Is your car in the shop or are you in between vehicles and need to get on the road quickly? A partnership between Uber + Avis rental car may be an excellent option for you. Best of all, you can use your Avis rental vehicle with Uber Eats, doubling your opportunities to earn more. RSG contributor Jay Cradeur breaks down what you need to know about the Uber + Avis rental partnership below.
If you are going to be a rideshare driver, you are going to need a car. What type of car you get is up to you, as long as you follow Uber’s vehicle requirements (or Lyft’s vehicle requirements).
During the first three years of my career, I drove a leased car. Back in the day, I utilized an Uber program called Xchange Leasing. I drove a 2013 Toyota Prius with unlimited miles. That means I could drive it 24 hours a day and pay the same weekly rate, which at the time was $147 per week.
In addition to the base rate, I also had to pay for rideshare insurance which came out to another $50 per week. I was paying $200 a week.
The unlimited miles feature saved me money because as a full-time driver, the wear and tear and subsequent depreciation on my personal vehicle would have been exorbitant.
While the Xchange Leasing program is no more, there are other vehicle options you can check out at our Vehicle Marketplace.
This article will look at one of Uber’s newest car rental options: Avis. Who can qualify, what is included, and is it a good deal? Let’s jump in.
Quick links:
- Need a vehicle to drive for rideshare? Check out our Vehicle Marketplace
- You can drive for Uber and Uber Eats with this partnership – sign up for Uber Eats here
Who Can Rent an Avis Vehicle Through Uber?
The Avis rental program with Uber is not offered everywhere, but is offered in quite a few cities:
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Boston
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis-St. Paul
- Nashville
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh-Durham
- Salt Lake City
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- St. Louis
- Washington, DC
And the entire state of New Jersey.
What Comes With The Avis Car Rental?
Thus far, we know there are two options. One includes 700 miles and the other includes unlimited miles. Both options come with liability insurance coverage and basic maintenance.
You won’t need to buy either personal or rideshare insurance. It is included. And, of course, you can use your vehicle for both Uber and Uber Eats.
This partnership is not available for Lyft drivers. You cannot drive for Lyft with the Avis + Uber partnership, but you can drive for Uber and Uber Eats.
However, the weekly rate does not cover taxes, fees, gas or anything else you need to be a rideshare driver (mounted phone holder, etc.). You’ll want to track all these items with an app like Stride Tax to make sure you don’t overpay in taxes!
What Are The Rental Requirements?
Basically, all you need is a smartphone with the Uber app installed and a credit card. If you use a debit card, then Avis will do a soft credit check which will NOT show up as an inquiry on your credit reports.
In addition, to rent a car for Uber through Avis (these requirements are true no matter where you live):
- You must be at least 25 years old
- You must possess a valid US driver’s license
- You must have a valid credit card (prepaid cards won’t be accepted for payment)
- A soft credit check is required if you use a debit card
How Long Can You Keep The Car?
You can keep the same vehicle for 56 days. After approximately two months, you would have to return the car and pick up another car for the next two months.
It is possible Avis will allow you to rent the same car, but in my experience, it will depend on the policy at the time you return the vehicle. If you need to be sure, you can call the Avis Hotline phone number and ask ahead of time for your options.
Where Do You Find The Uber Avis Option?
To find out what your vehicle options are, first make sure you’re in one of the cities where this program exists.
If you’re in one of these cities, check it out on your Uber app. Here are the screenshots to guide you to your options:
Get To Your Home Screen. Click in the upper left-hand corner
Click on Account.
Then click on Vehicles.
Click on View Rental Options.
Click on Providers at the bottom.
Click on Avis to see all the details.
Here we can see that you have two choices. First, if you are a part time driver, you would only want the 700 mile price of $150 per week.
Actually, if you will be driving anything less than 1125 miles in a week, the 700 mile program is the best.
However, if for example, you will be driving six days at 300 miles per day, then the Unlimited Miles program at $214 per week makes far more sense (and cents).
Once you have made your decision, click on Sign in to book and begin the simple application process to obtain your vehicle.
Will There Be Enough Avis Vehicles for Me?
While it’s tough to guarantee that there will always be a vehicle available for all drivers, it does look like Avis has prepared ahead to have plenty of dedicated cars for drivers.
Take a look at this Avis rental car location below – as it clearly states, this entire rental car location is only available for Uber drivers. It’s a good sign that there is a dedicated location only for Uber drivers!
What If You Don’t Have Avis In Your Market?
Check out our Rideshare Guy Vehicle Marketplace for additional vehicle rental options.
Here you will find all the vehicle options at your fingertips. One great option is HyreCar.
What Are Drivers Saying About This?
From the drivers we’ve spoken to, reactions are mixed on the quality and cost of this program. However, for drivers who are in a pinch (car is in the shop, need to earn money quickly), the Avis + Uber rental partnership is an opportunity.
One reader who reached out to us began driving with the Avis + Uber partnership because his car was totaled. He’s currently driving a Ford Focus and would like to trade in for a cleaner model, as his rental vehicle has stains. Keep in mind – these are rental vehicles!
Another reader used the Avis + Uber partnership to drive in San Francisco for a few months. By taking advantage of the busy California market, this driver was able to save up enough money to buy his own car. However, he said unless you can drive enough to earn at least $200/day, this might not be a great option for you. It does depend on how much your other expenses are and how much your specific rental is.
Takeaways
I live in California and Avis is an option for me. In my opinion, this partnership between Avis and Uber is a great option. It is good to drive a car that is fully insured.
There is a temptation to avoid the rideshare insurance to save a little bit of money. However, that can be stressful as you have to be hyper-vigilant to avoid any kind of accident.
The Avis Car Rental option has you covered and that equates to peace of mind.
Avis offers a good deal for both part-time drivers and full-time drivers. The price seems reasonable especially relative to the revenue you can earn in one week. In addition, according to the Uber site, if you’re an Avis + Uber rental car user, you could be eligible for “unique incentives” to help you earn more.
If Avis is not available in your market, check out our Vehicle Marketplace for all options, including HyreCar. Drive safe. Enjoy the open road.
Do you currently rent a car to drive for Uber or Lyft? What company are you renting from if so?
-Jay @ RSG
Quick links:
- Need a vehicle to drive for rideshare? Check out our Vehicle Marketplace
- You can drive for Uber and Uber Eats with this partnership – sign up for Uber Eats here
