Avis Preferred straight-to-car rental experience
Avis Preferred straight-to-car rental experience

1. You must be an Avis Preferred Member. This includes all Avis Preferred member statuses such as Avis President’s Club.
2. When you make a booking, your Avis Preferred Wizard Number and a valid email address or mobile phone number must be included on your reservation.
3. Your payment method may only be by an accepted credit card or debit card. We accept AMEX, Mastercard and Visa credit cards and Mastercard and Visa debit cards.
4. You must have downloaded the Avis App at least 72 hours prior to travel; and be logged into the Avis App when you come to pick-up your car.
5. You must complete an ID and Driver Licence check at least 24 hours prior to the rental start. We will send you a request to do this via email or SMS.

You can book directly with Avis anyway you choose. It can be via the website, the Avis App, the Avis Reservations Team or directly with the Avis team at an Avis location.

You can also book with selected travel agents and booking partners, where your Avis Preferred Wizard number is captured on the reservation.

Regardless of where you book, your reservation should automatically appear in the Avis App.

Unfortunately, our straight-to-car experience is not possible if you have booked through a third-party booking partner who does not have the capability to include an Avis Preferred Wizard Number on your reservation.

We will be providing this rental experience at most (but not quite all) passenger vehicle locations across New Zealand. Straight-to-Car is not available at Commercial Vehicle Locations.

Available from Monday 5 May 2025 at:

Coming soon to:

This experience is available when you rent cars only.
It is not available when you rent a Tesla.

It is not available when you rent trucks and other commercial vehicles.

It is a legal requirement of the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) for Avis to sight and record each renter’s Driver Licence. New digital technology now allows you to do this prior to travelling, rather than having to physically present your card to the Avis team when you pick-up your car.

We will send a request via email or text message to complete ID and Driver Licence verification approximately 72 hours before your rental starts.

You must complete this verification at least 24 hours prior to the rental start.

Electronic Driver Licence verification is a critical requirement to experience Avis Preferred Straight-to-Car pick-ups. It is also recommended for counter pick-ups as it helps to expediate the time you spend at the counter.

If you rent a car from the same car group the base rate will not change, provided your rental period remains the same. If you rent from an alternative vehicle group, the cost of the rental may change. The new applicable base rate will be provided within the Avis App at time of pick-up.

Yes, you can still choose to visit the Avis counter to collect your car keys.

Please lock the car using the car key; and either drop the car keys in the Avis key drop box which can be found in the Avis carpark; Or return the key to the Avis counter.

Straight-to-Car is available to any Avis Preferred Member who holds a full and valid New Zealand Driver Licence.
Straight-to-Car is available to any Avis Preferred Member who holds a full and valid Overseas Driver Licence regardless of the language.

It is a legal requirement of the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) for Avis to sight and record each renter’s Driver Licence. New digital technology allows you to do this electronically prior to travelling, rather than rather than having to physically present your card to the Avis team at the counter.

(Note for Overseas Renters: To drive a vehicle in New Zealand renters with a Driver Licence which is not in English are required to carry an approved translation of their licence such as an International Driving Permit in addition to their Driver Licence. Please visit NZ Travel Agency here for up-to-date requirements to drive on New Zealand roads).

If you're sharing the drive, all drivers must visit the Avis rental counter at pick-up for Driver Licence verification.

Your car will usually be assigned to your reservation approximately 20 mins before your scheduled pick-up time. You are welcome to be on your way in this car at once and your rental period will begin when you leave the Avis carpark area.

If you arrive before your car has been assigned, you can choose your own car from the vehicles we have available. To do this press the SELECT button on the Avis App home screen. Once you have selected a car you can go straight to this vehicle, unlock it on the Avis App and be on your way.

Alternatively, you can continue to the Avis rental counter where the Avis team will prepare your rental.

If you have the car for any days in addition your pre-agreed rental period, it will affect the final cost of your rental. Further details are outlined in Avis New Zealand Rental Terms and Conditions.

As per Avis New Zealand Terms and Conditions, your rental period will end when you return your car.

If you are changing the return date by more than 24 hours, we recommend you modify your booking within the Avis App as soon as you are aware of your trip changes.

If you have the car for any days in addition your pre-agreed rental period, it will affect the final cost of your rental. Further details are outlined in Avis New Zealand Rental Terms and Conditions.

Once you are signed into your Avis Preferred account your upcoming reservations should automatically appear in your TRIPS.

If a reservation doesn't automatically appear it is most likely because your Avis Preferred number has not been included on the reservation. Please contact the Avis reservation team to add your Avis Preferred number to the reservation. Please note however, due to systems limitations this may result in a change of price to your original reservation.

Please note also: You can search for a reservation in the Avis App using your rental confirmation number. After searching, the reservation will appear in your TRIPS but will not be a valid reservation to experience Avis Preferred Straight-to-Car unless the Avis Preferred number is included on the reservation.

Please visit the Avis counter to collect your car. We also recommend you check that the contact details in your Avis Preferred profile are correct.

Please open the Avis App and make sure you are signed into your Avis Preferred account.

Provided you have met the renter requirement for straight-to-car pick-ups: instructions on where to find your assigned car should appear on the Avis App home screen approximately 20 mins prior to your pick-up time.

If an assigned car is not shown, you can also choose your own car from the vehicles we have available. To do this press the SELECT button on the Avis App home screen.

If you are not assigned a car nor given the option to select your own car, please proceed to the Avis rental counter.

If you are at an Avis location, please reach out to our teams in the carpark or at the counter if you need assistance.