San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Car Rentals

Terms and Conditions

• Retain your reservation confirmation number as it is necessary for modification, cancellation or no-show refund requests. Changes to your prepay reservation must be made either on Avis.com, Avis.com.au or Avis.co.nz or at the rental counter. At time of change, current rates, taxes and fees apply.
• Your credit or debit card will be charged upon reservation confirmation. Method of prepayment toward your rental may not be changed after confirmation.
• Debit cards are not accepted at some Avis locations and are not a recommended form of prepayment.
• While a debit or prepaid charge card is an acceptable form of rental prepayment online, they may not be accepted for the credit hold required when you pick up your vehicle.
• Please review the terms and conditions on our confirmation page regarding credit or debit card acceptance at the location. To release the vehicle to you at time of pick-up, all rental terms and conditions must be met, regardless of your original prepayment.
• Prepaid debit and gift cards are not acceptable methods of credit identification to pick up a vehicle at any location. One of the above mentioned cards must be presented. Prepaid debit and gift cards are accepted at time of return only.
• In the U.S., debit or check cards may be used at the end of the rental for payment of rental charges.
• The same credit or debit card used to complete an online Pay Now reservation must be presented at the rental pick-up counter as a form of identification. At airport locations, proof of a return airline ticket is also required when using a debit card.
• Generally, at the time of rental, we'll require a credit card hold of total estimated charges.  However, many rentals may require an authorization hold of the estimated rental charges plus $200 USD.  If you have prepaid with a debit card, the hold will be $250 USD. A prepaid charge card is not accepted for this required hold and in case of reservation with non US currency, a credit card with same currency of reservation with equivalent USD amount would be required.
• The card presented at pickup will be the card of record for the rental.
• If you use a debit card at a location that accepts them, we will perform a credit check to ensure worthiness before releasing the vehicle and you must also present a second form of current identification.
• Prepaid reservations are only offered at participating locations.
• Upon paying your rental with a debit card, Avis will generally request an authorization hold against your account for the estimated charges of the rental but reserves the right in its sole, discretion, to request extra value based on certain factors as we deem appropriate. Many rentals may require an authorization hold of the estimated rental charges plus $200 USD.  Rentals of 4 days or more may require an authorization hold of the estimated rental charges plus $300 USD. If you have prepaid with a debit card, the hold will be $250 USD. Some exceptions may apply. THESE FUNDS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR USE.
• If you selected Fuel Service Option, fuel price isn't included in your reservation total, but prevailing market rate will be added when you return your vehicle.
• Avis accepts most major credit cards as credit identification at the time of rental. Accepted credit cards: Avis Charge Card, American Express, AT&T Capital, Diner's Club Intl, Discover, China Union Pay, JCB, MasterCard, and Visa. Some locations may not accept each of the referenced cards.
• Coupons may be applied to prepay rentals. Vouchers or Avis rental certificates cannot be used in conjunction with a prepay reservation.
• Gift Cards (Avis or any other) are not allowed on prepay reservations.
• Most U.S. locations also accept bank debit cards with the Visa or MasterCard logo as credit identification at the time of rental if you are at least 25 years of age. In most cases, U.S. locations will perform a credit check for debit card renters to determine credit worthiness at the time of rental. The renter must meet Avis' minimum criteria in order to rent.
• When the rental is over, we will process the reversal but the bank may take time to post it back to the account - unless you already paid toward your rental, in which case the hold will be $250 USD. While this hold is in place, the funds will not be available for your use.
• Avis is not responsible for any returned checks or overdraft fees based on this policy.
• Your quoted rental rate is based on the exact parameters (locations, dates, etc.) of your particular rental - changing your confirmed reservation parameters could result in a different rate.
• There is no fee to modify a reservation related to: vehicle type, options (GPS, protections, etc.), rental period dates/times, adding other drivers or switching between participating prepay pick-up locations within the same country. However, making such changes may result in changes to the overall rental terms and the original price quoted is subject to change to reflect those changes. To change to a non-participating location or one outside of the original pick-up country, you must cancel your original reservation (with applicable cancellation fee) and re-book at then current rates.
• Non-permissible changes include: method of prepayment; name on reservation; changing your pick-up to a non-participating prepay location or one outside of the original pick-up country. If you still wish to make these changes, you must cancel your original prepay reservation with applicable cancellation fee and re-book at then current rates.
• At time of rental pick-up, location rental qualification rules apply. The name on all rental credentials (license and credit or debit card) must match the name on the reservation. If the names do not match, it is deemed a non-permissible change to your prepay reservation and must follow procedures to cancel and re-book at then current rates (with applicable cancellation or no-show fees).
• At the time of pick up, driver must present a valid driver's license and credit card (or debit card at participating locations) in the driver's name. A prepaid charge card is not an acceptable credential. All drivers must have a safe driving record.
• At time of pick up, driver must present a valid, drivers license and credit or debit card in the driver's name. If the drivers license is not U.S.-issued, you must present your drivers license and either a passport or a Canadian enhanced license in the driver's name.
• At the time of rental, the renter or authorized driver may be subject to an electronic DMV check from the issuing state of the driver's license, or may be asked to sign a declaration attesting to specific criteria.
• Positive identification in addition to your driver's license may be required.
• Your total rental rate is calculated based on the information provided at time of reservation.
• Vehicles are rented on a daily (24-hour) basis. There is a 29-minute grace period for returns. After 30 minutes late, a 3/4-day late charge $.01 taxes apply. After 90 minutes late, full-day late charges taxes apply. There is no grace period for rental fees, surcharges and optional equipment or protections charges, so full-day late charges will apply for these items.
• Extensions or late returns result in additional charges.
• Rather than requiring customers to be 25 to rent, Avis now rents to customers between the ages of 21-24 with a valid credit card and driver's license. At time of rental, we will automatically apply an additional underage surcharge for these drivers.
• Additionally, the following restrictions also will apply for renters between the ages of 21-24: Renters of luxury cars, mini-vans, 12-passenger vans, specialty cars, full-size SUVs and premium SUVs will not be permitted.
• In New York State, the minimum age to rent is 18 with a $84-per-day USD surcharge for renters age 18-20 and a $35-per-day USD underage surcharge for renters age 21-24. In Michigan, the minimum age is 18 with a $41-per-day USD surcharge for customers between the ages of 18-20 and $28-per-day USD surcharge for customers between the ages of 21-24.
• In most states, the charge for additional drivers is $13-per-day USD per additional driver, with a maximum charge of $65-per-rental USD per driver. The additional driver fee in Nevada is $11.00-per-day USD per additional driver. The additional driver fee in New York is $5-per-day USD, $35-per-week USD per additional driver.
• The following are exempt from additional driver charges: renter's employer or regular fellow employee when on company business; renter's spouse or domestic partner; disabled renters who have completed the non-licensed renter form. In California, a child, sibling, or grandparent of the renter is also exempt from the additional driver charge.  
• The collection, use and retention of your information, including your personally identifiable information, provided to us in connection with payment for our services and products, or participation in our programs, whether directly by you or on your behalf through a payment service, is subject to our Privacy Notice.

Cancellation Policy

• Changes to a reservation must be done at Avis.com, Avis.com.au, or Avis.co.nz using the "Modify/Cancel" option.  Any changes to the reservation may impact the rental charges.  If a prepaid reservation is cancelled more than 24 hours before the pickup time, a $50.00 USD or equivalent foreign currency used for the reservation, will be assessed a cancellation fee.
• If you return the vehicle before the original return date (early return), you will not be refunded any portion of the payment.
• All refund requests must be submitted within six months of the scheduled rental pick up date. No refunds will be granted after this six month window.
• Underpayments will be handled at the counter at time of rental return. Unfortunately, we can't promise that your prepaid daily vehicle rate will apply if you change vehicle types, lengthen or shorten your rental period or change your pick up location.
• Upon returning the vehicle, Avis will process a release of the unused portion of the hold subject to your bank's procedure. This hold may take up to two weeks to be released by your bank.
• If you have already paid toward your rental with a credit or debit card, we will reverse any hold when the rental is over. The bank, however, may take time to post it back to your account. While this hold is in place, the funds will not be available for your use.