Swapping Avis car at different location?
Feb 18, 2012, 7:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 42
Swapping Avis car at different location?
I know you can swap cars during a rental, I have done it a few times. But say I'm on a road trip, far away from the original airport I where picked it up. Can I pop in the nearest Avis and swap because, say, the seats are uncomfortable? (and still return to the original location)
Will Avis hit me with any additional fees for something like this? I'm thinking airport locations might be a better choice. Has anyone done something similar?
Will Avis hit me with any additional fees for something like this? I'm thinking airport locations might be a better choice. Has anyone done something similar?
Feb 20, 2012, 1:18 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Monterey
Programs: HH Dia, Avis First, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, AS
Posts: 188
Call the Avis hotline and they'll find a location where you can make the swap. This happened to me after I received a Ford Mustang with a speed limit and volume limit set on the car. I rented at SAN and since it is a corporate location, they had to find another corporate location for me to make an exchange. I was assured that there would not be a fee, and this would simply be like dropping off and picking up any other rental.
One thing though is that my issue was partly their fault as they rented a car they shouldn't have. If you're uncomfortable, they may not be as inclined to switch you out. It's worth a call, but YMMV.
One thing though is that my issue was partly their fault as they rented a car they shouldn't have. If you're uncomfortable, they may not be as inclined to switch you out. It's worth a call, but YMMV.
Jun 15, 2012, 11:36 am
#4
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,032
If you've got a car from a franchise location, you can have a mechanical issue ("tire losing pressure" etc) and they will swap it for you and make you fill out an incident report for the vehicle.
Jun 15, 2012, 12:31 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 4,396
Yup, you can as long as it's a car from a corporate location and you go to a corporate location. They typically give you the same car or same class so they aren't shorted a class. Even as a CHM, I've had difficulties upgrading upon swapping at a different location.
If you've got a car from a franchise location, you can have a mechanical issue ("tire losing pressure" etc) and they will swap it for you and make you fill out an incident report for the vehicle.
If you've got a car from a franchise location, you can have a mechanical issue ("tire losing pressure" etc) and they will swap it for you and make you fill out an incident report for the vehicle.
Jun 15, 2012, 12:41 pm
#7
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,032
I've done both with a mixed bag of results; no definitive correlation to calling or not calling gives better results.
Jun 15, 2012, 9:13 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Edison, NJ
Programs: Avis President's Club, Hertz President's Circle, Hyatt Platnium, National Executive Elite
Posts: 128
You better check with the location before you go there. I had a check engine light before for a car I picked up at PHL and I was forced to downgrade at EWR.
Jun 16, 2012, 4:07 pm
#10
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,032
At that point, I'd say nevermind to the swap and keep the car. If the engine blows (not likely due to all the options can be from that light), they can come for the car at that point.
Jun 19, 2012, 12:30 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Monterey
Programs: HH Dia, Avis First, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, AS
Posts: 188
Agreed. I traded in my Impala last week with a funky smell. They tried to say they only had SUV's which I didn't want, or a Jeep. I told the lady that if I can't stay in a sedan, I'll just keep it. Then I noticed a 300 outside, and asked about that. To which she replied "Oh you'll take a big car?" Uhhh, yeah, I'd love that. 5 minutes later I was driving away in a fully loaded Lincoln MKS.
Jun 22, 2012, 3:03 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 42
Obviously way late to this, but I did attempt to swap at a different location after posting here. They would have done it, but it was a smaller airport and they had only one car they were willing to give, so I just kept what I had. As stated though, I have swapped many times at the same location for pretty much any reason you can think of.
Jun 22, 2012, 6:51 am
#13
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 4,396
Obviously way late to this, but I did attempt to swap at a different location after posting here. They would have done it, but it was a smaller airport and they had only one car they were willing to give, so I just kept what I had. As stated though, I have swapped many times at the same location for pretty much any reason you can think of.
Jul 11, 2016, 1:07 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: midwest
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 920
Bumping the thread as I have a related question: On Wed I'll be 9 days into a 22 day one-way rental. We have a minivan now but after Wed it'll be silly to have such a large vehicle.
We are now in the destination area, can I just stop in and ask for a downgrade to a sedan? My 'complaint' is the MPG and/or handling on mountain roads. I'd be at the Avis main airport location so barring any surprise event in the area, they should have a decent supply of vehicles.
We are now in the destination area, can I just stop in and ask for a downgrade to a sedan? My 'complaint' is the MPG and/or handling on mountain roads. I'd be at the Avis main airport location so barring any surprise event in the area, they should have a decent supply of vehicles.