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If you book a car with Avis via the BA shopping portal it supposedly gives you a free second driver.
It is prominently detailed on the homepage, then mentioned when you search for a car, then also in the individual car listing.
However on at least 3 car hires from different Avis branches in LA they claim to have nothing on their system for a free additional driver. One branch in Wilshire Blvd honoured it as we had hired there before. (5* service from the manager).
The other 2 times I emailed Avis and they refunded the extra cost very quickly. I asked why this is happening and will their systems be fixed but they didn’t answer that question.
It’s just a hassle doing it this way. Anyone else experienced this problem? I wonder if Rob has contacts at Avis this can be brought up with. If I didn’t check my credit card statement thoroughly I may not have noticed this. Surely it’s a breach of advertising regulations?
I just took a car in GVA and they added the second driver when they saw it was a BA booking (so feels like their systems doesn’t say “2nd driver” directly).
Btw, another issues I noticed is that when you pick up the car they issue a voucher for the value for he rental (let’s say $1,000 for your rental in LA is worth £800 on the day). When you then return the car they recompute (so you return the car and still have to pay $1,000 but the pound value is now £810 and the voucher issued was £800 so they charge you £10).
I had this multiple times and had to ask Avis/BA to refund. It seems to be an issue with the fact the exchange rate of the voucher is computed a two different time.
I did the pay in advance option so this didn’t happen to me.
Amusingly when I got the 2nd driver refund to my credit card the exchange rate changed in my favour but only by about 30p or so!
“A spouse or life partner can drive a rental car without an additional fee as long as they have a valid driver’s license and are 25 or older.”
“The additional driver fee does apply to friends and extended family members who want to drive the rental car as an additional driver. These drivers must fill out the additional driver form and must be 25 years old or older. After filling out the form, they must present a valid driver’s license at the rental counter.”
https://www.avis.com/en/help/usa-faqs/additional-driver
Also, Avis Preferred Plus and Presidents Club gives you a free additional driver.
PS – Amex Plat or Barclaycard Avios Plus both give you status with Avis.
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