"Both are reliable mid-tier brands with similar fleets and the same fees at the desk. Both have free loyalty programs worth joining before you book. Hertz edges it on the young driver surcharge — and for frequent renters, Gold Plus changes the pickup experience in a way Avis Preferred doesn't match. This covers both."
Both Hertz and Avis are reliable mid-tier brands. The fleet quality is similar, the counter fees are the same in structure, and neither is one to avoid. What changes the decision is narrower than most comparison articles suggest.
Two things genuinely differ between Hertz and Avis: the young driver fee, large enough on a week-long rental to close a price gap that looks wider at the base rate. The counter bypass is the other difference worth knowing — Hertz Gold Plus delivers something Avis Preferred doesn't. Everything else plays out the same way at both brands. This covers all of it.
Quick comparison
Most of what you'll find at the desk is identical at both brands. Here is what separates them.
| Category | Hertz | Avis |
|---|---|---|
| Young driver fee (under 25) | $19/day at most US locations | $25–$35/day depending on state |
| Counter bypass at pickup | Gold Plus Rewards — bypass at corporate-owned airports | Avis Preferred — expedited counter, no full bypass |
| Additional driver fee | $15/day (waived for AAA members) | $13/day, capped $65 (spouse always exempt) |
| Location score | 8.4 / 10 | 8.0 / 10 |
| Europe overall | Stronger — leads in Northern Europe and Italy | Stronger in France and Spain |
| US airports | Strong in Florida, thinner elsewhere | Broader coverage across major US airports |
| Fleet age | Under 10 months (early 2026) | Under 12 months (early 2026) |
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Two things that genuinely differ
The young driver fee — Hertz charges less
Per Hertz's published rental conditions, the young driver surcharge runs $19/day at most US locations for anyone aged 21–24. Per Avis's published rental conditions, it runs $25–$35/day depending on state. On a seven-day rental that gap is $42–$112 in Hertz's favour before any base rate difference is factored in — worth checking if you hold AAA membership, as Hertz waives the surcharge entirely for members. If anyone on the booking is under 25, run the real total at both brands with the surcharge included. The base rate comparison alone doesn't tell you what either rental actually costs.
The loyalty counter bypass — Hertz skips it entirely
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards and Avis Preferred are both free to join, but they deliver different things at pickup. At a Hertz-owned airport, Gold members bypass the counter entirely — the insurance and add-on decisions are handled in the member profile before you travel, not live at the desk. You walk to the Gold lot, choose a car, and drive out. At Avis, Preferred gives expedited counter service: you move through faster, but the desk interaction still happens, the contract still needs to be read, the options confirmed.
For occasional renters the difference is minor. For anyone who rents frequently enough that the counter itself has become the friction point, Gold Plus is a structural advantage Avis Preferred doesn't replicate. Joining is free and takes a few minutes — worth doing before any Hertz rental.
What's the same — worth knowing upfront
Fleet
Both brands have brought their average vehicle age below 12 months as of early 2026 — Hertz under 10 months, Avis close behind, both after deliberately thinning their fleets in 2025. The car you pick up at either brand is a recent model, well-maintained and clean. One practical difference: Hertz has the more developed EV fleet of the two. If an electric vehicle matters for your trip, Hertz is the more reliable place to find one at a major airport. Otherwise there's no fleet story worth weighing in a booking decision.
Counter fees
You'll see the same options at the desk at either brand — LDW, toll pass, roadside assistance, the deposit hold. All optional except the hold. If you're paying with a credit card, check whether it covers rental collision before you travel — if it does, the LDW conversation at the desk takes thirty seconds. Debit card conditions differ at both brands and the hold takes longer to clear. The preparation that prevents problems is otherwise identical: decide on tolls in advance, photograph the car at pickup. That routine works at either brand, at any airport.
Price tier
Neither brand is cheap. Both sit in the mid-tier. Pricing is dynamic enough that the same search on the same day can come back in either brand's favour depending on airport and dates — one sometimes significantly cheaper than the other. The practical move is to check both before committing.
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What happens at the counter
The fees are the same at both brands. What differs is the moment where things can go sideways — and it's a different moment at each one. Knowing which one applies to your brand means you arrive with your attention in the right place.
| Fee | Typical charge | Risk | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) | Varies by location and vehicle class — at both brands | Medium | You can decline this at either brand. If you are paying with a credit card, check whether it covers rental collision before you reach the desk — if it does, declining takes thirty seconds. |
| Security deposit hold | Up to $200 credit card (Hertz) / $250 min. (Avis) | Medium | Can't avoid this at either brand. A hold, not a charge — released after return. Clears faster on a credit card than a debit card. At both brands, debit card rentals at airport locations require a credit check and the hold takes longer to clear — a credit card is the smoother option if you have one. |
| Toll pass | $9.99/day when used (Hertz PlatePass) / varies (Avis) | Medium | You can decline this at either brand if you have your own transponder. At Hertz specifically: opening the PlatePass box activates the service even if you declined at the counter. |
| Post-return damage or cleaning charge | Up to full deductible (Hertz) / up to $450 reported (Avis) | High | Not a counter fee — a post-rental risk at both brands. Photograph the full exterior and interior before you drive off, and return the car clean. |
Shared counter fees at Hertz and Avis. Amounts per published rental conditions, accessed June 2026.
Hertz: the PlatePass box
In toll states, Hertz vehicles come with a PlatePass transponder box on the windshield. Opening it — even to inspect it — activates the toll service, regardless of what you said at the counter. It can't be deactivated once opened. If you're bringing your own transponder, leave the box untouched for the entire rental. Decide on tolls before you arrive rather than at the desk.
Avis: the tablet sign-off
The rental contract at Avis is signed electronically at pickup, and options can appear pre-selected on the tablet. It moves fast. Reading each item before initialling takes two minutes — most Avis billing complaints come down to someone who didn't. What you initial on the tablet is the contract. Avis does offer a toll pass at most locations, opted in or out at the counter the same way as any other add-on — no box-activation mechanic to worry about.
Post-return charges — same risk at both brands
A charge for damage or cleaning can surface weeks after you've returned the car at either brand. Photograph the full exterior and interior at pickup and again at return, and return the car clean. Cases that get reversed almost always have documentation.
Does your destination change the answer?
For most trips, no — both brands perform well across the markets most travellers use, and preparation closes most of the gap between them. But the scores are consistent enough by region that they're a reasonable tiebreaker when price is equal. And at a couple of destinations the gap is wide enough to factor in regardless of price.
| Destination | Scores | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Hertz 9.0 / Avis 8.6 | Hertz leads clearly. One of the strongest Hertz locations in Europe. |
| Ireland | Hertz 8.6 / Avis 8.0 | Hertz leads by a meaningful margin. Both are reliable — Hertz is the stronger pick when price is equal. |
| UK | Hertz 8.7 / Avis 8.5 | Both score well. Hertz edges it slightly — close enough that price should decide. |
| Italy | Hertz 8.4 / Avis 7.4 | The widest gap in Europe. Hertz is the stronger pick here by a clear margin. |
| France | Avis 8.1 / Hertz 7.9 | Avis edges it. The gap is narrow — preparation matters more than the brand at most French airports. |
| Spain | Avis 8.4 / Hertz 8.1 | Avis leads. Madrid scores 8.5 for Avis — one of the stronger Avis locations in Europe. |
| US airports (overall) | Avis broader | Hertz scores strongly in Florida — Miami 9.0, Orlando 8.6. Outside Florida, review coverage is thinner and harder to draw conclusions from. |
| Cancun | Avis 7.8 / Hertz 6.9 | Hertz at Cancun is franchise-operated — independently managed under the Hertz name. Avis is the stronger pick here regardless of price. |
Location scores from DiscoverCars, accessed June 2026. Scores reflect the average traveller's experience — a prepared traveller typically fares better than the number suggests at either brand.
Italy and Cancun are the two destinations where the gap matters even if one brand is slightly cheaper. In Italy, Hertz scores a full point higher than Avis. In Cancun, the difference is structural — Hertz's locations there are franchise-operated, independently managed under the Hertz name. Avis is the stronger pick at Cancun regardless of price. Everywhere else, arriving prepared matters more than which brand you chose. The full picture for each brand is in our Hertz review and Avis review.
The verdict
If you haven't booked yet: Book the better deal — both brands are reliable and the preparation is the same either way. Two things are worth checking first. If anyone on the booking is under 25, run the real total at both brands with the young driver surcharge included — the base rate alone can mislead by $40–$100 on a week. If you rent often enough that skipping the counter matters, join Hertz Gold before you book; Avis has no equivalent. When price is close and neither condition applies, look up both brands at your airport and go with whichever scores higher. Cancun is the one destination where Avis is the stronger pick regardless of price.
If you're already booked: Preparation is the same at either brand. If you're paying with a credit card, check whether it covers rental collision and bring the benefits page. Sort your toll decision before you travel — at Hertz, don't open the PlatePass box if you're using your own transponder; at Avis, read the tablet sign-off before initialling and confirm what's selected. At pickup, photograph the full exterior and interior before you drive off. Return the car clean and full.
If you've already returned the car and a charge has appeared: If you booked through a third-party platform, start there — they carry leverage with the supplier. Then contact the brand in writing with your rental agreement and pickup and return photos. Give it one week. If nothing moves, a credit card chargeback with your documentation is the next step. Post-return charges at both brands can arrive weeks after the rental closes — check your statements even after the deposit hold has cleared.
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- Hertz Gold Plus Rewards counter bypass applies at Hertz-owned airports only — franchise locations (Cancun, parts of Southern Europe) may not honour it.
- Opening the Hertz PlatePass transponder box activates the toll service regardless of what you agreed at the counter. Leave it closed if you're using your own transponder.
- Avis's tablet sign-off at pickup can have options pre-selected. Read each line before you initial — what you sign is the contract.
- Post-return charges can appear weeks after the rental closes at both brands. Check your card statements even after the deposit hold has cleared.
- Hertz's Cancun locations are franchise-operated — independently managed under the Hertz name. Avis scores meaningfully higher at the same airport.
- Young driver surcharge amounts per each brand's published rental conditions. All other fee amounts vary by location and vehicle class.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hertz or Avis better?
Both are reliable mid-tier brands — neither is one to avoid. Book the better deal, then check two things. If anyone on the booking is under 25, run both totals with the young driver surcharge included before comparing prices: Hertz charges $19/day at most US locations, Avis charges $25–$35/day depending on state. On a week-long rental that gap is $42–$112 before base rate differences. If you rent often enough that skipping the counter matters, Hertz Gold Plus delivers a genuine bypass at corporate-owned airports; Avis Preferred does not. Outside those two factors, look up both brands at your airport and go with whichever scores higher.
Is Hertz or Avis cheaper?
Neither is consistently cheaper — it varies by airport and date. The practical move is to run both for your specific trip. If anyone on the booking is under 25, include the young driver surcharge in both totals: Hertz charges $19/day at most US locations, Avis charges $25–$35/day. That fee alone can close a price gap that looks wider at the base rate.
Which is better for drivers under 25 — Hertz or Avis?
Hertz. Per Hertz's published rental conditions, the young driver surcharge runs $19/day at most US locations for anyone aged 21–24. Per Avis's published rental conditions, it runs $25–$35/day depending on state. On a seven-day rental that's $42–$112 in Hertz's favour before any base rate difference. If you hold AAA membership, the surcharge at Hertz is waived entirely.
Does Avis have anything equivalent to Hertz Gold?
Not really. Avis Preferred gives expedited counter service — you move through the desk faster, but the desk interaction still happens: options need to be confirmed, the contract signed. At a Hertz-owned airport, Gold Plus members bypass the counter entirely: walk to the Gold lot, choose a car, drive out. The insurance and add-on decisions are handled in the member profile before you travel, not live at the desk. For occasional renters the difference is minor. For frequent renters who find the counter itself is the friction, Gold Plus is a structural advantage Avis Preferred doesn't replicate.
I already booked — what should I do before pickup?
Preparation is the same at both brands. If you're paying with a credit card, check whether it covers rental collision and bring the benefits page. Sort your toll decision before you travel — at Hertz, don't open the PlatePass box if you're using your own transponder; at Avis, read the tablet sign-off carefully before initialling and confirm what's selected. At either brand, photograph the full exterior and interior before you drive off.
Something went wrong after I returned the car — what are my options?
If you booked through a third-party platform, start there — they carry leverage with the supplier. Then contact the brand in writing with your rental agreement and pickup and return photos. Give it one week. If nothing moves, a credit card chargeback with your documentation is the next step. Post-return charges at both brands can arrive weeks after the rental closes — check your statements even after the deposit hold has cleared.
