Avis Rent A Car New Zealand Reviews 

I had exactly the same experience as Alexander described below. I was overcharged after returning my car to Auckland Airport office on Jan 17th, but with no explanation. More than a month later, after several emails and phone calls, i am still waiting for an explanation/ refund from Avis. Hope they read this review.

5 days after i droped off the car when everything was done and paid for, they withdrew a large amount from my credit card. I’ve havent gotten any information on what the payment is for, haven’t heard anything from them. And now it’s been two weeks of me trying to get in contact with their customer service with no real response.

After a year, it probably amounts to a lawsuit. CarTrawler, as a subcontractor of Emirates, received the agreed invoice amount from me, but passed on too little to AVIS. AVIS will now sue me for this amount because CarTrawler and AVIS are unable to clarify the settlement among themselves.

'Chip' in windscreen cost 1000$

After 3 wonderful weeks in NZ, i returned the rental car at Avis mentioning that a chip in the windscreen happened during the trip. The nice lady at the service desk told me at first that i shouldn't worry since it was covered by the insurance.

5 weeks later i receive an invoice for 1000$ for the repair of the windscreen. It turns out the insurance didn't cover the windscreen after all!

1000$ for a chip in the windscreen!!!

A chip in the windscreen can be fixed at under 80$ in less than 30 min. and should you need a new windscreen these can be bought starting at 260$

A very dissapointing experince!

Beware possible lack of credit card securiy! I am a New Zealander and rented an Avis car recently. Pick up Queenstown and drop off Christchurch. Used my Nz credit card. All fine until 10 days later my bank alerted me to unusual Avis rental car charge on my credit card from the USA. They blocked transaction and will issue new card. Rang Avis several times to tell them but they can’t be bothered answering or calling me back.

Do not hire a car through Avis if you have an EU drivers licence. Avis at Queenstown Airport insisted on us paying for 2 translations of our Dutch licences (which already have the necessary English on them). This took nearly an hour, and when we got the translations back, we found that not one single word of Dutch had been translated. The Avis employee admitted than a UK drivers licence (which looks the same) would not have needed to be translated.

My repeated complaints about this have not been dealt with. They just will not respond to emails. I used to be an Avis Preferred customer, but I have cancelled that and will never use this company again.

Avoid this company like the plague. They rip you off and refuse to talk to you about it.

Other car hire companies in NZ do not require a translation of EU licences.

Excellent quality of service, car and support. It was a pleasure to have a car from this company in this country.