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Avis

Controversies

Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.

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  1. 2026

    Spain fines Avis €1 million for abusive rental fees

    Fine or penalty

    Spain's Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030 fined car rental company Avis the maximum €1 million after finding serious violations in its rental contracts, specifically the improper charging of an 'administrative management of fines' fee of €33.88 to €45 to customers who committed traffic violations. The authority concluded the charge was an unfair contract term because Spanish traffic law already obliges the vehicle owner to identify the driver, and the practice continued even after a Vitoria-Gasteiz court declared the clause null and void in September 2020, leading to an aggravated classification. Avis can appeal the fine in court.

    Source excerpt

    • The practice violated the General Law for the Defence of Consumers and Users by imposing a disproportionate cost that favoured the company to the detriment of the customer.
    • The car rental company Avis was fined the maximum amount of €1 million by Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030 after authorities discovered serious violations in its rental contracts involving the improper charging of additional fees to customers.
    • The Spanish consumer authority concluded that this charge constituted an unfair contract term, given that Article 11 of Spain’s Law on Traffic, Motor Vehicle Circulation and Road Safety already establishes a legal obligation for the vehicle owner to identify the driver in the event of an infraction, thereby precluding the passing of this cost on to the consumer.
    Source