Booking AVIS Car in USA - Big Price Difference when "Australia Resident" entered.

[dsotm]

Just tried some dummy bookings for upcoming LAX trip next year. Went on to the Avis US site and got a quote for a Camry for three weeks; US$1051. Selected "Australia" as residency option and the price immediately nearly doubled to US$1925! Plus CDW option came up under the Australian pricing at AUD$67 per day. Is there any issue booking as a US resident on the US site and paying the lower fee? I'm confused.

 

[ausfox]

I recently hired through auto-europe, a consolidator. Check them out.

 

[dsotm]

I recently hired through auto-europe, a consolidator. Check them out.

Thanks, will check them out. I think a few years ago I booked on Alamo UK (for a US rental) and got a much better deal. I have the AmEx Plat Charge so not too worried about CDW add-ons.

 

[Mattg]

I'm not sure why that would be (other than the obvious - price gouging/discrimination), but is it possible the price for US residents excluded taxes and other mandatory fees?

 

[SYD]

Just tried some dummy bookings for upcoming LAX trip next year. Went on to the Avis US site and got a quote for a Camrys for three weeks; US$1051. Selected "Australia" as residency option and the price immediately nearly doubled to US$1925! Plus CDW option came up under the Australian pricing at AUD$67 per day. Is there any issue booking as a US resident on the US site and paying the lower fee? I'm confused.

It's probably an insurance options thing. Do you have an AVIS Wizard / Preferred number? There's been some people having issues with defaut rental preferences in their profiles throwing up some wacky numbers. Alternatively, if you don't have a wizard number, try setting one up to see if that helps.

 

[dsotm]

It's probably an insurance options thing. Do you have an AVIS Wizard / Preferred number? There's been some people have issued with defaut rental preferences in their profiles throwing up some wacky numbers. Alternatively, if you don't have a wizard number, try setting one up to see if that helps.

No I didn't login when I got the quote. I guess I'll try a bunch of rental companies and compare.

 

[RooFlyer]

It's probably an insurance options thing. Do you have an AVIS Wizard / Preferred number? There's been some people have issued with defaut rental preferences in their profiles throwing up some wacky numbers. Alternatively, if you don't have a wizard number, try setting one up to see if that helps.

No I didn't login when I got the quote. I guess I'll try a bunch of rental companies and compare.

And clear cache after every search!

 

[levelnine]

Often when you put in an Australian resident, it adds all the insurances as well as state taxes to the price. Once you add them to the rental as a US resident, the price is pretty much the same.

One thing to be weary of is we generally need third party insurance as a non-US resident because US residents have it with their regular car insurance and we don't. They also can often waive CDW because it is included with their credit cards.

 

[dsotm]

Often when you put in an Australian resident, it adds all the insurances as well as state taxes to the price. Once you add them to the rental as a US resident, the price is pretty much the same.

One thing to be weary of us is we generally need third party insurance as a non-US resident because US residents have it with their regular car insurance and we don't. They also can often waive CDW because it is included with their credit cards.

That makes sense. In the past I've used the included insurance on my AmEx Platinum Charge card. I'll have to have a look at that before I book to see if anything has changed.

 

[Maisy33]

Just tried some dummy bookings for upcoming LAX trip next year. Went on to the Avis US site and got a quote for a Camry for three weeks; US$1051. Selected "Australia" as residency option and the price immediately nearly doubled to US$1925! Plus CDW option came up under the Australian pricing at AUD$67 per day. Is there any issue booking as a US resident on the US site and paying the lower fee? I'm confused.

Just tried some dummy bookings for upcoming LAX trip next year. Went on to the Avis US site and got a quote for a Camry for three weeks; US$1051. Selected "Australia" as residency option and the price immediately nearly doubled to US$1925! Plus CDW option came up under the Australian pricing at AUD$67 per day. Is there any issue booking as a US resident on the US site and paying the lower fee? I'm confused.

I too found this when booking thru Autoslash. I have just booked through Orbit. Haven’t used them before,so hope ok.
As a novice to all this, donI need to pay the extra for CDW .