Uber has over 3.5 million drivers, many of whom use their vehicles to conduct pickups and dropoffs.
But what if you don’t own a car and still want to drive for Uber?
Or what if you don’t want to use your own car?
Uber has partnered up with a car rental company called Avis to offer rental cars to approved Uber drivers.
In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about renting a car through Avis Uber rental.
You will learn what types of cars you can rent, the pricing, where Avis Uber currently operates, and more to help decide whether this is the right option for you.
Let’s get started:
- What Is Avis Uber Rental?
- How Does Avis Uber Rental Work?
- Where Is Avis Uber Rental Available?
- Who Qualifies for Avis Uber Rental?
- How Long Can You Rent From Avis Uber?
- What Cars Can You Rent From Avis Uber?
- How Much Does Avis Uber Rental Cost?
- Is it Worth it to Rent From Avis for Uber?
- How to Rent a Car With Avis Uber
- Avis Uber Rental FAQs
- To Wrap It Up
What Is Avis Uber Rental?
Avis is a car rental service headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey.
Avis and Uber partnered up to offer rental cars to eligible Uber drivers as an alternative to using their personal vehicles.
The service gives Uber drivers access to well-maintained, reliable cars.
Avis cars come with auto insurance and unlimited miles.
Avis Uber rentals can also lead to cost savings for the driver, as renting can be cheaper than maintenance and the depreciation of their vehicle.
How Does Avis Uber Rental Work?
After signing up for Avis, Uber drivers can select the car class they desire and pick it up from a participating Avis location.
Drivers pay a weekly fee, which includes liability insurance and basic maintenance.
If the driver damages the car, the driver is responsible for repairs up to a $1,000 deductible.
Drivers are also responsible for any taxes, fees, and gas costs to operate the vehicle.
Drivers must also pay for their own accessories, such as phone stands, to make their work more efficient and safe.
Where Is Avis Uber Rental Available?
Avis Uber rentals are not available in every Uber area of operation. However, they are available in most major U.S. cities.
Avis Uber rentals are expanding to international markets, as well.
Areas of Operation
Avis Uber rentals are currently available in these metropolitan areas:
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Boston
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis – St. Paul
- Nashville
- New Jersey
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh-Durham
- Salt Lake City
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- St. Louis
- Washington, DC
According to Uber, the service will also be available in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Who Qualifies for Avis Uber Rental?
Not all drivers qualify for Avis Uber rentals.
Here are the requirements to rent a car through the Avis Uber partnership:
Uber Drivers With Avis Profile
All Uber drivers need to create an Avis profile to rent a car through Avis.
Avis requires drivers to submit their license and credit card information to validate rental eligibility.
After completing your profile, Avis will prompt you to activate your account.
Then you’ll be ready for the next step in the signup process.
In addition, if you have not signed up for Uber yet, you will need to become an approved Uber driver before Avis will rent a car to you.
Minimum 25 Years Old
Avis requires drivers to be at least 25 years of age to rent a car.
Contrary to common belief, this is not due to law or regulation.
No such laws exist in the U.S.
However, Avis cars come with auto insurance, and many insurance companies offer lower insurance premiums to drivers who are 25 years or older.
As such, this could be the reasoning behind this requirement.
Valid Driver’s License
Avis requires all Uber drivers to have a valid U.S. driver’s license.
Valid Credit Card
Avis requires Uber drivers to have a valid credit card to process payments.
Prepaid cards are not accepted, and Avis will initiate a soft credit check if drivers choose to use a debit card.
Uber Driver App Installed
Finally, drivers must also have a smartphone with the Uber Driver app installed on their device.
How Long Can You Rent From Avis Uber?
Avis Uber offers specific rental times to ensure vehicles are consistently maintained:
Weekly Rentals
Avis allows Uber drivers to rent cars for 7-day periods (i.e. weeks).
Maximum Number of Weeks
Drivers can keep the same car for up to eight weeks.
Avis can ask you to return or exchange the car whenever they choose.
In either case, Avis will provide the driver with a new car.
What Cars Can You Rent From Avis Uber?
Avis allows Uber drivers to choose from a selection of compact and midsize vehicles.
The cars take regular gasoline, are automatic transmissions, and come with four doors and five seats.
These cars are compatible with UberX and Uber Eats.
How Much Does Avis Uber Rental Cost?
Here’s some more information about Avis Uber rental pricing.
Price Per Week
Avis Uber rentals start at $260 per week plus taxes and fees.
Payments are made at pickup, and they do not require a security deposit.
This rate covers the base rate to rent the car, insurance, and basic maintenance.
If your car breaks down or you get into an accident, Avis Uber recommends calling 911 and obtaining a police report for the accident.
Then call Avis’ roadside service hotline at 888-996-8237.
Is it Worth it to Rent From Avis for Uber?
Renting a car from Avis Uber has its pros and cons.
Here are the most important for you to consider when using the ride-hailing service:
Pros
If you are a full-time driver, it can make financial sense to rent a car through Avis instead of driving your own.
Driving full-time can cause a lot of wear and tear on your vehicle.
Not only does this contribute to more trips to the mechanic and maintenance costs, but this can also depreciate the car’s resale value much faster.
That is the part most drivers are not aware of.
Cars still tend to depreciate over time, even if they aren’t actively driven.
However, prospective buyers will typically pay more for a car that hasn’t been driven extensively for a rideshare company.
The wear and tear caused by driving a vehicle that much can lead to more problems down the line, even if it runs well right now.
Renting a car helps you avoid all of the wear and tear on your vehicle and helps to maintain its resale value.
In addition, if you do not own a car, then renting is the only option.
Thankfully, getting approved is an easy process, as long as you meet all of the requirements.
Also, if you drive in a large city, there is likely an Avis station near you.
The car also comes with rideshare insurance.
Many drivers don’t get rideshare insurance, and accidents can happen.
With a rental car, insurance is included, so drivers don’t need to concern themselves with signing up for additional insurance.
Cons
If you are not a full-time driver, or you are not driving a significant amount of miles each week, then it may be more cost-effective to use your own vehicle.
If you aren’t doing enough rides each week, the weekly fee can eat into your profits.
In this case, driving your own car can be a better option, as long as your car is in good enough condition.
You also cannot keep the same car for longer than eight weeks – meaning you will need to exchange it at an Avis station relatively often.
Conclusion
Avis Uber rental is worth it if you drive enough to make it cost-effective.
The more your drive, the more cost-effective renting a car becomes.
However, part-time drivers may need to crunch the numbers to make sure renting is the right option for them.
In many cases, it can be more cost-effective for part-time drivers to use their own vehicles.
How to Rent a Car With Avis Uber
Here is some more information on how to rent a car with Avis Uber.
Step by Step Instructions
Go to the Uber app on your smartphone.
Click the left-hand corner and select Account and then Vehicles.
Then click View Rental Options.
Then click on the providers near you.
If you are in one of the markets in which Avis operates, you can click on one of the Avis listings to view further details.
You can also book a car directly from the app if you have already created an Avis account.
Avis Uber Rental FAQs
Do you still have some questions?
Here is some more information about Avis Uber.
Do you need car insurance?
Your own insurance is not required to drive an Avis Uber rental car.
The weekly fee includes auto insurance for the vehicle.
How far can you go?
Avis Uber rentals come with unlimited miles.
Avis used to offer two options – one that came with 700 miles and one with unlimited miles.
However, the 700-mile option has since been removed.
To Wrap It Up
All in all, Avis Uber rental can be a good option for many drivers.
If you are a full-time driver, renting a car from Avis Uber can save you money on car maintenance and value depreciation.
What do you think of Avis Uber rentals?
Leave a comment below and let us know!