you enjoy getting ripped off. I'll be pursuing this further but just wanted to warn fellow travellers as the holiday season approaches in Europe. AVOID AVIS.

Thieves and scammers. They fabricated car damage that was not there. Thieves, thieves, thieves. Stay away

On 17 May 2026, my wife and I — both
Korean medical doctors on our honeymoon —
had a single-vehicle accident in the
Dolomites near Lago di Fedaia (Canazei,
TN). Our rented BMW 520D struck a wall.
The AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. The car locked down
automatically.

We were not seriously injured at the
scene, but we were stranded on a cold
mountain road at night. So I called Avis
24-hour roadside assistance. The official
emergency line that the contract guarantees.
The line Avis is PAID to operate.

NO ONE ANSWERED.

I called every official Avis number —
800 801 180, +39 06 452108391,
+39 06 98240800. I called for OVER THREE
HOURS. Not a single person at Avis
answered the phone of two foreign tourists
who had just been in an accident.

BMW SOS told me it was "not their
responsibility" and redirected me to the
Avis line that wasn't answering.

In the end, it was the ITALIAN POLICE —
not Avis — who called ACI Global emergency
(Dossier #15885128) and arranged a taxi
for us. €330, OUR money, OUR pocket.
For a cost caused ENTIRELY by Avis's
failure to provide its contractually-
guaranteed roadside service.

Then began the second nightmare.

For the next 40+ HOURS:
- NOT ONE PERSON from Avis contacted us
- NO replacement vehicle was offered
- Branches deflected responsibility to
each other
- The Bolzano branch manager's "solution,"
delivered today via our hotel concierge:
"Drive 4 hours to Venice and pick up a
car yourself."

We have NO CAR. That is the entire
problem. This proposal was insulting and
absurd — the kind of contemptuous "answer"
you give a foreign honeymooning couple
because you assume they'll give up and go
away.

When pressed, the Bolzano manager refused
to escalate to a superior, then stopped
answering our calls entirely.

Meanwhile we are TRAPPED at our hotel at
~€680 per night — OUR money — because
Avis will not provide the vehicle they
are contractually obligated to provide.

Our once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon is being
systematically destroyed by Avis Italy.

We have already taken the following
actions and will continue them publicly
until resolved:

1. Formal complaint email sent directly
to CEO Brian Choi, Customer Advocacy,
Customer Service leadership, Public
Relations, Investor Relations, Avis
Italia HQ, and Avis Korea.
2. American Express full chargeback
prepared.
3. International law firm engaged.
4. European Small Claims Procedure
(EU Reg 861/2007) — to be filed from
Korea.
5. AGCM complaint (Italian Competition
Authority) prepared.
6. ECRCS formal complaint prepared
(Avis is a member and obligated to
respond).
7. Korean Embassy in Italy notified.
8. Korean media outlets notified.

To anyone considering renting from Avis
Italy: think very carefully. If you have
an accident, the 24-hour line you are
paying for may simply not exist when you
need it. The branch staff may treat you
with contempt. Your honeymoon, your trip,
your time — none of it will be respected.

I will update this review with the
outcome of Avis's response, if any.

Avis: this is your opportunity to make
this right.

— Dr. Nam Sangho
Rental Agreement: 701314493
Confirmation: 14943613US6
17 May 2026, Dolomites

Avis – Completely unacceptable handling, incorrect legal information and major disruption to my trip
My experience with Avis was extremely disappointing and resulted in serious financial loss, stress, and the complete disruption of a long-planned family trip.
I had a confirmed booking for a vehicle in Italy. Upon arrival, I was refused the rental based on a completely incorrect claim that my Portuguese driving licence would no longer be valid because I had been resident in Italy for more than two years and therefore supposedly required to convert it.
This statement is not correct under EU or Italian law.
My driving licence is fully valid, issued by an EU Member State, and valid until 2031. Under EU Directive 2006/126/EC and its implementation in Italian law (Legislative Decree No. 59/2011), EU driving licences are mutually recognised and remain valid until their expiry date. The so-called “two-year conversion rule” only applies in very specific cases that clearly do not apply here.
Despite this being explained, the rental was still refused without any reasonable justification or escalation to someone competent to verify the situation.
As a result, I was left stranded without the vehicle I had booked and forced to absorb significant financial consequences, including contractual penalties related to my accommodation, additional unexpected costs, and the complete loss of a planned family trip that had been organised in advance.
What is most concerning is not only the refusal itself, but the clear lack of knowledge regarding basic EU driving licence regulations and the absence of any meaningful effort to resolve the situation at the counter.
This was not a minor inconvenience — it was a major disruption caused by incorrect information provided by a rental company that should be fully aware of EU mobility rules.
I am now seeking full financial reimbursement for all losses directly caused by this incident.
I strongly advise Avis to urgently review staff training regarding EU driving licence recognition to prevent other customers from experiencing the same unacceptable situation.

Scammers! Stay away from AVIS in Rome!
After a 12 hour flight, 1:30Hr trying to get through customs, complete pandemonium to find AVIS at the airport we were scammed by the representative. I had rented online for US$365 and ended up paying over US$1200 with unnecessary insurances and other charges that I could not even understand. I had explained to her that my AMEX and Business Platinum covers for insurance and she said it didn't (I travel the world and never had issues since I accept leaving a deposit for a huge amount) but this lady didn't care. She threw a bunch of other charges and could not explain what it was. To make things worse they gave me MG vehicle that had been crashes and when I told the guy who brought the car he just said "take pictures"! Absolutely disgusting! I will NEVER use AVIS again.

Terrible customer service in Italy. Very rude and unfriendly.

Big scam. They give you the worst car option and then offer upgrade at ridiculous price.
Inspite of having insurance covered at the time of booking they will say that you still need to take insurance per day which is crazy price. so you end up paying much more than what you originally are quoted for. All this happens at the time when you know you donot have much option since you are out for vacation with family.
I would avoid this place unless you have no option left. They will scare you about car theft and dents and stuff so you will be forced to buy insurance.
The people at the desk are trained to upsell everything but will not help with any information or questions.
if money is not issue for someone then yes go ahead but in that case go to SIXT which is expensive but 100 times better without any hidden surprises

I rented a car from Avis Italy at Rome Fiumicino (FCO). During the rental I had a flat tire, and Avis arranged a replacement car at Naples Airport (Napoli). The replacement car from Avis Napoli already had multiple visible damages that were not properly documented in their system. I took time‑stamped photos of the car at Naples when I received it, I always do this for my protection before taking a rented vehicle.
When I returned the car, staff acknowledged that the vehicle was already in this damaged state when I took it after showing him the pics. Despite this, Avis Italy later sent me a large damage bill and Rome Fiumicino effectively treated one of these pre‑existing damages as if I had caused them. I sent Avis my photos and explained that the damage was clearly pre‑existing on the Naples replacement car, but my evidence was ignored.
In my opinion, this shows very poor coordination between Avis Rome Fiumicino and Avis Napoli and a disturbing way of handling damage claims. I feel I did everything a careful customer should do – documenting the car at pickup, following their roadside assistance process, and communicating clearly – yet I was still billed for damage I did not cause. Because of this experience, I will not use Avis Italy again and I urge other travellers to document every detail if they rent from them.

Even though they have nothing to charge me, they won't refund my deposit and won't respond to my tickets.
I gave back the car on 10/01/2026 and today, 28/01/2026, I've not received anything
It's the Vilnius Airport agency.

Rented a car from Verona Airport. Best Car hire experience we have had at this airport. On previous occasion we were ripped off by ItalyCarRent - Avis were superb

Dear Avis Customer Relations,

I am writing to formally complain about a series of failures involving two Avis reservations that resulted in significant stress, wasted time, and improper charges during our recent trip to Italy.

The reservations at issue are xx̌x̌xxx (Naples Airport) and xxxx567cxxx (Rome Fiumicino Airport).

Naples Reservation –

Due to a significant delay on United Airlines, our December 24 flight from Washington to Naples was canceled and we were rebooked to arrive in Rome on December 25, making it physically impossible for us to pick up our rental car in Naples.

We made repeated attempts to modify or cancel the Naples reservation:

1. We were unable to reach anyone at the Avis Naples Airport desk, despite repeated calls.
2. The U.S. Avis reservations office told us they could not assist and that only the Naples Airport office could modify the reservation.
3. The Avis office in Rome also told us they could not help and that we had to contact Naples Airport again, which, as noted above, was unreachable.

In short, we were trapped in a loop with no functional customer support.

Rome Airport Experience – December 25

Upon arriving at Rome Fiumicino Airport, we approached the Avis/Budget/Maggiore desk and were initially told:

- They could do nothing to assist with the Naples reservation, and
- There were no cars available to rent.

We were explicitly told to take a train instead.

However, while still in the terminal waiting area, we checked online and found that both Avis and Budget were actively showing cars available at Rome Airport. To protect ourselves, we made online reservations with both companies.

When we returned to the counter with confirmation numbers in hand, suddenly cars were available.

At that point:

- Staff could not initially locate the Avis Rome reservation I had just made.
- They did locate the Budget reservation, and we were finally provided a car — nearly three hours after our arrival.

Only afterward did staff locate the Avis reservation, at which point I was told it could not be canceled and that I would be charged for it, despite the fact that:

- The reservation had been made only minutes earlier,
- It was never used, and
- The confusion was entirely the result of contradictory information provided by Avis staff.

Requested Resolution

I am requesting:

1. Immediate cancellation and full refund of reservation 01956687US5 with all charges reversed.
2. Waiver of any penalties or charges associated with the Naples reservation xxxxx675xxx, which we were unable to cancel due solely to Avis’s failure to provide reachable customer support.
3. A written explanation of why online inventory showed cars available while desk staff repeatedly stated none were available.

This experience reflects a breakdown in communication, accountability, and basic customer service across multiple Avis offices. I expect these issues to be reviewed and resolved promptly.

My car hire experience was extremely negative at Avis Verona Airport.
​The initial process was completely ineffective, despite completing an online check-in a few days in advance, and providing all necessary details, I was met with a hostile member of staff who refused the rental, citing a mistaken email address as my name. This caused significant distress, time loss, and money loss, as they initially claimed there was nothing that could be done causing me a delay of an hour long. The situation was further aggravated by a colleague who shouted and threatened to cancel, forcing me to 'beg' for a resolution, which was only provided despite the initial refusal. Furthermore, on the return to Verona Airport, despite the rental agreement requiring a full tank and not receiving it that way, I returned it full. The staff member became displeased when I pointed out a 40 euro fuel charge on the receipt, contributing to a negative customer experience. If I could rate my experience, I would certainly rate it below zero."

DO NOT HIRE ANY CAR FROM AVIS UNLESS YOU LIKE TO BE PARTED FROM A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY!!!!
I had the bad idea to hire an Avis car at Venice airport via the Holidays Auto website. The amount quote to me was just over €700. At collection I had to sign a document where the estimate rental was over €2000. My choice then was: 1) tell them to get lost and loose the voucher of €700, plus any cancellation charges they would have dreamed to debit me or 2)sign and proceed with my holidays.
One is put in a situation where if you flip a coin the result is: head you loose and tails they win!!
I am sure that Holidays Auto are also aware of this scam, but they still choose to advertise Avis in their website