Before Your Rental

Please visit our Coronavirus Information page for all the latest updates, travel advice and safety measures we have implemented during the outbreak. 

You can book your car in the following ways: 

• On the Avis Website
• Through the Avis Mobile App
• Through the Avis Call Centre on 0861 021 111 / +27 11 387 8431

We recommend booking through the Avis website or on the mobile app to guarantee our best possible rates available. 

In South Africa you need to be 18 years or older to rent a car and must have held a valid driver license for a year. 

If you are younger than 25 a Young Drivers Surcharge will be applied. This will automatically be added to your quote when booking online.

The main driver will need to present the following when collecting their car: 

• A valid credit card or hybrid cheque card in their name
• A valid driver licence

Please note: Car Groups F, G, H, I, J, K, L, N and O require two payment cards when collecting the vehicle. One of the two cards used must be a credit card. This will be highlighted on your booking confirmation. 

Any additional drivers will also need to produce a valid driver licence at time of collection. 

International Driver Licence Requirements

Foreign driver licences will be accepted on condition that: 

1. The licence is in English.
2. The licence has a photo or ID/passport number on it. 
3. The licence has a signature on it. 

In the event that a photo is not present, the ID document or passport with a photo is required for the identification of the customer. The ID/passport number should match the number on the licence. 

In the event that the licence is in another language, an international driver's licence should accompany the foreign driver's licence. No driving permits or certified copies/copies of the original driver's licence, may be accepted. A translated version of the licence, stamped by the embassy, can be accepted when accompanied by the licence. 

International visitors must also produce a valid passport. To avoid complications when collecting a vehicle we advise foreign travellers to produce a driver's licence which has been issued in the same country as their passport. 

When booking online you have the choice of paying at the time of booking or when collecting your car. By choosing to pay at the time of booking you will receive a discount on your rental. 

When booking through the Avis Call Centre or directly with the branch you will only have the option to pay on collection. 

We only accept the following methods of payment:

• Credit Card
• Hybrid Cheque Card
• Avis Corporate or Travel Voucher (an Avis corporate or travel account is required for this method of payment)

What is a hybrid cheque card?

• The card must display the MasterCard or Visa logo.
• The numbers must be raised on the card, the same as a credit card, with the words "Cheque Card" reflected on the back or front of the card.
• Avis will process the cheque card in the same manner as a credit card rental. The estimated rental cost and additional authorisation hold (refer to 'What is the deposit and when will it be taken' below) will be held on the cheque account for the duration of the rental and charged when the rental has been completed. 

Please note: Avis Namibia do not accept any Cheque or Debit cards. 

Yes, you can cancel your booking before it takes place, either though our Call Centre on 0861 021 111 / +27 11 387 8431 or by visiting our Manage Booking page. 

If you chose to pay on collection, no cancellation fee will apply. Should you not cancel you booking though and fail to collect it within 24 hours, a R500.00 non-cancellation fee will be charged. 

If you chose to pay for your rental online the following cancellation fees will apply:

Before midnight on the day of booking - No fee for cancellation. We will give you a full refund.
At least 3 complete days before 'pick up' - The lower of the full amount paid, or R425. 
Less than 3 complete days before 'pick up' - The lower of the full amount paid, or 3 days' worth of your booking.
On day of 'pick up' of if you do not cancel and fail to show-up - No refund. We will retain the full amount. 

No, we do not accept cash or debit cards for payment under any circumstances. 

Renters and additional drivers must have held a driver licence for one year and must be in possession of a valid unendorsed driver's licence when collecting their rental car. 

International Driver Licence Requirements

Foreign driver's licences are accepted under the conditions that: 

1. The license is in English.
2. The license has a photo or ID/passport number on it. 
3. The licence has a signature on it. 

In the event that a photo is not present, the ID document or passport with a photo is required for the identification of the customer. The ID/passport number should match the number on the licence. 

In the event that the licence is in another language, an international driver's licence should accompany the foreign driver's licence. No driving permits or certified copies/copies of the original driver's licence, may be accepted. A translated version of the licence, stamped by the embassy, can be accepted when accompanied by the licence. 

International visitors must also produce a valid passport. To avoid complications when collecting a vehicle we advise foreign travellers to produce a driver's licence which has been issued in the same country as their passport. 

When collecting your rental car, Avis will hold an authorisation amount over and above the estimated rental cost on your payment card for the duration of the rental. This hold will cover the rental charges, refuelling, additional kilometres, contract fee, waivers and any additional services selected. This will reflect as an authorisation hold on your payment card, no funds are taken from your account. The average holding amount (excluding the rental cost) is R3,500, but this may vary according to your specific rental.

Click to know more about Authorisation Hold

When arriving at the rental branch please go to the counter to collect your keys. You will be required to show your driver license and produce your credit card for payment, after which the Avis Rental Sales Agent will explain your rental agreement to you and check if there are any extras that you would like to add to your booking. You will then need to sign your Rental Agreement accepting the rental terms and conditions.

If you are an Avis Preferred Customer please proceed to the dedicated Avis Preferred Counter, should the branch have one, or to the rental counter to show your licence and collect your keys. 

Once you have your keys please have an Avis Brand Ambassador escort you to your rental car to inspect it. 

While our vehicles are pre-inspected for damage there may be scratches or chips that have been missed. Ensure the Avis Brand Ambassador notes all damage to the vehicle (no matter how small) on their inspection sheet. They will also confirm that the spare tyre is in good condition and the toolkit is in the car.

Once done with the inspection you are free to head out and enjoy your trip. 

Avis Preferred Service is the fastest way to hire to a car and we highly recommend that you sign up prior to booking your car. Here's why: 

• You get fast-track service (with no queue or lengthy paperwork) at priority counters across the globe. 
• Enjoy bonus Avis Preferred loyalty member benefits such as free upgrades and weekend rental vouchers. 

There are no additional costs to being an Avis Preferred member, and from time to time we offer exclusive discounts to members so you may end up saving on your car hire as well. 

You can sign up for Avis Preferred here, or simply tick the 'Join Avis Preferred' box when making an online booking. 

No, you cannot use someone else's credit card to pay for your rental, regardless of your relation to that person.

The credit card used needs to be in the name of the main renter. 

Yes, you can rent a car for up to 11 months with us at affordable prices. 

You can either book your monthly rental online, as per the normal booking process, or visit our Monthly Car Hire page to view our specialised monthly rental offerings, such as Car Where You Are, which gives you access to a car anywhere in South Africa on one monthly rental contract. 

Our car groups have a mix of vehicles in them which are a similar size and offer the same features. Unfortunately, when booking a car group we cannot guarantee a specific make or model but can only offer what is available at the branch, in that specific group, when collecting . 

You can, however, look out for our 'Model Guaranteed' options (highlighted in red) when booking your car online to get the exact car that you want. 

You can use a temporary driver licence when producing the following documents with it:

• Receipt for renewal of driver licence. 
• ID Document
• Old driver licence (if possible)

The temporary licence and supporting documents will be checked by our risk department to ensure they are valid. This will add time to the check-out procedure and may result in the rental being declined. We recommend that you avoid using a temporary licence unless absolutely necessary.

A waiver covers you in the event of damage to or theft of the rental vehicle. 

We have three waiver options available:

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) - ensures you are covered if the vehicle is damaged and repairs are required. 

Theft Loss Waiver (TLW) - ensures you are covered if the vehicle is stolen. 

These two waiver options are usually grouped together and are not sold seperately. Thus, when we refer to Standard or Super Waivers we are referring to both of these options on that level. 

Windscreen and Tyre Damage Waiver (WTDW) - covers all damage to the windscreen and tyres, which are not covered by the collision damage waiver. 

We have two levels of waivers to choose from: 

Standard Waiver - by choosing the standard waiver your liability will be 10% of the average value of that car group.

Super Waiver - by choosing the super waiver option your liability will be 2% of the average value of that car group. 

Your liability is the amount that you will be responsible for if the vehicle is damaged or stolen. For example, if you are renting a Group A on Super Waivers your liability for both CDW and TLW is R4,000. Should you have an accident and the cost to repair the car is R15,000, you will only have to pay the R4,000 that you are responsible for. 

We do not recommend declining all waivers as this makes you fully liable for all damage incurred or theft of the car. 

When booking online you will be offered rates that already include standard CDW and TLW and will be given the option to upgrade your waiver package during the booking process. When booking through the Call Centre you can ask the Call Centre agent to quote you on a Super Waiver rate.

Please refer to the rate inclusions for the liability amount of that car group when booking. 

For more information on waivers and to view the liability amounts please visit our Waivers and Liabilities page. 

When booking online or through the Avis Call Centre the quoted rate will  include all the mandatory costs of the rental. This includes:

• Rental Contract Fee
• VAT
• Location/Airport Surcharge
• Tourism Levy
• Selected waivers (Standard or Super Collision Damage and Thef Loss Waivers)
• Specific Free Mileage
• Young Driver Surcharge (if the renter is below 25 years old)
• One Way Fee (if your are collecting your rental car at one location and returning it to another)

You will be offered 'Optional Extras' during the booking process which will be added to your total if selected. These include:

• Additional Driver
• Avis SafeDrive
• Avis GPS
• Mobile Wi-Fi
• Child Seat
• Bicycle Rack
• Extended Road Assistance

Please note that some optional extras are not payable online (if making a "Pay Now" booking) and will be charged for at the counter when collecting the vehicle. These will be specified on your rental confirmation. 

At Avis, we include all the mandatory costs into your total on the confirmation. This includes the Rental Contract Fee (which is often left out until it’s time to pay), the location/airport surcharge, tourism levy, VAT, specified free mileage and selected waivers.  

The reason we use the word ‘estimated’ is for any additional costs that may be incurred during the rental. These include: 

Additional Kilometers 

When booking your vehicle, you will be allocated a number of free kilometers. This is usually around 100 – 200km per day which are totalled for you rental. I.e. if you rent a car for 5 days and you are quoted 200km free per day you will have a total of 1000km free to use for your rental.  

If your free kilometers are exceeded there is an additional cost per kilometer thereafter. This additional cost is supplied on your booking confirmation and the Rental Agreement. 

Fuel 

Fuel is not included in the rental price. When collecting your rental vehicle it will have a full tank of petrol.  When returning the vehicle, you can either fill up before arriving at the branch and incur no additional cost or return the vehicle with a partially filled tank. We will then top it up for you at the standard fuel price, plus a minimal refueling fee, which will be added to your final invoice. 

E-Tolls 

All of our vehicles are fitted with e-tags which allow you to pass through the Gauteng e-toll gantries and tollgates which have E-Tag enabled gantries throughout South Africa. All toll fee's incurred during your rental and a minimal e-toll administration fee will be added to your final invoice. 

Vehicle Damages 

When booking your vehicle, you will be given the option to book either a standard or super collision damage waiver. The waiver booked will determine the amount you will be responsible for if the vehicle is damaged or stolen.  

If the vehicle is returned with damages that fall outside of our fair wear and tear guide these damages will be added to your final invoice up to the amount that you are responsible for. 

Damages also incur a Damage Administration fee which will be added to your invoice if damages are incurred. If the damages costs are less than R300 the administration fee is R150 and if they are greater than R300 the fee will be R500.  

Damage repairs and costs take up to a week to be assessed which will delay your final invoice amount.  

Vehicle Theft

Should you rental vehicle be stolen you will be charge for the liability amount that you are responsible for. 

Tyre and Windscreen Damage 

Tyre, rim, hubcap and windscreen damage are not included in your collision damage waiver. Should any of these be damaged during the rental you will be liable up to the amount of R11 500. This liability can be waived when purchasing the additional Windscreen and Tyre Damage waiver at the counter when collecting the car or through the Avis Call Centre beforehand.  

Traffic Fine Administration Fees 

If a traffic fine is issued during your rental it will be routed to Avis. We then need to process the fine and have it rerouted to you. Because of this a traffic fine administration fee of R385.00 is charged for each traffic fine that is received. This fee does not cover the cost of the traffic fine and you will still be responsible to pay the fine with the traffic authority when it reaches you. 

This fee is only processed once we have received the traffic fine which could be up to 3 months, or longer, after your rental has taken place. The amount will be deducted from the credit card used for the rental and an amended invoice issued.  

We encourage you to obey the rules of the road at all times to ensure the safety of all road users and to avoid traffic fines and the additional costs that come with them. 

Late Returns 

A rental day is calculated as a 24-hour period with a 29-minute grace period. If you are renting a car for one day and collect it at 08h00 you will have until 08h29 the following day to return the vehicle. Should you return the car after the grace period has been exceeded (even by 1 minute) an extra day's rental will be charged to your invoice. 

Keep your Rental Agreement handy to see the exact time that that car was checked out and ensure that you return the vehicle on time to avoid additional charges.  

Should the vehicle be returned unreasonably late and no arrangements have been made with Avis to extend the rental an R1050.00 Overdue Rental Administration fee will be charged. 

Optional Extras and Add-Ons

You will be offered optional extras at the counter when collecting your car, such as Personal Accident Insurance, Windscreen and Tyre Damage Waiver, etc. Should you choose to add an optional extra or add additional services, e.g. an additional driver, they will be added to your final invoice. 

Changing Your Car Group

If you decide you need a different car and change the car group from the one that was originally booked your rental price will be adjusted to the price of the new car group. 

Your rental car will be supplied with a full tank of fuel. 

You can either return the car with a full tank and incur no extra cost, or you can return the car as is and we will top it up for you at the standard fuel price, plus a minimal refueling fee, which will be added to your invoice. 

When renting a car only the main driver is covered under the rental agreement and is allowed to drive the rental car. An additional driver can be added to the rental though (at an additional cost), allowing that person to driver the vehicle as well. 

Additional drivers are required to adhere to the same terms and conditions as the main driver and are covered under the same rental agreement.

When collecting the car all drivers are required to show their driver license to be added to the rental agreement. 

Additional Driver Terms and Conditions for Weekend Rentals:

• Only one additional driver is permitted during weekend rentals at all Airport rental locations and the Sandton Gautrain branch. 
• The additional driver must be a direct family member, i.e. spouse, child or parent.
• No additional drivers are permitted over weekends at non-airport locations unless the renter resides outside of South Africa. 
• Renters must produce a return boarding pass when collecting the vehicle.
• The boarding pass must adhere to the following conditions: flight must be on the same day as the RA check-out date and the name on the boarding pass must be the same as the name of the renter. 

A weekend rental is a rental taking place between Thursday 0:01 and the following Monday at 23:59.

We do offer deliveries and collections at an additional cost. 

Deliveries and collections can only be booked or added to an existing reservation through the Avis Call Centre on 0861 021 111 / +27 11 387 8431, and need to be arranged at least 48 hours prior to the collection time. 

We do allow our vehicles to go into Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and Namibia. You must obtain a letter of authority from the rental station at an additional cost. 

One-way rentals can be done into these countries as well, subject to an additional One-Way Cross Border fee. 

We do not allow our vehicles to go into Angola, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Zambia.

No. We are required by law to ensure that you have a valid driver licence in your possession before releasing the car. 

If you do not have your licence on you we will not be able to give you the rental car. 

You can make changes to your booking prior to pick-up. Simply visit our Manage Booking page and follow the prompts, or call the Avis Call Centre. 

If you modify a prepaid booking and the charges are more than what was originally booked you will pay the difference.

Should the charges be lower though, we unfortunately won't be able to refund the difference. You will be able to use the difference as a credit though, which can be put towards any extra's, like a GPS or fuel, etc.