Booking an Avis rental car soon? Avis will present multiple insurance coverages for an additional rate each day. Is the extra money worth it? Find out how to maximize your protection and minimize the cost to you.
In this article, we will explain how Avis Rental Insurance works and what it covers. We will also include where to find similar or better coverage in other ways.
How Avis Rental Car Insurance Works
In most states, the Avis rental price includes the state minimum for liability insurance. Avis offers six different policies or waivers, including package options, which we will look into with a more detailed breakdown later. For now, here are our quick takeaways:
| Avis Rental Coverage | Worth it? | Why? | Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loss Damage Waiver | Maybe | You may already be covered if you have full coverage. Avis is a good option if you don’t. | Regular Car Insurance (Full Coverage) |
| Additional Liability Insurance | No | Not enough coverage if you end up needing to use it & the alternative is cheaper | Umbrella Policy |
| Personal Accident Insurance | No | Not enough coverage if you end up needing to use it & the alternative is cheaper | Travel Insurance |
| Personal Effects Protection | No | Not enough coverage if you end up needing to use it & the alternative is cheaper | Travel Insurance |
| Standard Package | Maybe | You may already be covered if you have full coverage. Avis is a good option if you don’t. | Regular Car Insurance (Full Coverage) |
| Ultimate Package | Maybe | You may already be covered if you have full coverage. Avis is a good option if you don’t. | Regular Car Insurance (Full Coverage) |
Keep reading to learn about each coverage and the cost-effective alternatives! Remember to consult your insurance agent before making any decisions!
The Cost of Avis Car Insurance
Car insurance purchased through Avis varies depending on the location and type of vehicle rented. We went to Avis’ website and verified pricing to give readers a better idea of the prices Avis will charge.
To research Avis Car Insurance pricing, we ran the following vehicle categories through their booking portal:
- Economy Car (Ford Fiesta or Similar)
- Full-size Car (Toyota Camry or similar)
- Full-size Hybrid (Toyota Prius or Similar)
- Full-size Pickup Truck (RAM Rebel or similar)
- Minivan (Chrysler Pacifica or similar)
- Standard SUV (Toyota 4Runner or similar)
- Full-Size SUV (Ford Expedition or similar)
Loss Damage Waiver
Avis’ Loss Damage Waiver covers the price of the rental vehicle when it is stolen or damaged. Similar coverage may be available through your auto insurance or credit card, and later we will compare Avis’s offerings to those policies.
This coverage is worth it if your primary insurance policy does not have comprehensive and collision.
Pro Tip: If your policy has full coverage (comprehensive and collision), you should be able to waive the Loss Damage Waiver as your policy “extends” coverage to the rental car. (check with your insurance agent if you aren’t sure)
We created this chart for readers to see the daily rate of a Loss Damage Waiver.
| Vehicle Selection | Rate per day |
|---|---|
| Economy Car | $30.99 |
| Full-size Car | $30.99 |
| Full-size Hybrid | $33.00 |
| Full-size Pickup Truck | $43.99 |
| Minivan | $30.99 |
| Standard SUV | $34.99 |
| Full-size SUV | $42.99 |
Additional Liability Insurance
Liability policies between $1 million and $2 million are available through Avis. These policies are secondary to auto insurance. If you’re in an accident, you must file a claim with your auto insurance first.
Pro Tip: Umbrella liability insurance policies (with better coverage) can be purchased for around $1/day through companies like USAA.
Additional Liability Insurance was available for an extra $11.69 per day for the vehicle categories we researched with Avis. This coverage is expensive for what it does. It would be easier and more cost-effective to have your regular car insurance policy’s liability limits increased.
Personal Accident Insurance
Avis offers Personal Accident Insurance(PAI), covering $2,500 in medical expenses. For accidental death, their base policy covers $175,000 per death. Their PAI Plus covers up to $250,000 in accidental death for the driver and covers passengers to $125,000.
Pro Tip: Personal Accident Insurance through Avis is inadequate for most.
Avis’ Personal Accident Insurance doesn’t cover high medical costs, and its accidental death policy is an expensive term life insurance that only applies to car accidents.
Instead, customers should look into protecting themselves from medical costs in these ways:
- Check auto insurance for medical coverage
- Find Travel Insurance with better coverage for unexpected medical costs
- Check with medical insurance to find out if or when coverage applies while traveling
- Make sure that everyone has adequate term life insurance coverage
Personal Accident Insurance through Avis also increases the extra daily rate based on the vehicle. Our findings are in the chart below.
| Vehicle Selection | PAI Price Per Day |
|---|---|
| Economy Car | $4.00 |
| Full-size Car | $4.00 |
| Full-size Hybrid | $6.00 |
| Full-size Pickup Truck | $6.00 |
| Minivan | $4.00 |
| Standard SUV | $4.00 |
| Full-size SUV | $4.00 |
Personal Effects Protection
Avis will provide coverage for personal items lost or damaged while in the rental vehicle. The policy covers the personal belongings of the driver and passengers. It covers $600 per person and up to $1,800 per rental vehicle.
Consider the Alternative: Since this protection is limited to the rental vehicle, consider third-party travel insurance that covers your belongings more universally during your trip.
Personal Effects Protection through Avis had limited variation based on vehicle price. We collected the table into a convenient table.
| Vehicle Selection | PEP Rate Per Day |
|---|---|
| Economy Car | $2.95 |
| Full-size Car | $2.95 |
| Full-size Hybrid | $1.25 |
| Full-size Pickup Truck | $1.25 |
| Minivan | $2.95 |
| Standard SUV | $2.95 |
| Full-size SUV | $2.95 |
Package Protection Choices through Avis
Avis’ Coverage options can be selected individually or bundled into package deals. We compiled the insurance package offers from Avis.
The “Ultimate Protection Package” is worth it for those who do not have a standard car insurance policy with comprehensive and collision. The extra cost, compared to the “Protection & Safety Package,” is justified because of its liability coverage in an accident or claim.
| Vehicle Selection | Protection & Safety Package: Covers Rental Car & Roadside | Ultimate Protection Package: Covers Car, Liability & Roadside |
|---|---|---|
| Economy Car | $35.08 | $46.77 |
| Full-size Car | $35.08 | $46.77 |
| Full-size Hybrid | $36.89 | $48.58 |
| Full-size Pickup Truck | $46.78 | $58.47 |
| Minivan | $35.08 | $46.77 |
| Standard SUV | $38.68 | $50.37 |
| Full-size SUV | $45.88 | $57.57 |
Avis Rental Car Insurance Versus Regular Car Insurance
Avis’ built-in insurance for the vehicle is only minimum coverage. A robust auto insurance policy will help protect you as long as your insurance covers rental cars.
We created a chart to illustrate similar coverages between Avis and Auto Insurance offerings.
| Coverage | Avis | Auto Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Liability | Covers an additional $1 Million to $2 Million | Policy Limits Selected by User Plus Any Umbrella Liability Insurance |
| Rental Car | Loss Damage Waiver: Covers Selected Rental Car | Comprehensive & Collision: Typically Covers Rental Car After Deductible, Check Policy for Details |
| Personal Accident Insurance | Covers a Maximum of $2,500 in Medical Costs and $250 for Ambulance per Person | Coverage is Usually Higher than Avis’, Check Your Policy |
| Roadside | Lockout, Flat Tire, Jump Start, and Fuel Delivery | Similar Services Usually Available for Only a Few Extra Dollars a Month. AAA works well for this. |
It’s important to remember that your Auto Insurance may not cover expensive or luxury rental cars. For many policies, Auto Insurance will not cover the cost of a rental car much more expensive than the primary vehicle on the policy.
Avis Rental Car Insurance Versus Credit Card Coverage
Avis’ Loss Damage Waiver is almost identical to Collision Damage Waiver(CDW) offered by popular credit cards. We compared the coverage offered by Avis to coverage offered by competitive credit cards.
| Offer | Cost for Waiver | Vehicle Exclusions | United States Coverage | Coverage Abroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avis Loss Damage Waiver | Covers Rented Car | Primary | Primary | |
| Capital One Venture X Travel Rewards | Included | Expensive or Luxury Cars, Large Passenger Vehicles | Primary | Primary |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Included | Expensive or Luxury Cars, Large Passenger Vehicles | Primary | Primary |
| Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi | Included | Expensive or Luxury Cars, Large Passenger Vehicles | Secondary to Auto Insurance | Primary |
| Bank of America Travel Rewards | Included | Expensive or Luxury Cars, Large Passenger Vehicles | Secondary to Auto Insurance | Primary |
When you pay for the rental vehicle with a credit card, the credit card’s Collision Damage Waiver(CDW) will likely protect the rental car. Verify that the credit card you use to pay for the Avis rental car provides a CDW and ask for the specifics from the credit card company.
Collision Damage Waivers (CDW) are not liability insurance. This means that others’ property damage and medical expenses are your financial responsibility if you’re at fault. Make sure you have liability insurance of some form.
The Bottom Line: Should You Buy Avis Insurance?
Avis Rental Car Insurance is convenient yet expensive. Customers can find better policies through other means with a little planning.
However, if you haven’t set up coverage options before your trip, Avis has easy and fast insurance coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of rental car insurance?
Rental Car Insurance means the customer won’t have to pay for a damaged or stolen rental car. Other names for this coverage include Loss Damage Waiver and Collision Damage Waiver.
Am I responsible for stolen rental cars?
Even if customers are not at fault, they are responsible for the cost of stolen rental vehicles. Having Rental Insurance or a Waiver is how customers are protected.
Will every credit card cover rental car insurance?
Not every credit card has a Collision Damage Waiver(CDW) that acts as rental car insurance.
Also, the rental car must be paid for by a credit card with a CDW for it to be in effect.
References
(2022). Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver. chase.com. Retrieved November 15, 2022, from https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/slate/autorental-protection
(2022). Avis Make a Reservation. Avis. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://www.avis.com/en/reservation/make-reservation
(2022). Avis Protections and Coverages. Avis. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://www.avis.com/en/products-and-services/protections
(2022). Does My Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi Include Rental Car Insurance. Costco Travel. Retrieved November 15, 2022, from https://costco-travel-us-mbr.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5902/~/does-my-costco-anywhere-visa%C2%AE-card-by-citi-include-rental-car-insurance%3F
(2022). Visa Guide to Benefits. business.bofa.com. Retrieved November 16, 2022, from https://business.bofa.com/content/dam/boamlimages/documents/PDFs/visa_guide_to_benefits.pdf
Jesse Cunningham V is a professional writer and licensed insurance agent. He has worked in the insurance industry in different capacities, starting as a customer service representative and working his way up to an independent agency owner. He is licensed in the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania for Property, Casualty, Life, and Health products. Jesse has worked with many national carriers, including Nationwide, State Farm, Travelers, and Liberty Mutual, and specializes in car and home insurance and health, life, accidental death, and disability insurance. He writes for multiple publications including FIXD and Bauple.com. All articles by Jesse are opinion-based. Speak with your licensed insurance agent about the particulars of your insurance before making any decisions.
