CAUTION ADVISED WITH NEW AVIS RENTAL CONTRACT

You’ll be signing a new contract next time you travel to Europe if you rent from Avis. Initialing Ja and Nein boxes to indicate whether or not you want additional insurance coverage is now a thing of the past.

In the future, you will simply affix your signature at the end of the contract. It will be up to each renter to determine if it includes unwanted charges, such as expensive, un-needed insurance. More than ever, the onus is on the renter.

Perhaps the new contract will be a plus for renters, as Avis says it is abandoning industry jargon and using full words, such as insurance instead of CDW, SCDW, TP, and PAI. In addition, contracts are currently offered in several languages, including English. In the sample I saw, the insurance charges were enumerated and spelled out in straightforward English.

Of course, you’ll also be agreeing to the following clause: If the charges under this rental contract are paid by credit card, the cardholder's signature shall be regarded as authorization to debit the total amount to his/her account with the credit card company. This authorization shall also be valid for subsequent debits due to rental rate corrections, damage events including any corresponding towing fees, and traffic offenses.

Four cautions:

• By all means rely on your credit card for CDW (collision) and theft insurance.
• Don’t let anyone tell you have to buy CDW and theft insurance (except in Italy and Ireland).
• Insist on a contract in a language you speak and read.
• Read the contract yourself, don’t take the agent’s word for what’s in it.

Book your rental car in Europe with Gemütlichkeit's travel department and get the best rates, personalized, knowledgeable service and our unique at-the-rental-counter safety net that ensures our customers get what they are promised. We book with all the major companies in more than 35 countries. See the new Germany rates and get an e-mail quote here. If you have questions about rentals in Europe, or simply prefer to deal in-person, phone us at 800-521-6722.