How Much Is Avis Rental Car Insurance?
Last Updated on February 5, 2026
When renting a car with Avis (or any rental company), insurance can be confusing because you may already be covered. In many cases, your personal auto insurance covers your rental car, which means you can often decline most add-ons at the counter.
So how much is Avis rental car insurance? It depends on the protection option, the rental location, the vehicle class, and your travel details. Avis prices most protections as optional daily add-ons, and the exact amount is shown during booking or at pickup.
Below is a clear breakdown of Avis’s coverage options, what they do, and when it’s worth paying extra.
- Avis Protections Are Usually Daily Add-Ons: The price depends on the coverage you choose, your rental location, and the vehicle class, and it’s shown during booking or at pickup.
- LDW and Liability Add-Ons Solve Different Problems: LDW focuses on damage/theft of the rental car, while additional liability coverage helps protect you if you injure someone or damage property.
- Existing Coverage Often Makes Add-Ons Optional: Many renters already have coverage through a personal auto policy (and sometimes a credit card benefit), but you need to confirm deductibles, exclusions, and coverage territory.
- Buy Only What Closes a Real Gap: Roadside, medical, and personal property coverages can be useful when you don’t already have comparable protection through insurance, memberships, or travel benefits.
How Avis Rental Car Insurance Works
Avis offers several “Protections & Coverages” you can add to a rental for an additional daily charge. Some products are waivers (not insurance), while others are insurance policies offered through third-party underwriters.
If you already carry a personal auto policy, your rental is often covered the same way your own vehicle is covered. For example, if your personal policy only includes minimum liability insurance, that’s typically the level of protection you’re bringing to the rental. If you have full coverage car insurance, your rental may also have physical damage coverage (subject to your deductible and policy rules).
Drivers without personal insurance, drivers renting outside their coverage territory, or drivers who want to avoid using their own policy may choose Avis protections instead.
| Avis Protection Option | What It Helps With | Best For | Cost Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) | Damage to (or theft of) the rental vehicle, subject to the rental agreement | Drivers who want to avoid a personal claim or deductible | Priced per day and varies by location/vehicle/rate (often one of the most expensive add-ons) |
| Additional Liability Insurance (ALI) | Extra liability limits for injuries/property damage you cause to others | Drivers with low liability limits or no personal auto insurance | Priced per day; availability and limits vary by jurisdiction |
| Extended Roadside Assistance | Roadside services like lockout help, jump-starts, tire help, and fuel delivery | Drivers without roadside coverage through a policy or membership | Priced per day; details vary by country |
| Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) | Accident medical and accidental death/dismemberment benefits (where available) | Renters with limited medical protection while traveling | Priced per day and varies; state availability/limits can differ |
| Personal Effects Insurance (PEP) | Theft or damage to personal items in the vehicle (where available) | Renters traveling with valuables and limited property coverage | Priced per day; limits and exclusions apply |
| Emergency Sickness Plan (ESP) | Medical expense coverage for covered sickness (for eligible non-U.S. renters) | International renters without U.S.-based health coverage | Priced per day; eligibility rules apply |
Quick tip: Before paying for any add-on, confirm what your existing coverage does not handle (like deductibles, “loss of use” charges, administrative fees, or coverage territory). That’s where rental protections can matter most.
Avis Rental Car Insurance Products
Avis may offer the following products depending on your location, residency, and rental type.
Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)
Avis offers a loss damage waiver (LDW). LDW is not mandatory and is typically not considered “insurance.” Instead, it’s a contractual waiver that can reduce what you owe Avis if the rental vehicle is damaged or stolen, as long as you follow the rental agreement.
If you decline LDW and the rental car is damaged or stolen, you may need to file a claim under your own auto policy (if you have comprehensive and collision). That can mean paying your deductible and potentially having a claim on your record depending on fault and your insurer’s underwriting rules.
LDW is usually most valuable when you:
- Do not carry comprehensive and collision on your personal policy
- Want to avoid paying your own deductible if the rental is damaged
- Prefer not to involve your personal insurer in a rental claim
For Avis’s official details and restrictions, see the LDW terms on Avis’s site: Loss Damage Waiver (LDW).
Extended Roadside Assistance
Avis offers an optional roadside add-on called Extended Roadside Assistance, which works like other roadside assistance plans. It may cover common issues like lockouts, jump-starts, flat tire help, and limited fuel delivery (terms vary by country and rental agreement).
It can be useful when you do not already have roadside protection through your personal insurer (for example, GEICO) or a third-party membership (like AAA).
Avis’s Extended Roadside Assistance details are here: Extended Roadside Assistance.
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI)
Avis offers Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) in certain locations. PAI is designed to provide accident-related benefits for bodily injury during the rental period. Coverage amounts and availability can vary by state.
Avis lists PAI benefits and state variations on its official page: Personal Accident Insurance (PAI).
Personal Accident Insurance Plus (PAI Plus)
Avis also offers PAI Plus (where available), which is marketed toward renters who want higher limits and broader protection than standard PAI. Availability and benefits can vary by location, and the rental agreement terms control.
Additional Liability Insurance
Avis offers Additional Liability Insurance (ALI) in many locations. ALI is designed to increase liability protection for bodily injury, death, or property damage you cause to others while using the rental car. This can matter because the liability included with a rental may only meet minimum legal requirements in the rental jurisdiction.
ALI is most useful when you have low liability limits on your personal auto policy. In that situation, consider buying ALI or increasing your personal auto insurance limits. Low liability limits can leave you dangerously underinsured if you cause a serious accident in a rental car.
Avis describes ALI coverage details (including maximum limits and exclusions) here: Additional Liability Insurance (ALI).
Personal Effects Insurance (PEP)
Avis offers personal effects coverage (often shown as Personal Effects Insurance or Personal Effects Protection) to help pay for theft or damage to certain personal items in the vehicle during the rental period. Limits and exclusions apply, and availability varies by location.
PEP is often unnecessary if you already have renters or homeowners insurance (or certain travel coverage) that protects personal property away from home. But it can be useful if you’re traveling with expensive items and want a dedicated rental-specific coverage option.
Avis’s PEP details and stated limits are listed here: Personal Effects Insurance (PEP).
Emergency Sickness Plan (ESP)
Avis’s Emergency Sickness Plan (ESP) is generally intended for eligible renters who are not U.S. residents and need coverage for medical expenses resulting from covered sickness during the rental period. Eligibility rules and benefits vary by location.
Avis’s ESP details are here: Emergency Sickness Plan (ESP).
Avis Rental Car Insurance vs. Your Own Car Insurance
For many renters, the biggest decision is whether to rely on personal insurance (and possibly a credit card benefit) or pay Avis for protection.
If you already have personal auto insurance, your policy may extend to rental cars from major insurers, including:
Many credit cards also offer rental car protection when you pay for the rental with that card, but it’s important to understand what it actually covers (and what it doesn’t). In many cases, your credit card could cover your rental car for certain types of damage to the rental vehicle—but it usually does not replace liability coverage, and it may be secondary to your personal auto policy.
| Option | Pros | Cons | Who It’s Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Use Your Personal Auto Insurance | Usually the cheapest option (you’re not buying duplicate coverage) | Deductible may apply; claims process goes through your insurer; coverage varies by policy and territory | Renters with solid liability limits and comprehensive/collision on their own vehicles |
| Add Avis LDW | May avoid your deductible and personal claim involvement (subject to agreement) | Often one of the most expensive daily add-ons; exclusions apply | Renters who want maximum simplicity or don’t have comp/collision |
| Add Avis ALI | Can increase liability protection beyond minimum legal limits | Extra daily cost; may duplicate coverage if you already have high limits/umbrella | Renters with low personal liability limits or no auto insurance |
| Rely on Credit Card Coverage | Can reduce or eliminate what you pay for rental vehicle damage (depending on the card) | Coverage rules vary; may be secondary; typically does not cover liability or injuries | Renters with a strong card benefit who understand the terms |
Final Word on Avis Rental Car Insurance
Avis rental car insurance costs can range from a small daily charge for certain add-ons to a much higher daily price for damage waivers—depending on the product, location, and vehicle. The most reliable way to know the exact cost is to review the add-ons during booking for your specific dates and location.
Most renters with strong personal auto insurance can decline most Avis protections. However, if you have low liability limits, no comprehensive/collision, limited medical protection while traveling, or no roadside coverage, one or more Avis add-ons may be worth the extra cost.
