I've always been successful with adding different coupon codes at the counter. I usually add one United coupon for 500 miles (MUAA084), which cannot be added at booking time bcs of travel agent. Mostly I do it online by editing my rental at MyAvis, but cannot always. I've also previously added the free weekend certs either at the counter when renting or dropping of the car.

Yesterday a Avis representative at JFK told me it was against their policies to add electronic coupon codes at rental time and told me "this time you have to bite the dust". Very nice and that was in front of my wife and kids.

Anyhow, is this really the Avis policy not to add coupon codes?

What do you mean by "Adding on coupons"? Are you able to have multiple coupons per rental?

No, only one coupon. When I rent through my corporate travel agent, we cannot add any coupon codes, like my 500 extra United miles. I usually adds that online at myavis or at the counter. I also usually add my free weekend cert (coupon code) when I return my car so that my rental is covered by insurance.

paper coupons are no problem, but electronic coupon codes are meant to be done prior to arrival. Depending on the coupon and origin, the agent is right.

Well, yes they are a problem. In fact, using coupons with Avis is much more inconvenient than using coupons at either Hertz, National, or Budget. Inserting a coupon code into an Avis reservation at time of reservation does nothing to eliminate the need to go to the desk when picking up a car (even for Preferred members). With Hertz, I can simply hand the coupon to the roving check-in person at return....no trip to counter required. With Budget, same thing. With National, I can hand the exit booth person the coupon on the way off the lot. Avis also seems to have problems applying coupon codes even after turning them in at the counter. In my experience, 1/2 the time I turn in a coupon, I end up re-visiting the counter when I return the car because the check-in person either doesn't process the discount associated with the coupon or the coupon code isn't present.

It's very frustrating and forces me to choose most any other firm when I need to use a coupon at Avis and the price is within a few dollars of what I would incurr elsewhere.

I actually enjoyed the coupon thing by Avis. For the following reason:

Since I am preferred, the car always waits for me. I put various coupon codes into it (like One Free Day, and the like), and always it gets minused from the total, so I don't have to go to the counter, and usually I can keep the coupon (except for JFK location).

For example, I had the coupon that is given to first-time Chairman Club renters for five-day free rental, and I used it two times.

I used two "free day" certificates four or five times.

I used weekend-er certificates few times (before they became electronic and they started keeping track).

budget and avis.....same company. same policies.

1> yes, if its an electronic coupon, you dont need to hand in a coupon.

2> yes, agents CAN insert coupons from the rover return. believe me, you can. As a manager I walked around the front end lot with one on my hip not for check in but to administer discounts and other things to people on the spot and to check rental status of vehicles.

3> In locations with exit booths that are avis controlled (not common lot attendants), you can give the coupon to the agent upon exit. The coupon would be stapled to the "sign here for gas" tear off portion and the agent would put the coupon in after the fact, or if you put on in online, they will verify it right there, and there will be no need to insert it as it is already there.

If your revisiting the counter its because someone dropped the ball, either you or the agent.

The easiest way to do it is when you check out, take your rental counteract and have the agent write on the back (surrendered muva030 coupon) sign it and go on your way. You can VISIT ANY AVIS COUNTER WORLDWIDE WITHIN 24 hours of checking out to correct it, or do it via phone.


once again, I am a former avis senior shift manager and I have seen it all. I no longer work for them, frankly I despise them. I post to assist those still with the company.

I appreciate the information, but it does not reflect my experience at all and those experiences have been at Avis-controlled exit booths. In particular, I've had issues at EWR, DFW, BDL, and CLT. At all of these locations at one time or another I've been told by the exit booth person that I can only "apply" the coupon at the main counter (although the coupon number was already in the reservation). I'll give it another go the next time I rent with Avis and have a coupon.