Avis has jammed up its prices?

[Warks]

We are planning hiring a car for two weeks around Tasmania at the end of the month. I have been hiring cars with Avis for the past few years only through convenience of using the same company. Generally my clients pay for my hire anyway.
Seeing as I'm a member of their club I got a quote for the holiday rental a few weeks ago for a RAV4 type car for 13 days. The quote came in at $953.15. I looked at a slightly shorter hire doing a city rather than airport pick up and not using the car while in Hobart at the start so it was an 11 day hire but it came in at $933 so hardly any saving - couldn't quite work out the reason for the small difference unless it was an unadvertised "hire 10 days get 2 free" (which Thrifty has). So that was a no-brainer to stick with the full hire. Of course being a procrastinator I didn't book it at the time and only today went back in to complete it.

Now the exact same parameters (13 days) gives me a quote of $1218.38. A massive increase of $265.23. The actual hire charge (without all the dodgy 'surcharges' was originally $325 and now it's $533.
The insurance is $351 which hasn't changed. I was originally looking at getting separate cover for the insurance anyway but the hike in the daily fee is so outrageous I will have to go with someone else.

And how do you get a AWD (Avis Worldwide Discount) number? The more I hire from them the more they try and rip me off? That's loyalty for you.

 

[markis10]

AWDs are easily found, one of the better one is your local auto association, VS have one as do Priority Club, and if you ring Avis they can give your very own (which is not much IMHO). Car hire is seasonal and subject to demand so it does flucutate, since Yasi prices have been way up in TSV!

 

[drron]

Also look at avis.co.uk.Even if the rental is in Australia it can often be cheaper than using the Aussie site.The rates usually include insurance.

 

[straitman]

Also look at avis.co.uk.Even if the rental is in Australia it can often be cheaper than using the Aussie site.The rates usually include insurance.

Thanks drron. I'll try that one.

 

[ozmille]

I always use oodles.com to do my Australian rental car research. Had a look for two weeks at the end of the month and Budget comes in at 584

 

[AdMEL]

Car hire prices have jumped considerably post-GFC, from their (in my opinion) unsustainably low pre-GFC levels. Pre-GFC car hire companies made losses for years and since the GFC, they have been profitable. Given this, I don't think prices are going down much from where are they are now.

As an example, I hired a car (Commodore SV6) for 4 days from Avis in Cairns airport a couple of weeks ago - $255 incl. 1 free day on corp. rate (standard rate was well over $300!). About 3 or 4 years ago at the same time of year, I hired a Comm SV6 from Hertz Cairns - $125! And that was the standard rate! It did include 1 free day. Base rate was a little over $20 per day! They can't have made any money in that deal.

Pre-GFC, I could almost always get standard rates lower than corp rates through my employer through Hertz an Avis, often half. Now, the corp rates (which haven't changed much) are almost always cheaper.

I also use Oodles.com for research, as well as drivenow.com.au. Both are great, as you can compare all major car hire companies at once.

markis10, I don't think Avis has an AWD for Auto Associations. I've asked and been told no. All of the Auto Assoc used to have an arrangement through Hertz (small discount [4%] and 50% off excess with no SVA excess), but that was discontinued a little while ago (discount still remains if you have the CDP, but CDP no longer published and excess discount no longer) due to Auto Assoc arrangement with Thrifty following NRMA buying 100% of Thrifty a year or two ago. Avis QFF AWD sometimes gives you a 5% discount, but not on special rates. I no longer use Thrifty after they didn't have the full size I reserved and an arrogant tried to downgrade me but told me it was what I had reserved. Anyway, their rates aren't competitive and their service is appalling.

 

[markis10]

Avis do have an AWD for AAA, but it's only 2%, not surprising given the NRMA own Thrifty. QFF is 5% using their AWD.

 

[Warks]

Thanks for the replies.
I found another one of those services that checks all rates in the childishly named vroomvroomvroom.com.au but it did the trick and seemed to cut a chunk off. Insurance would have been part of that because as an Avis Preferred member it always includes the max insurance by default and is impossible to change (can change profile but it takes days to update and then doesn't happen in my experience). Took out an annual Australian travel policy which covers excess to $4000 and the usual stuff. A pretty good deal.

 

[Fantic125]

It can be worthwhile having a look at this site to see what specials can be found;

Frequent Flyer Bonuses - Guide to the most Frequent Flyer and Guest Bonus Offers

 

[risky]

Insurance would have been part of that because as an Avis Preferred member it always includes the max insurance by default and is impossible to change

Interesting - I have the exact reverse. In my Avis profile, all insurance options are greyed out and cannot be selected at all. I believe that is because my employer AWD number is included and all insurance is specifically rejected because they are self-insured.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I seem to be on the case of BA just now but thought I should report that the car hire prices through them are significantly cheaper than Avis website. I have just booked a LHR-GLA rtn and compared the car hire pre-paid through BA with the prices on Avis, at least 30% cheaper and you can also enter your Avis Preferred details in the booking engine at BA.