Avis Rent A Car New Zealand Reviews 

We hired a car in Rarotonga and drove 89kms. When we filled up it took 7.83 litres at a cost of $29.36. A Toyota Yaris does approx 20km per litre so we have paid for about 156kms when we only did 89kms. I suggested that the previous hirer didn't fill up correctly and we were paying for their usage. Well they wouldn't have a bar of it. Sent me all kinds of AI generated nonsense (yes they are using AI for their customer service). It was only about $15 thankfully, but it is horrible to not be listened to and to be fobbed off.

Very poor customer service have been trying to contact customer service for over a month with no response regarding extra fee taken from us with no explanation car was dropped at queenstown on time clean and a full tank of fuel but they just keep ignoring our emails.

Very disappointing experience with Avis. I accidentally selected the wrong drop-off location when making my booking. I contacted customer service hoping they could simply update the reservation, but I was told they could not change the drop-off location and that I would need to cancel and make a new booking instead.

As a result, I was charged a cancellation fee of NZD $86.25. I found this extremely frustrating, especially since I was trying to correct what was clearly an honest mistake. A simple amendment would have provided much better customer service than forcing a cancellation and charging a fee.

While the policy may allow this, the lack of flexibility and customer-focused support left a very negative impression. Based on this experience, I will think twice before booking with Avis again.

I hired a Rav4 from Avis Christchurch Airport.
While the car was parked a girl on a trail bike hit the car and broke the plastic trim. I completed a police report and an accident report with Avis giving all the contact details to Avis.
Avis deducted full excess from my credit card and said they would refund balance after repair. Three months later I still can't get my money from Avis and they have made no attempt to contact me. I Have had to chase them up. Each time they give me the run around and make up the weakest excuses. It looks like a third world hustle, hoping I will just give up on the money and go away.
My advice, don't use Avis if you don't want to deal with scammers.

I’ve rented from Avis for years, which makes this experience even more disappointing.
I booked a Mazda CX-30 more than a month in advance for a 9-day holiday rental from Auckland International Airport this time.
Yesterday, At pickup, the manager aggressively pushed extra insurance costing over $150 more, turning the process into a long sales pitch.

What really upset me was being handed keys to a Toyota Yaris, a much smaller and cheaper car than the one I booked and paid for. It felt like an attempt to downgrade my booking without properly informing me.
Luckily, I knew exactly what I had reserved and demanded the correct vehicle.

On top of that, the online pricing is misleading. The final cost ends up far higher once insurance and extra charges are added. My rental is already around $953, far above the original quoted price, will post again for how my final cost after my 9 days.

Very disappointed with the service, lack of transparency, and loss of trust after being a loyal customer for years.
Not recommending Avis to anyone

I had a 3 day rental from Avis, they gave me a Mitsubishi Outlander. This was the worst vehicle rental experience I’ve ever had, 5mins after getting in to drive the vehicle would decide I was drowsy and then I’d have to put up with alarms, flashing warning messages on the dashboard and a vibrating steering wheel. On the longest stretch of my journey this went on for 4 hours. No one at Avis would return my calls when I reached out for help. I will never rent from Avis again.

I called AVIS NZ today to clarify two existing bookings, and the experience with the reservations staff member, SARAH (with strong Filipino accent), was incredibly disappointing! Instead of providing clear assistance, she sounded impatient and dismissive throughout the call. At one point, she even said "I have mentioned this to you many times," in a tone that felt like we were being told off rather than helped.
Her manner was intimidating rather than supportive and it left us wondering how someone with such an unprofessional phone presence could be assigned to a customer service role. A staff member assisting customers on the phone should have a warm, helpful and professional tone- not one that makes customers feel unwelcome or burdensome.
This experience was such a waste of time that we have decided to cancel both bookings altogether. After this experience, we will never attempt to make any future bookings with AVIS NZ. The level of customer service we received left us frustrated, disappointed and genuinely shocked.

I apologize ahead of time for the long post, but I am hoping AVIS MANAGEMENT sees this and can help us....

We rented a vehicle from Avis at the Auckland, NZ airport from 28 JANUARY 2026 to 11 MARCH 2026 (reservation #33969584 US5) without any problems. However, when we returned the car, I had accidentally left my ($200) leather wallet in the car, and it feels like it's becoming impossible to get it back (they will only hold it for 60 days).

We realized I'd left it behind while we were waiting for our 7:45 pm Air NZ flight, so my husband hightailed it back to the Avis airport office (I believe this was around 6:30 pm on the 11th) and was told by the customer service rep that "the car is at the wash rack and we have the wallet under lock and key but the only individual--Teresa--who can release it has just left for the day". WHY is there only ONE person who can do this?!! That was ridiculous!

And there is NO WAY to speak to someone on the phone IN their office!!! Even the Lost Property Office for the AIRPORT told us they don't have a number to reach the Avis office!

When you ring their customer service number, the voicemail said to send an email if it's regarding a lost item, which we did immediately, along with entering a lost item report on their website. We heard nothing back. We sent two more emails and finally received a "generic" reply on 19 MARCH that our email is in their queue for review, and it wasn't until 25 MARCH (referencing Lost Property ID number 83607) that they finally responded offering two options that we're unable to do since we live in the US and not NZ (one of which was to come to the airport to pick it up).

Then we received a response on 30 MARCH from another individual who told us another option we had was to email them a shipping label by getting it through the NZ Post. I replied the same day with some questions, and got the auto reply that the email was in the queue once again. As of today (7 APRIL) I've still not received a reply, so I finally decided to try sending them the shipping label today and got the usual auto reply, so who knows how long until they get the label and I find out if it works out or not.

I could understand this dragging out forever if I was dealing with an Avis in a big city like Los Angeles, but NZ is a small country and the Avis at Auckland airport is a tiny office compared to somewhere else in the world. Like I said, I hope management sees this and helps us get this taken care of!!!!!

Avis car rental process is seamless, had rented suv btw Dec 11 and Dec 27, insurance is full covered, zero extra payment in case of exigency, 24/7 on road support, car was new and in superb condition, enjoyed the drive. Avis team keep up the positivity, would recommend Avis nz for car rentals

We were only dropping off our hire car at Auckland airport, having picked it up in Christchurch. Turned up at domestic terminal drop off as didn't realise we could have dropped it off at international. But, that was fine. Parked up in one of the designated bays and was quickly met by Mr Khan, who took our key and prrsonal details and also wrote on the screen (in removable pen!) that the battery in the key fob was failing - really nice, quick and efficient customer service. And we were quickly on our way, couldn't ask for more. In the main the car was fine, a couple of issues which we relayed in our review of the Christchurch office.

Rented a car in Australia as Avis preferred customer at a set rate displayed on the website which was competitive. Got invoiced after hiring and had at least $200+ additional hidden costs not advertised at additional acceptance of rental contract. Avis then proved very difficult (and still is) in trying to resolve those costs.

Our flight to ChCh returned to AKLD due to adverse weather. Phoned Avis to see if we could rent a car for 24 hours to return to our home in Hamilton and coming back to AKLD for our rebooked flight tomorrow morning. They quoted us just over $500 for a 24 hour rental. Won’t be using this company ever again!!! Opportunists!!!

Booked a one way rental QT to Auk 2 weeks ago for November. Rate was $2700 NZD. Called to REDUCE trip by one day and new rate is almost $5,000. Competitor matched original rate in an hour.

I’d especially like to praise your staff member, Ezequiel (I hope I spelled the name correctly). From the moment we arrived, he provided us with exceptional service upgrading us to a better car, supplying snow chains, and giving clear instructions about both the vehicle and the Queenstown area.

It’s such a wonderful feeling to arrive in a new country and be welcomed with such outstanding customer service. Thank you, Ezequiel, for making our experience such a positive one.

Unfortunately, my recent experience with Avis customer service left a lot to be desired. I spoke with a Filipino representative (didn’t catch his name), and from the moment the call started, it was clear he wasn’t interested in helping. He sounded extremely unmotivated, sarcastic, and frankly, quite lazy.

When I asked for assistance with amending my booking, he flat-out refused to help in any constructive way. To make things worse, he hung up on me mid-conversation. No explanation. Just click – gone.

I expected better from a global brand like Avis. This kind of treatment is not just unprofessional, it’s downright rude. I hope this feedback reaches the right people so no one else has to deal with this kind of poor service.

Offensive. Returned AVIS to Queenstown Airport, leaving key in the dropbox in the Avis Carpark as instructed by their staff member. Flew home and then got charged an extra day as they logged the car being returned 14 hours after it actually was. They now will not refund the extra days charge unless we prove that it was returned - despite the fact that it was their carpark, so would have been recorded on their CCTV.

I hired a car from another car company and it broke down. They didn’t help me with another car. Their service was appalling so Gary at Queenstown airport helped me with a hire car from Avis so I could be on my way and enjoy the rest of my holiday. Thank you so much Gary.

Terrible experience and would recommend stay away from this rental firm. Christchurch airport were not helpful as we had to wait for our vehicle 1hour late and no credit for the hour late.As waiting we were told sign here and there and of course didn’t read the small print. I did ask we have got full insurance yes but she did not been mentioned at the counter the $750 excess that GST will be added and Admin fee to a claim as well as Admin fee to the GST. Yes we had to claim as car was Keyed by someone walking pass and not sure where it happened. Process of claim was terrible and we felt like a criminal. Also the scratch cost just over the excess plus GST plus admin fees and very convenient to them. We weren’t allowed to have another quote either
If I could we would give them a minus star rating MINUS STAR RATING
Lynn and Dave

When we returned the car we filled it up at the airport. Avis claimed it was 1/2 full. I provided a copy of the cc transaction as I did not have a receipt. No person checked the car with me when I returned it. it is a fraudulent charge but they will not reverse the charge.

On a recent visit to NZ I rented a car from the Avis counter at Queenstown airport. I was quoted $150 for one day hire plus insurance for $37. I returned the car within the hire period and with a full tank of petrol. After I returned home I received an invoice from Avis showing that I had been billed NZD 335.28. This included charges of $45 + GST that had not been mentioned at the counter. There was also a charge of 115.40 for Fuel Service. I contacted Avis and was asked for proof that I had filled the car. I paid cash for the fuel and did not have a receipt. I contacted the manager at the BP station on Frankton Road who kindly supplied me with both the receipt and a picture of me with the car at the pump. The amount of petrol put in to top up the tank was about right for the distance covered during the hire. I sent the information off to Avis and two weeks later I have now received a refund for the cost of the fuel. I am satisfied with the outcome, but I should never have been billed for the fuel. I have no way of telling if it was simply an error, or something else.