Avis has been tied to travel since 1946, when it set up shop at Detroit's Willow Run Airport — the first time a car rental company operated alongside flights. Nearly eighty years later it's a giant (it owns Budget and Zipcar too), and it's been shaving friction off rentals since the eighties, from early handheld return terminals to today's app, which lets you pick your car, request an upgrade and skip the counter entirely.
The bigger news for anyone planning a road trip: there's a stack of live discounts worth knowing about before you book.
The headline offer is up to 35% off when you choose the 'pay now' option at checkout. That rate comes with Avis's Best Rate Guarantee — if you spot the same rental cheaper elsewhere, Avis matches the price and takes a bit more off. The catch: it's limited to US and Canadian residents renting at participating US locations.
There's also a free upgrade code, UUWA036, which bumps you up one car group on intermediate through full-size four-door cars (maximum premium level). Book at least 24 hours ahead, and make sure your trip starts on or before December 31, 2026.
Membership discounts run deep here too. Active-duty military, veterans and their families can get up to 35% off Pay Now rates through the WeSalute+ program (formerly Veterans Advantage). AARP members get up to 35% off base rates plus a free upgrade when available and a waived fee for a second driver, using code A359866 with their member number. USAA and Union Plus members can also claim up to 35% off Pay Now rates — union members use code B723700.
One of the more unusual perks targets younger drivers, who typically face steep fees or outright bans under 25. Upromise members can route five percent of their rental spend into a college savings account for a child, grandchild or any other future student, by adding AWD# K563500 to the reservation. Contributions land roughly 45–60 days after the rental.
A few general tricks round it out. Joining Avis Preferred earns points toward free rental days, and you can still stack those points while using a discount code. For longer trips — a fall foliage drive, say — weekly rental specials usually beat the daily rate. Upgrade coupons often combine with a base discount, which is a quiet way to end up in a nicer car for standard money. And remember that advertised 'base rates' exclude taxes, fees and surcharges, so budget with the final total in mind, not the number on the banner.
Why it matters: rental cars are one of the last parts of a trip where a couple of codes and ten minutes of booking fuss can genuinely change the price. If you fit into any of the membership categories above — or you're simply willing to pay upfront — the savings are among the easiest you'll find anywhere in travel planning.
