Avis Corporate Profile | Avis Rent a Car

Get all the latest information about Avis

Company Overview
Avis Car Rental and its subsidiaries operate one of the world's best-known car rental brands with approximately 5,500 locations in more than 165 countries. Avis has a long history of innovation in the car rental industry and is one of the world's top brands for customer loyalty. Avis is owned by Avis Budget Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CAR), which operates and licenses the brand throughout the world.  

Quick History
Founded in 1946 by Warren Avis (who sold his interest in 1954), Avis was the first company to rent cars from airport locations. The company grew rapidly during the 1950's through franchised and corporate-owned expansion. In 1963, Avis introduced the award-winning "We try harder®" campaign and the tagline remains the company's rallying cry even today. Ten years later, Avis launched its innovative Wizard system, the company's proprietary reservation technology. Avis changed ownership multiple times in the 70's and 80's, becoming employee-owned in 1987. That same year, Avis introduced the Roving Rapid Return, a handheld computer terminal allowing customers to bypass the Avis counter. Two years later, the company launched Avis Cares® a program aimed at promoting renter and employee safety. In 1996, HFS Incorporated acquired Avis, which was then spun off as a separate public company, all but the franchising rights, Wizard system, and reservation operations. In 2000, the company introduced Avis Interactive, the first Internet-based reporting system for commercial accounts in the car rental industry, which was significantly enhanced and re-launched in 2006. In March 2001, Cendant Corporation purchased all of the outstanding shares of Avis Group Holdings and later that year moved its world headquarters to Parsippany, NJ. In 2006, Cendant Corp. separated into four independent companies: Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide, Travelport and Avis Budget Group, Inc., which is now the parent company of Avis Car Rental. In 2011, Avis Budget Group acquires Avis Europe plc. The transaction re-unites Avis Budget Group with its licensee for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

World Headquarters

6 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, NJ 07054

(973) 496-3500

Special Service Offerings

Avis Preferred, the Company's customer loyalty program, enables members to skip the lines and go straight to their vehicle at many locations. Members are also eligible to earn Avis Preferred Points - one point for every dollar they spend on vehicle rentals and two points for every dollar they spend on optional products such as GPS, satellite radio and child safety seats. Earned points can be redeemed for complimentary Avis rental days, upgrades and select optional products.
Avis Preferred® Select & Go, the Company's vehicle selection/upgrade service, is available in the United States and Canada. 
Avis Cares® is a multifaceted program designed to ensure that Avis customers have a safe and stress-free trip to their destination. Included in the offering is a guide for the proper usage of child safety seats. Avis was the first rental car company to offer the LATCH system, the federal standard for child restraint installation.
Avis Access is the rental car industry's first comprehensive accessibility program for travelers with disabilities.

Sales Programs

Avis for Business is a program designed to help small and mid-size businesses by offering low corporate rates, complimentary rental days, and free enrollment in Avis Preferred service.

Avis Meeting & Group Services is designed to help group, association and family gatherings with their ground transportation needs and offers special pricing and other assistance for meetings using five or more cars.

Avis Corporate Sales offers large and mid-sized business managers negotiated rates, frequency benefits and optional coverages. 

Avis Car Sales is designed for those looking to purchase quality, well-maintained off-rental vehicles. Offered in collaboration with Innovative Funding Services, the program features a wide selection of late-model cars, great prices, a no-haggle, no-hassle car buying process and the ultimate test drive to get the full experience of driving the vehicle.

Avis Websites

Avis Budget Group, Inc. Executive Staff

Larry D. De Shon, CEO and COO        

Scott Deaver, Executive VP and CMO

David B. Wyshner, President and CFO     

Joe Ferraro, President, Americas      

Mark J. Servodidio, President, International 

Ned Linnen, Executive VP and Chief Human Resources Officer

Michael K. Tucker, Executive VP and General Counsel

Gerard Insall, Executive VP and CIO

Recent Awards and Recognition

WORLD

  • "World's Leading Car Rental Website - Avis.com" - World Travel Awards (2014)
  • "World's Leading Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2014)
  • "World's Leading Luxury Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2014)
  • "Best Car Rental Worldwide" - Business Traveller UK (2014)

NORTH AMERICA

  • "North America's Leading Luxury Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2014)
  • "North America's Leading Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2014)

U.S.A.

  • One of the top 40 consumer brands on the 2015 Brand Keys Loyalty Leaders List (2015)
  • "Gold Winner - Ground Transportation/Marketing" - (Unlimited Rewards) Travel Weekly Magellan Awards (2015)
  • "2015 Most Admired Car Rental Company" - The Beat (2015)
  • "Ground Transportation Provider of the Year" - NetJets (2015)
  • One of America's top 50 "green" brands - 2015 Customer Loyalty Engagement Index - Brand Keys (2015)
  • "Supplier of the Year" - The Boeing Company (2015)
  • #1 Car Rental Company in the 2015 Customer Loyalty Engagement Index - Brand Keys (2015)
  • "Best Social Media Presence - Ground Transportation" - Skiftie Awards (2014)
  • "Gold Winner - Ground Transportation/Loyalty Program" - (Unlimited Budget) Travel Weekly Magellan Awards (2014)
  • #1 Car Rental Company in the 2014 Customer Loyalty Engagement Index - Brand Keys (2014)
  • "One of America's Top 50 Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities" - DiversityBusiness.com (2014)
  • "One of America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises" - WBENC (2014)

CANADA

  • "Agents' Choice Winner - Car Rental Agency" - Baxter Travel Media (2014)

LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN

  • "Mexico and Central America's Leading Business Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2014)
  • "Mexico and Central America's Leading Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2014)
  • "South America's Leading Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2014)

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND

  • "Leading Rental Car Company" - The Travel Industry Awards - Travel Digest (2014)

ASIA

  • "Asia's Leading Business Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2013)
  • "Asia's Leading Car Hire" - World Travel Awards (2013)
  • "Australasia's Leading Business Car Hire" - World Travel Awards (2013)

EMEA

  • "Europe's Leading Business Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2015)
  • "Africa's Leading Business Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2015)
  • "Africa's Leading Leisure Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2015)
  • "Kenya's Leading Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2015)
  • "Morocco's Leading Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2015)
  • "Nigeria's Leading Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2015)
  • "South Africa's Leading Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2015)
  • "Indian Ocean's Leading Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2015)
  • "Middle East's Leading Business Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2015)
  • "Best Car Hire Company" - British Travel Awards (2014)
  • "Best Rental Company in Europe" - Business Traveller UK (2014)
  • "Europe's Leading Business Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2014)
  • "Africa's Leading Business Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2014)
  • "Africa's Leading Leisure Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2014)
  • "Kenya's Leading Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2014)
  • "Morocco's Leading Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2014)
  • "Nigeria's Leading Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2014)
  • "South Africa's Leading Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2014)
  • "Indian Ocean's Leading Car Rental Company" - World Travel Awards (2014)
  • "Best Car Rental Company - Avis South Africa" - Business Traveller Africa (2014)

For Reservations 
(888) 777-AVIS or visit www.avis.com / (888) TRY-HARD for travelers with disabilities

For Media Relations Inquiries
Call (973) 496-3916 or email pr@avisbudget.com