Avis Rent-A-Car – guide to Lisbon hire cars from Avis

One of the largest car hire companies in the world is Avis Rent-A-Car.

Avis world wide HQ is found in New Jersey in the colonies and known as Avis Rent a Car System, LLC, a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group.

Avis is especially strong in the markets of North America, Australia and Western and Central Europe. World wide, the number of Avis locations (Avis car rental stations) amounts to almost 6.000 in 168 countries.

The Avis history

Traditionally Avis has been the business man’s car hire company of choice.

It was founded by the American entrepreneur Warren E. Avis, a former US Army pilot, who saw the possibilities after World War II for renting cars from airports to the growing number of airline passengers. Owning a share in a Ford dealership, Warren Avis was the first to offer cars for rent at airports in the US.

In order to support its position, in many countries, Avis has struck deals with credit card companies, hotel chains, train line operators and airlines in order to promote its car hire services.

Avis - We Try Harder

Avis is famous for its slogan “We Try Harder” with reference to its main competitor Hertz.

Avis Rent-A-Car on a world wide car rental scale took over the leading role from Hertz in the 1990’s after trying harder for a long time, which internally in the organization made the slogan slightly obsolete. It is, however, still used with great success commercially and is one of 10 best known slogans ever.

In 2006, Avis Budget Group was formed. Avis Rent-A-Car is the premium brand whereas Budget car hire is the economic alternative.

Avis Portugal part of Avis Europe

The European Headquarters of Avis is situated in Bracknell, Berkshire, UK.

In 2011 Avis Europe PLC was bought by Avis Budget Group (Avis in the states) for close to $1 billion. Once again Avis Europe became part of the parent company.

Avis Europe operates Avis Rent-A-Car in its core countries Britain, Spain, Italy, France and Germany.

In Portugal as well as in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, The Neatherlands and Switzerland, Avis Europe also operates the Avis car rental network itself. Previously Avis Portugal was a licensee. The former licencee now operates the Aluvia car rental business in Portugal.

Avis Portugal headquarters is situated in Lisbon. The Portuguese corporate entity is Sovial Lda, Avenida Marechal Craveiro Lopes, nº.2 – PT-1700-284 Lisboa .

The remaining countries in Europe are all run by licencees.

A licencee is a local or foreign company which is obliged to adher to the standards set out in the license agreement. Avis is known to be quite strict with its licencee partners. From time to time a licencee will not have its agreement with Avis Europe renewed.

Avis in Portugal – hire an Avis car from Lisbon Airport

In the southern parts of Europe, the fierce price competition tends to favor local companies, but from time to time Avis has very competitive offers for Lisbon hire cars.

The fleet of Avis cars in Lisbon is one of the newest. Avis Portugal has a large variety of vehicles ranging from VW Polo and Renault Clio supermini class rental cars to Mercedes Vito minibusses.

Avis in Portugal also offers Seat Ibiza, Peugeot 207, Seat Leon, VW Golf and Mercedes limousines for rental.

Especially in the cheapest Lisbon car hire class of car (which in Avis language is ‘Group A’), customers will often get a slightly better car with Avis than with other rental car companies. The Avis rental rate, however, even for its least expensive models, may not be the cheapest on the market.

Where to find Avis car hire in Lisbon

Avis Rent-A-Car offices are located in various parts of central Lisboa.

The largest by far is the Lisbon Airport Avis rental station. Here, you will be able to pick-up your hire car early in the morning from 6am until late in the evening at 1am.

Other Lisbon Avis hire car locations, usually, will close at around 6pm or 7pm. In Portugal , some shops and small offices close at midday – usually from about 1pm to 3pm or even a bit longer. To make up for it, they frequently stay open until 7pm. Lisbon city center rental car offices usually open at 9am.

If you have a reservation for a Lisbon hire car, this should not be a problem, as staff will wait for your custom.

In Lisbon, Avis offer collection at the following rental stations:

• Avis Lisbon Airport – Aeroporto Portela Lisboa
• Avis Lisbon Oriente – train station located close to the ‘Expo’ Park of Nations
• Avis Lisbon-Marques de Pombal – Rua Rodrigo Da Fonseca at the big roundabout
• Avis Lisbon-Rossio-Hotel Mundial – in the Hotel Mondial building facing Martim Moniz square
• Avis Lisbon-Saldanha – located on Avenida Praia da Vitoria

Avis cooperates with the Cartrawler Search Engine for hire cars