Damage

What products reduce the amount I have to pay if the vehicle is damaged during the rental?
If you have Damage Waiver (CDW) and the vehicle, keys, any accessories or any vehicle documents are damaged, the amount you have to pay for the damage will be reduced to no more than the excess stated on your rental agreement meaning you will pay for the cost of repair or replacement plus a damage processing fee of CHF 32.40 or the excess, whichever is less. If you can show the damage was not in any way your fault or due to your negligence, we will refund these costs to you. If you can show the damage was less than we said, we will refund you the difference.
How much is the excess?
This is stated on your rental agreement, and also in your booking confirmation email. You can reduce the excess even further by buying an excess reduction product.
How do I get Damage Waiver?
In most cases, Damage Waiver is provided with the vehicle as standard. If it is included, it will be stated on your rental agreement and in your booking confirmation email. If it is not included, the price depends on the vehicle you are renting and the place you are renting it from.
Is there an excess reduction product available to reduce my excess further?
Yes, Super Damage Waiver (SCDW) is an excess reduction product which reduces your excess to zero. The price depends on the vehicle and location, but you can expect it to cost between CHF 32.00 and CHF 59.00 a day.
Will I need to pay if the windscreen is damaged?
Yes, it will be treated the same as any other damage to the vehicle.
What happens if I damage any optional extras I rent from you?
If any optional extras are damaged, you have to pay for the cost of replacement, or their estimated repair costs in addition to the rental fee.
Are there any times when the excess would not apply?
Yes, the amount you pay will not be reduced if damage was caused by wilful act or gross negligence. Or as a result of:

• Water or fire damage, that was not your fault.
•  Driving the vehicle without due care and attention
• Driving or using the vehicle in breach of your contract

What do I have to pay if I do not have Damage Waiver?
If the vehicle, keys, any accessories or any vehicle documents are damaged during your rental, unless you can prove the damage was not in any way your fault or due to your negligence, you will have to pay:

• Either the cost of replacement, or the estimated repair costs, whichever is cheaper
• Plus our loss of use
• Plus an administration fee

Where can I find information of damage charges I have paid?
If we find damage, we will charge the amount you have to pay to your card. Unless you have asked us to send you a receipt by post or email, you will be able to find details of this payment here http://www.avis.ch/invoice.

Theft

What products reduce the amount I have to pay if the vehicle is lost or stolen during the rental?
If you have Theft Protection waiver (TP) and the vehicle is stolen, the amount you have to pay will be reduced to no more than the excess stated on your rental agreement meaning you will pay for the cost of repair or replacement or the excess, whichever is less. If you can show the damage was not in any way your fault or due to your negligence, we will refund these costs to you. If you can show the damage was less than we said, we will refund you the difference. If you can show the loss or theft was not in any way your fault or due to your negligence, we will refund these costs to you.
How much is the excess?
This is stated on your rental agreement, and also in your booking confirmation email. You can reduce the excess even further by buying an excess reduction product.
How do I get Theft Protection waiver?
In most cases, Theft Protection waiver is provided with the vehicle as standard. If it is included, it will be stated on your rental agreement and in your booking confirmation email.
What happens if I lose any optional extras I rent from you or if they are stolen?
If any optional extras are lost or stolen, you have to pay for the cost of replacement in addition to the rental fee, unless you are not responsible for the loss.
Are there any times when the excess would not apply?
Yes, the amount you pay will not be reduced if the loss or theft was caused by wilful act or gross negligence, for example as a result of:

• Keys being left in the vehicle
• Keys being lost or stolen
• Using the vehicle in breach of the contract

What do I have to pay if I do not have Theft Protection?
If the vehicle, keys, any accessories or any vehicle documents are lost or stolen during your rental, you will have to pay:

• The cost of replacement
• Plus our loss of use

If you can show theft was not in any way your fault or due to your negligence, we will refund these costs to you.
Where can I find information of theft charges I have paid?
If a loss or theft has occurred, unless you can prove the theft was not in any way your fault or due to your negligence, we will charge the amount you have to pay to your card. Unless you have asked us to send you a receipt by post or email, you will be able to find details of this payment here www.avis.ch/invoice.

Damage to people and their property

What do I have to pay if I injure someone whilst driving?
Third Party Liability (TPL) cover is provided with the vehicle as standard. This means that if you have an accident in our vehicle and you injure someone, including any of your passengers, or you damage anything which belongs to them, you will not have to pay any of their costs. Third Party Liability cover does not cover any death or injury suffered by the driver of our vehicle or any damage to personal items in our vehicle.
Are there any times when third party liability cover would not apply?
If the law requires us to provide you with third party liability cover, the minimum cover required by law will still apply but we, or our insurer, may seek to recover our costs from you if the accident was caused by:

• By you breaking the contract (for example allowing someone we had not approved drive the vehicle of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any other unlawful substance),
• By you breaking the law
• As a result of your negligence or recklessness.

What products cover the driver of the vehicle?
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) covers the driver of the vehicle in the event of an accident. Personal Accident Insurance provides the following benefits:

• A maximum of CHF 99,720.00 in the event of deat

Which payment cards do you accept?
We accept:

• American Express (excluding American Express Travellers Cheque cards)
• Diners Club
• Visa credit cards
• MasterCard credit cards
• Avis-issued charge cards

Prepaid cards can only be used for making payments at the end of your rental. To rent a car from us, you will have to present the payment cards listed above.

We do not accept Visa Electron cards, Maestro cards, V-Pay cards, Cirrus cards, JCB cards or any other cards not listed above.

We do not accept Digital Payment Cards.

Can I pay by cash?
No, regrettably, we are not able to accept cash.

What happens if I am late in making payment?
If you are late in paying us, interest will be calculated at the statutory rate.

Debit cards are not accepted.

Do I need to bring my driving licence with me?
Yes.  All drivers must bring all parts of their valid driving licence with them.  They must bring both their driving licence and either an international driving licence or an official German, French, Italian or English translation, by a notary, of their driving licence for any of the following situations:

• A driving licence was issued in a non-European country
• A driving licence was issued in a non-Roman alphabet like Arabic, Greek, Russian, Hebrew or Japanese.

We do not accept digital driving licenses.

Is there a minimum length I must have held my licence for?
Yes.  All drivers must have held their licences for at least 6 months.  For vehicles in categories F, H, J and P, drivers must have held their licenses for at least 3 years.  If a licence does not show the driver has held it for the minimum period, then they must provide evidence, such as one of the following:

• Previous driving licences
• Letter from their driving licence authority stating that they have held it for this minimum period.

Information not available at this time, please check at time of rental.

Information not available at this time, please check at time of rental.

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.

How old do I need to be to drive a rental vehicle?

To drive our vehicles, all drivers need to be at least 21 years old and have held a full, valid driving licence for at least ½ year at the start of your rental. Higher as well as lower minimum age limits as well as a minimum holding period of 3 years may apply to certain vehicles.

How do I know if there are minimum age restrictions on my rental?

When you book, you will be told if there are any minimum age restrictions for the vehicle you request. If you are not sure, please check your booking confirmation email or call the Reservations team.

I am under 25, do I need to pay a 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 for this will depend on where you are picking the vehicle up from but you can expect it to be between CHF 20.00 and CHF 24.00 per day.
If you rent the vehicle for more than 10 days, you will only be charged for a maximum of 10 days and get cover for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days.

Are there any maximum age restrictions?

No, as long as you hold a full, valid driving licence for at least ½ year or 3 years with regard to certain vehicles.

Approximate total includes base rate, taxes, and surcharges. Items such as coupon discounts, child safety seats, winterization fee from (15 Nov - 15 Apr) and gas are NOT included in the estimated total. Optional coverages and one-way fees are subject to tax in certain locations. This tax is not reflected in the Estimated Total.

Estimated total is subject to change based upon exchange rates at the time of rental.

Should I bring the vehicle back with a full tank of fuel?
Yes. The vehicle will normally be supplied with a full tank of fuel. You must return it 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. 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 do not return the vehicle with a full tank and you ca not show us a receipt for fuel we will charge you.

Fuel Options

I plan to travel more than 120 kilometres, and want peace of mind, do you have a fuel option for me?
Yes, with Fuel Up Front you pay for a full tank of fuel, based on the manufacturers stated fuel tank capacity for 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.
How do I calculate the cost of Fuel Up Front?
Depending on where you are renting, we charge the average fuel price at the start of your rental period. For further details on the price for Fuel up Front, please ask the rental station. However, you do not get a refund for any fuel you do not use.
Can I get Fuel up Front at any time?
No, if you want to take advantage of Fuel Up Front, you must ask for it during the booking process or when you pick up the vehicle.
I plan to travel less than 120 kilometres, do I still need to fill up?
Yes, often the fuel gauges stills look full so we ask you to fill up the tank near to the return location and show us a copy of the receipt. If you do not have time to fill up the tank, or ca not show us a receipt, we will apply EZ Fuel to cover our costs of refuelling the vehicle for you.
How much is EZ Fuel?
EZ Fuel is a fixed fee of CHF 25.80.
What are my options if I do not return the vehicle full and have not bought Fuel up Front?
Pay on Return will apply if you have driven more than 120 kilometres and:

• Do not buy Fuel Up Front
• Do not return the vehicle with a full tank

How do I calculate the cost of Pay on Return?
You pay for fuel based on the factory-installed fuel gauge rounded down to the nearest eighth (1/8) of a tank. This is based on the manufacturers stated fuel tank capacity.
We charge between 1.5 and three times the average fuel price at the end of the rental period for Switzerland. The price per litre will be stated on your rental agreement. This charge covers our cost of driving to the nearest petrol station at short notice, and potentially delaying the next customer’s rental.

Electric Vehicles

How much battery charge should I return an electric vehicle with?

You must return the vehicle with at least a 70% battery charge, or the same % battery charge as it had at the time of pick-up.

What am i charged if I fail to return an electric vehicle with the required 70% battery charge, or the same % battery charge as it had at the time of pick-up?

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

 How old do I need to be to rent a vehicle?
To drive our vehicles, you - and all of your drivers - need to be at least 23 years old and have held a full, valid driving licence for at least 1 year at the start of your rental for cars and 2 years for vans. In Northern Ireland, you must hold a full, valid licence for at least 3 years. A higher minimum age limit may apply to certain vehicles. In Northern Ireland, the people carrier and premium / executive cars have a minimum age of 30.
How do I know if there are minimum age restrictions on my rental?
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 the reservations team.

 I'm under 25, do I need to pay a 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 for this will be £40.00 per day.

If you rent the vehicle for more than 10 days, you will be charged for a maximum of 10 days and get cover for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days.

Are there any maximum age restrictions?

Some of our locations have a maximum age restriction on their insurance policy. Anyone over the age of 75 you will need to contact us to make your booking. The maximum age limit in Jersey is 80 years old. In the Shetlands and Isle of Man the maximum age is 78.

I'm over 75, do I need to provide extra information or pay a senior driver surcharge?

If you or any of your drivers are over 75 on the day you return the vehicle, you will need to advise us prior to pickup up your vehicle. At some locations, we will seek approval to rent from our insurer.

In Northern Ireland, for any customers that are aged 75 years and over, we would require the following:

• Confirmation that you drive on a regular basis;
• Provision of a letter from your insurance company to confirm that you have an up-to-date insurance policy, and have not had any accidents in the past 5 years;
• Provision of a letter from your doctor confirming that you are in good health and fit to drive; and
• A driving assessment carried out in terms of your Avis rental agreement by a member of our staff sitting with you in the vehicle.

Electric Vehicles

How much battery charge should I return an electric vehicle with?
You must return the vehicle with at least a 70% battery charge, or the same % battery charge as it had at time of pick up.

What am I charged if I fail to return an electric vehicle with the required 70% battery charge, or the same % battery charge as it had at time of pick up?

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

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 £20.00 and £70.00. If you want to pick up the vehicle in the UK Mainland and drop it off in another country, you can expect it to be between £700 and £4,000.

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.

The prices we give you for optional extras when you book will generally be the price you will pay. Exchange rates or other reasons beyond our control may alter prices.

Customers with disabilities

I have a disability, do you offer adapted vehicles?
Yes, specially adapted vehicles are available at some of our rental locations.  Please call the Reservations team for more information.

I have a disability, do you offer hand controls?
Yes, we offer hand controls which are suitable if you have good use of your upper body, including hands and fingers.  Hand controls include a hand-operated brake, accelerator controls, a steering ball and panoramic mirrors are also available.  If you need them, they're completely free of charge.

To use hand controls, you will need to book an automatic vehicle. Please give us at least 48 hours' notice if you hand controls or panoramic mirrors fitted to the vehicle. If you need them at shorter notice, please call the Reservations team.

Popular optional extras to rent

I have small children, do you offer child seats?
Yes, we offer baby, infant, child and full backed 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 old 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 the United Kingdom all children must normally use a child car seat until they're 12 years old or 135cm tall. 

How much are your child seats?
The fee for renting a seat is £11.99 a day. If you rent the vehicle for more than 7 days, you'll only be charged for a maximum of 7 days and get to use the seat for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days.
 
If the seat is damaged, lost or stolen, you will have to pay for a replacement. This is likely to cost between £60.00 and £90.00 on top of the hire fee.  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.

I'm not familiar with the area; can I rent a GPS (satellite navigation system)?Travel Companion Tablet - This provides a GPS service as well as other useful features you may need when travelling. The fee for hiring Travel Companion Tablet is between £9.99 and £14.99 per day depending on features activated. 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 device for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days. If the Travel Companion Tablet is damaged, lost or stolen, you'll have to pay for a replacement. This is likely to cost from £300.00 on top of the hire fee. 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.

Please note: In some countries, it is against the law to use a GPS that tells you where speed cameras are. If you plan to travel outside of the United Kingdom you should check to see whether you can use our GPS as it will give you speed information. 

Do you offer an audio tour guide service on your GPS?
No, unfortunately we do not offer an audio tour guide service at this time.

I want to be able to access the internet anywhere I go, do you offer a solution?

Travel Companion Tablet - This provides unlimited data per day, as well as other useful features you may need when travelling. The fee for hiring Travel Companion Tablet is between £9.99 and £14.99 a day depending on features activated. 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 device for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days.

If the Travel Companion Tablet is damaged, lost or stolen, you’ll have to pay for a replacement. This is likely to cost from £300.00 on top of the hire fee. 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. If any Travel Companion Tablet accessories are damaged, lost or stolen, you'll have to pay for a replacement. This is likely to cost from £2.00 to £10.00 on top of the hire fee. 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. 

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

I'm intending to drive along toll roads; do you offer a device to make this quicker and easier for me?
No, unfortunately we do not offer any electronic toll charging devices at this time.

Winter equipment to rent

I'm concerned about the road conditions, do you offer all-weather tyres?
No, unfortunately we do not offer all weather tyres at this time.

I'm going skiing, do you offer snow chains?
No, unfortunately we do not offer snow chains at this time.

I'm have brought my own skis with me, do you rent ski racks?
No, unfortunately we do not offer ski racks at this time.

I've left my hands-free kit behind, do you rent them?
No, unfortunately we do not offer hands-free kits at this time.

I'm moving items, do you rent blankets?
No, unfortunately we do not offer blankets at this time.

I'm moving items, do you rent trolleys?Yes, the fee for enting a sack trolley is £8.99 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 sack trolley for the duration of your rental, up to 28 days.

Optional extras available to buy

 I've left my USB charger behind, do you sell them?
No, unfortunately we do not sell USB charges at this time.

I've left my mobile charger behind, do you sell them?
No, unfortunately we do not sell mobile charges at this time.

I want to charge my device in the car, do you sell car chargers?
No, unfortunately we do not sell car charges at this time.

I've left my iPhone 5 cable behind, do you sell them?
No, unfortunately we do not sell iPhone 5 cables at this time.

What countries am I allowed to take the vehicle to?

You are only allowed to use the vehicle in the following countries:

• England
• Scotland
• Wales
• Northern Ireland

If you wish to drive the car from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland, your rental will be subject to a cross border coverage fee of 26.86 UKL. This fee covers cross border vehicle retrieval in case of breakdown. Avis cars may not be taken outside Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Can I buy a product to allow me to drive in other countries?

No. With effect from 14th July 2022 we have stopped selling continental cover, meaning that it's no longer possible to take our vehicles outside of the UK except to the Republic of Ireland. Information about the cost for this can be found on our website under continental cover.

International journeys are permitted for certain countries outside Austria, but always require the prior consent of Avis.

In the event of approval by Avis, a Cross Border Fee (CBD) must be paid. This amounts to a minimum of EUR 10.81 per day and a maximum of EUR 76.67 per rental. If Budget has given its consent, the following provisions apply:

What countries am I allowed to take the vehicle to?

You may drive the vehicle in the following countries with exceptions:

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

Porsche vehicles may only be driven in Switzerland, Germany, France, Monaco and Austia.

Entries to Croatia (HR) and Slovenia (SLO), Slovakia (SK), Czech Republic (CZ), Poland (PL) and Hungary (H) are not allowed for vehicles from car group I and Select groups N ans Select E.
You are not allowed to use the vehicle in the Albania (AL), Armenia(AM), Azerbaijan (AZ), Bulgaria (BG), Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH), Belarus (BY), Cyprus (CY), Estonia (EST), Georgia (GE), Greece (GR), Hungary (H), Iceland (IS), Kazakhstan (KZ), Kosovo (RKS) Latvia (LV), Lithuania (LT), Malta (M), Macedonia (MK); Moldavia (MD), Montenegro (MNE), Romania (RO), Russia (RUS), Slovakia (SK), Serbia (SRB), Turkey (TR), Ukraine (UA) and any country outside continental Europe.
Not allowed are also: Balearic Islands, Canaries, Corsica, Crete, Sardinia

Please note, that there are certain travel restrictions for EU residents:

If you are EU resident and drive a vehicle with Swiss registration and number plate, you are only allowed to drive the vehicle in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. You must not take the vehicle into the EU, except for the purpose of directly returning to your place of residence in the EU, which must be stated on your rental agreement. You must pay for all damages and costs we incur as a result of you or any Additional Driver not complying with this obligation including payable customs, tax charges and loss of use, if you or an additional driver gets detained at Customs. Please note, that a breach of customs regulations may result in criminal charges against you or your Additional Driver. If you plan to travel cross-border into the EU, please let us know at the time of booking, so that we can choose the right vehicle for you.

Violations of or non-compliance with any of the aforementioned provisions shall entitle Avis to terminate the rental agreement without notice or to withdraw from the rental agreement. Claims for compensation by the Hirer are excluded in such a case. The claim for compensation for damages incurred by Avis due to the breach of one of the above provisions shall remain unaffected.

Can I buy a product to allow me to drive in other countries?

No, unfortunately we do not offer any other products that allow you to travel to other countries.

Personal Effects Insurance (PEP) is available under Super Personal Accident Insurance (SPAI) - is a counter sale only product that covers personal property in the Avis car.

Details available at time of rental.

Customer may inquire for additional information of the benefits, conditions and acceptance at the time of rental.

Full Credit and Fixed Value Voucher rentals are accepted.

For Fixed value vouchers, renters are required to make an additional cash deposit or present an Avis-honored charge card.  The fixed value voucher, plus cash deposit must equal total estimated rental charges plus 20%.

Exception: Mercedes in Premium, 4X4 & Luxury (car groups H, I & J) and Saab, BMW in Premium, 4X4 & Wagon (car groups H, I, & P):  Quote Mercedes Policy