Rent a Car at Cologne

What payment cards do you accept?

We accept:

• American Express (excluding American Express Traveller's Cheque cards)
• Diners Club
• Discover cards
• Visa credit / debit cards
• MasterCard credit / debit cards
• Avis-issued charge cards / voucher

We accept Maestro cards, V-Pay cards and Visa Electron Cards for rentals of certain vehicles but additional identity, security, driving licence and credit checks will be needed and we will take a deposit of EUR 200.00 + the expected rental value please contact us should you wish to use these payment cards.
Prepaid cards can be used only for making payments at the end of your rental.

We don't accept Cirrus cards, JCB cards or any other cards not listed above – even if they carry the Visa or MasterCard logo.

We do not accept digital payment cards.

We also do not accept cash.

Cash can be used for van rentals; additional identity, security, driving licence and credit checks will be needed and we will take a deposit of EUR 200.00.

Pre-authorisations and Security Deposits

Unless confirmed otherwise, the amount of the pre-authorisation taken on pick-up of the rental vehicle is calculated as follows:
(The vehicle rental price* + EUR 200.00 **) MINUS (Any sum you have already paid when making a "Pay Now" booking)

* The "vehicle rental price" includes the vehicle rental cost and all optional extras you've requested, calculated at the start of the rental based on the intended length of the rental. For the avoidance of any doubt, any "Pay at Location" amount you owe in relation to the vehicle rental (including any optional extras) will be included as part of the pre-authorisation and will be charged to you at the end of the rental (using the card provided for the purposes of the pre-authorisation, unless agreed otherwise). ** If you buy our "Fuel Up Front" product, we will reduce the EUR 200.00 by the amount we charge you for the "Fuel Up Front" product

The EUR 200.00 is included as part of the pre-authorisation in case we have to charge you at the end of the rental for any of the following:

i. costs to refuel the vehicle (where relevant);

ii. additional rental charges in circumstances where you fail to return the vehicle or any optional extras at the end of the agreed rental period or to the agreed return location;

iii. any additional charges or fines you incur relating to your use of the vehicle (which we have been notified of prior to you returning the vehicle, which will include, for example, costs relating to traffic violations); and/or

iv. costs incurred as a result of exceeding any relevant mileage restrictions.

Where the pre-authorisation we take does not cover the charges you incur, we will request you make a further payment for the additional amounts owed.

In relation to certain high value vehicles, we may require you to provide us with two payment cards for the purposes of the pre-authorisation. Where this is the case, this will be confirmed when making a booking.

If you'd like more details, please call our customer support team or ask a member of our team.

Debit Cards, Electron Cards and German Maestro Cards are accepted.  
Prepaid cards can only be accepted at check-in.

Requirement to bring a valid driving licence with you

In Germany, all drivers must bring their valid driving licence with them.

If any of the following applies:

• their driving licence was issued in Europe, 
• their driving licence was issued in a non-European country or,
• their driving licence was issued in a non-roman alphabet language like Arabic, Greek, Russian, Hebrew or Japanese,

and we cannot confirm with certainty the details included within the driving licence, the driver will also need to provide either an international driving licence or an official German translation, by a notary, of their driving licence. If this might apply to you, please contact us (prior to your pick up date) as we would be pleased to confirm if an international licence or official translation will be required. 

We do not accept digital driving licences.

Minimum licence requirements 

All drivers must have held their licences for at least 12 months from the date of pick-up. A higher minimum age limit and licence validity may apply for certain vehicles. This will be shown during the booking process or disclosed to you before completing the booking.

If a licence does not show the driver has held it for the minimum period, then they must provide evidence, such as: 

• previous driving licences; or
• a letter from their driving licence authority stating that they have held it for this minimum period.

Public liability insurance is in accordance with the insurance laws of the country.  Customer may inquire at the time of rental for additional information of the benefits, conditions and acceptance.

Note: Some credit cards provide insurance coverage, with certain limitations, as a benefit of using the card to rent vehicles.  The customer is advised to contact the card issuer before the rental.  Any waiver must be discussed directly with the location upon arrival.

Within Germany, there are toll roads and toll bridges which require you to pay a fee if you wish to use them. If you do not pay these charges before you use them, you will incur a fine.

We recommend you check the Internet to find out about any restricted areas before you travel. Websites such as www.urbanaccessregulations.eu provide useful information. If the rental location is in or near a restricted area, we will tell you about it when you pick up the vehicle. We are unable to tell you about any other restricted areas.

Due to winter conditions between November 15 and March 15, the entire Avis fleet in Germany is equipped with winter tires. The fee for winter tires is included in the total price.

Minimum driver age restrictions
When you book, you'll be told if there are any minimum age restrictions for the vehicle you request. If you're not sure, please check your booking confirmation email or call our Reservations Team.

You need to be at least 19 years old to hire and drive most of our vehicles. The minimum age for vehicle group F and P is 25 years. (Two credit cards required for groups F and P).

Young driver surcharge

If you or any of your drivers are under 25 when you pick up the vehicle, you will each have to pay a young driver surcharge. The cost of a young driver surcharge will be built into the price confirmed at booking stage. If you add an additional driver onto the rental at pick up, you may be charged a young driver surcharge (you will be asked to agree to this) and is likely to be between EUR 11.90 and EUR 14.95 per day.
If you rent the vehicle for more than 10 days, you'll only be charged for a maximum of 10 days and get cover for the duration of the rental up to 28 days.

Returning the vehicle
Unless you agreed a different refuelling option (see below), you must return the vehicle to us with the same amount of fuel it had in it when you picked it up usually a full tank as shown on the factory-installed fuel gauge or automatically logged in respect of connected cars. We recommend you fill up as close to the return location as you can on the return date and keep the receipt to show us. If you don't return the vehicle with a full tank and you can't show us a receipt for fuel, we will charge you.

Refuelling options
Fuel Up Front - this option allows you to pay for a full tank of fuel, based on the manufacturer's stated fuel tank capacity of your vehicle plus our costs of refuelling the vehicle for you. Then you just return the vehicle with whatever is left in the tank (even if it is virtually empty) so long as the engine still runs.

This is only available where you have added it as an option at booking stage or asked to add it to your rental prior to you collecting the vehicle. If you have added this option, the cost will be on your Rental Agreement Form. However, you don't get a refund for any fuel you don't use.

EZ Fuel - If you have travelled less than 120km and don't have time to fill up the tank or can't show us receipt for fuel, you will be charged the EZ fuel fee to cover this. This will be charged as a fixed fee of between EUR 26.00 and EUR 36.40.

Pay on Return - If you are renting a "connected car", you will be required to pay for fuel so as to ensure that the vehicle has the same amount as when you collected it (this is automatically logged and is calculated to the nearest litre).
If you are renting any other traditional fuel or hybrid vehicle, you will be required to pay for fuel so as to ensure that the vehicle has the same amount as when you collected it based on the factory-installed fuel gauge rounded down to the nearest eighth (1/8) of a tank (costs are based on the manufacturer's stated fuel tank capacity). We charge between 1.5 and 3 times the average fuel price at the end of the rental period. The price per litre will be stated on your Rental Agreement Form.

Fully Electric Vehicles

We charge a fixed amount dependent on the battery charge on the factory-installed battery gauge. This is the "Pay on Return" rate. The amounts charged are set out below:

* unless the vehicle had less than 70% battery charge when you collected it, in which case, you must return it with at least the same % battery charge as it had at time of pick-up in order for no additional costs to be applied.

Do I need to bring proof of identification?
Yes, you must bring:

• the payment card that was used to make your booking. For some vehicles, two payment cards in your name will be required. One of these must be the payment card used to make your booking.
• photo ID featuring a recognisable photo taken in the last 10 years. We will accept your passport or driving licence if it contains a photo, a national identity card or any other form of government-issued identification.
• We do not accept digital documents, all documents must present physically.

You may also need to bring proof of where you live. This could include a recent utility bill or bank statement. If your driving licence shows your address, we will accept it as proof of your address.

Other requirements

Can I let anyone else drive?
Yes, but only if we have approved them. You must not let anyone else drive the vehicle.
We charge a fee for every Additional Driver we allow to drive the vehicle. The price depends on the location you're renting from, but you can expect it to be between 11.00 EUR and 13.81 EUR per day, per driver.
If you rent the vehicle for more than 7 days, you will only be charged for a maximum of 87.85 EUR and get cover for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days.
All additional drivers must meet our age, driving licence and ID requirements.
If any additional driver is outside of our age restrictions, we will also charge a driver surcharge. Find out more: see the Age Information section of this document.
Do you offer a meet and greet service?
Yes, in some of our airport and train station rental locations.
Can I pick up the vehicle outside your normal opening hours?
Yes, some rental locations offer an out of hour's pick-up service where you can collect the vehicle and any optional extras outside the rental location's normal opening hours.
The out of hour's pick up fee is 50,00 EUR.
You must give us at least 24 hours notice to organise out of hour's pick-up. We may be able to provide the service at shorter notice, but you will need to check with the Reservations team.
My rental has a mileage allowance. I have driven more than the allowance, how much will I pay for excess mileage?
Many of our vehicles are provided with unlimited mileage. If a mileage allowance applies, it will be stated on your rental agreement and in your booking confirmation email. If you go over the mileage allowance, the price depends on the vehicle and location but you can expect it to costs between .50 EUR and 2.50 EUR for every kilometre you've driven over the allowance. Your excess mileage charge will be stated on your rental agreement.
Can I smoke in the vehicle?
No, you are not allowed to smoke in it. If we believe anyone has smoked in the vehicle during the rental period, a specialist cleaning charge will apply.
Find out more: see the Age Information and Driving Licence and ID requirements sections of this document.
Are there any roads or zones where I need to pay a fee before I can enter?
Yes, there are toll roads and toll bridges which require you to pay a fee if you wish to use them. If you do not pay these charges before you use such roads or bridges, you will incur a fee.

We recommend you check the Internet to find out about any restricted areas before you travel. Websites such as www.urbanaccessregulations.eu provide useful information. If the rental location is in or near a restricted area, we will tell you about it when you pick up the vehicle. We are unable to tell you about any other restricted areas.
I have been caught speeding, and didn't pay a parking charge, what will I have to pay?
You are responsible for all fines and charges issued as a result of you or your additional drivers using the vehicle. Fines and charges could include:

• All parking fines or charges
• Toll charges
• Towing charges
• Clamping costs
• Traffic fines or charges
• Speeding fines
• And any other charges or fines

If a fine or charge is sent to us because you haven't paid a charge or complied with the law, we will take payment for:

• Our administration fee of 29.75 EUR for each fine or charge issued in any other country, which will be charged in the currency of the country where the fine occurred. You retain the right to prove that a loss or damage has not occurred or that the loss or damage occurred is considerably lower than the administration fee.
• Plus the fine or charge if we have to pay it

I have left the interior of the vehicle very dirty and made it smell. Will I be charged to clean it?
Yes, if the interior of the vehicle is especially muddy, dirty, stained or smelly, and our standard cleaning procedure will not fix it, you will be charged a Specialist Cleaning Charge of on a time and expenditure basis, at least 150 EUR. You retain the right to prove that a damage or loss has not occurred or the loss or damage occurred is considerably lower than the Specialist Cleaning Charge.

Roadside Assistance

What happens if I break down because of a mechanical failure?
All our vehicles are maintained to the manufacturer's standards, and they are roadworthy when you pick them up so mechanical failure in our vehicles is rare. So long as you are using the vehicle in a country we have agreed to, we provide roadside assistance or recovery free of charge. You can only use our roadside assistance provider to help you. You will find their contact details inside the vehicle.
What happens if I break down because of a non-mechanical failure or in another country?
You must tell us if you break down or have an accident. If you need roadside assistance, we will arrange this for you, but you will have to pay for it. You will also be charged for any costs we incur getting the vehicle back on the road in the country of rental. This may include, but is not limited to:

• Towing call out fee and recovery costs up to a maximum of Euro 300 (unless there is need of a special towing rescue, repatriation, or breach of contract in which the maximum charge could be updated to Euro 600.
• Repair costs
• Loss of use
• Repatriation costs
• Any costs to take you, and/or any of your passengers, to another location.
• Electrical Charge for EV Vehicles (Where the cable is in working order)

What products do you have to protect me if I break down because of a non-mechanical problem?
Roadside Assistance Plus provides roadside assistance if you break down as a result of:

• Flat batteries
• Flat tyres
• Keys locked in the vehicle
• Running out of fuel

Provided you are using the vehicle is a country we have agreed to. You will only need to pay for the costs of any additional items needed to get the vehicle back on the road like fuel or tyres.

How much does Roadside Assistance Plus cost?
The price will depend on where you're renting but you can expect it to be between 7.00 EUR and 8.80 EUR a day. If you rent the vehicle for more than 12 days, you will only be charged for a maximum of 12 days and get cover for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days.

What happens if I don't return the incident report form or European accident form?
If you are involved in an accident, or the vehicle, keys, any accessories, any vehicle documents or any optional extras are damaged, lost or stolen; you must complete and return an incident report form and if available, the European accident report form. If you should be unable to meet this obligation or if you cannot meet the payment deadline, we will invoice a separate flat-rate processing fee as per section 6 of General Conditions of Rental in the amount of 35.00 EUR.

Can I pick up the vehicle from one rental location and return it to another?
Yes, some rental locations let you collect the vehicle and any optional extras from one rental location and return them to another.
How much is the One-Way fee?
The price depends on the rental location. If you want to pick up the vehicle and return it to a different location in the same country, you can expect it to be between 59.00 EUR and 250.00 EUR. If you want to pick up the vehicle in one country and drop it off in another country, you can expect it to be between 100 EUR and 4.500 EUR.
How do I get a One-Way rental?
You can request a one-way rental when you book or you can ask for it when you get to the rental location.
If you asked for a one-way rental when you booked, the fee will be included in your rental price.
How much will it cost if I did not request a One-Way rental but return the vehicle to a different location?
You will be charged a one-way fee at the pay at location prices available on the day you return the vehicle.

Child Seats

We offer baby, infant, child, and booster seats.
A baby seat is typically suitable for a child from birth to 12 months old and weighing no more than 13 kilos.
An infant seat is typically suitable for a child aged 9 months to 4 years old and weighing between 9 and 18 kilos.
A child seat is typically suitable for a child aged 4 to 11 years old and weighing between 15 and 36 kilos.
A booster seat is typically suitable for a child aged 8 to 11 years and weighing between 20 and 45 kilos.

In some rental locations, we may arrange for a third party to fit the seat for you. But remember, it is always your responsibility to check the seat is fitted correctly before you drive away.

Please note: In Germany, all children must use a child car seat until they're 12 years old or 150 cm tall.

The fee for renting a seat is between EUR 13.00 and EUR 16.31 per day, up to a maximum charge of EUR 86.59 per 28 day rental.

If the seat is damaged, lost or stolen, you will have to pay for a replacement. This is likely to cost between EUR 209.00 and EUR 260.00 on top of the hire fee.

All weather tyres
If the rental location you're hiring from is in an area where it is illegal to drive without all-weather tyres at certain times of the year, the vehicle will automatically be supplied with them and the fee will be included in your rental fee or contract.
Between 15 November and 15 March all vehicles in Germany are equipped with Winter tyres and the fee for this is already included in your rental price.

We can also supply all-weather tyres for a fee. This will depend on where you're renting but you can expect it to be between EUR 15.00 and EUR 18.81 a day. If you rent the vehicle for more than 10 days, you'll only be charged for a maximum of 10 days and get to use the all-weather tyres for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days.

If any all-weather tyre is damaged, lost or stolen, and if you are responsible for that, you will have to pay for a replacement pair which will be between EUR 150.00 and EUR 400.00 plus the rental costs.
In the event that your rental does not already contain all-weather tyres and you want to have these tyres, please notify us at least 24 hours in advance.

Snow chains
If the rental location you're hiring from is in an area where it's illegal to drive without snow chains at certain times of the year the vehicle will be automatically supplied with snow chains and the fee will be included in your rental price.

We can also supply snow chains at other locations, and you can expect to pay between EUR 72.00 and EUR 90.35 per rental.

If snow chains are damaged, lost or stolen, and if you are responsible for that, you will have to pay for a replacement pair which will be between EUR 69.00 and EUR 100.00 plus the rental costs.

Ski Racks
Some rental locations offer ski racks. We can also supply ski racks at other locations, and you can expect to pay between EUR 72.00 and EUR 90.35 per rental.

Ski racks cannot be fitted to all our vehicles, so you may need to upgrade if you need one. This may increase the price of the vehicle and any excess you may have to pay
If the ski rack is damaged, lost or stolen, you'll have to pay for a replacement. *
This is likely to cost between EUR 250.00 and EUR 500.00 on top of the hire fee.

Please give us at least 24 hours' notice if you want to hire a ski rack. If you need it at shorter notice, please call the Reservations team.

Avis Travel Companion Tablet
This provides a GPS service and unlimited data per day, as well as other useful features you may need when travelling. We provide this service on behalf of a third party so you will need to read and agree to separate terms and conditions with, which will be signed by you on the device at the time of rental check out.

The fee for hiring Travel Companion Tablet is between EUR 13.51 and EUR 16.95 per day, up to a maximum charge of 14 days per 28 day rental.

If the Travel Companion Tablet is damaged, lost or stolen, you'll have to pay for a replacement. This is likely to cost from EUR 260.00 on top of the hire fee. If any of the accessories are lost, damaged or stolen, you will have to pay for a replacement. This is likely to cost between EUR 10.00 and EUR 150.00 on top of the hire fee. *

Trailer Hitch
It is possible to rent vehicles with a trailer hitch and the price you pay will depend on the location you are renting from.

Please note that there are maximum supporting and towing loads, which can be found in the in Part, fields 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3, of the vehicle's registration documents.
The permissible trailer load is the maximum weight that the trailer may have, including the load. The trailer nose weight indicates the force that may act on the towing vehicle hitch.
If you do not comply with these manufacturer specifications, you risk a fine and a penalty point in the traffic offence register of the German Federal Motor Vehicle Transport Authority. This may also impact your liability reduction.

Moving Blankets
We rent blankets at some van / truck locations, and you can expect to pay EUR 3.00 per rental.

Trolleys
We rent trolleys at some van / truck locations, and you can expect to pay EUR 9.00 per day. If you rent the vehicle for more than 6 days, you'll only be charged for a maximum of 6 days and get to use the trolley for the duration of your rental.

If the trolley is damaged, lost or stolen, you will have to play for a replacement. This is likely to cost EUR 70.00 please the hire cost. *

Please note in many countries, including Germany, it is illegal to drive while using a handheld mobile phone, tablet or any other communications device. It is your responsibility to drive safely and according to the laws of the country you are driving in.

* If you can show the damage or loss was not in any way your fault or due to your negligence, we will refund this cost to you.

Data E SIM

Access the internet wherever you are, with the E-SIM that lets you stay connected with ease. Whether you're on holiday or travelling for business, our E-SIM guarantees a fast, reliable connection for smooth browsing and downloads. It only takes a minute to activate the E-SIM and you'll be connected to the internet immediately. Plus, you can rest assured the latest security features will keep your personal data safe.

Sack Trucks

We rent sack trucks at some van / truck locations for EUR 15.00 charge per day with a maximum of EUR 75,00. You get to use the sack truck for the duration of your rental up to 28 days. If the sack truck is damaged, lost or stolen, you are responsible for paying the cost of replacement or repair, whichever is lower.  

I want to keep the vehicle for longer, what should I do?
If you want to extend the rental please contact us as soon as possible. At the latest, this should be before the end date and time on your rental agreement. Extra days will be charged at pay at location prices.

What happens if I do not extend the rental?
If you fail to extend your rental and are late returning the vehicle, we will charge you for an extra day's rental plus a late return administration fee for each day or part of a day until the vehicle is returned.

If you fail to extend your rental and are late returning the vehicle, we will, on the third day after your agreed return date, pre-authorise payment for an additional 5 days' rental charge on your debit card or, 10 days if you are using a credit card, at "pay at location" prices. If you return the vehicle within those 5 or 10 days (whichever applies), you will only be charged for your actual rental days, plus any other charges you owe us.
If you fail to return your vehicle as agreed, we will also charge you a late return administration fee for each day or part of a day until the vehicle is returned.
The late return administration fee is between 15 EUR and EUR 19.15 per day. You retain the right to prove that a damage or loss has not occurred or that the damage or loss occurred is considerably lower than the late return administration fee.

Unless we agree otherwise, you are only allowed to use the vehicle in:

• Austria (A)
• Andorra (AND)
• Belgium (B)
• Switzerland (CH)
• Czech Republic (CZ)
• Germany (D)
• Denmark (DK)
• Spain (E)
• France (F)
• Finland (FIN)
• Liechtenstein (FL)
• Hungary (H)
• Croatia (HR)
• Italy (I)
• Luxemburg (L)
• Monaco (MC)
• Norway (N)
• Netherlands (NL)
• Portugal (P)
• Poland (PL)
• San Marino (RSM)
• Sweden (S)
• Slovakia (SK)
• Slovenia (SLO)

Some vehicles are not permitted to enter the following countries:

• France (F)
• Italy (I)
• Czech Republic (CZ)
• Croatia (HR)
• Hungary (H)
• Poland (PL)
• Slovakia (SK)
• Slovenia (SLO)

Entry to France (F), Italy (I), Czech Republic (CZ), Croatia (HR), Hungary (H), Poland (PL), Slovakia (SK) and Slovenia (SLO) for vehicles of vehicle group F, P and O are not permitted.

Nor is it permitted to use our vehicles on the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Corsica, Crete and Sardinia.

Porsche vehicles may only be driven in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

You'll need to pay a Cross Border Fee for journeys outside of Germany, this is likely to cost EUR 7.50 per day, up to a maximum charge of EUR 43.92 per rental.

Please note that if you are permitted to take the vehicle outside of Germany, it is your responsibility to make sure you comply with legal requirements applicable in the relevant country/countries you travel in.