When booking a rental car for your upcoming trip, two big national brands you’ll likely consider are Avis and National. As major players in the car rental industry, Avis and National both aim to deliver quality vehicles and service.
But if you’re trying to decide between Avis or National, which comes out on top?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll stack up Avis and National across several important categories including price, vehicle selection, locations, loyalty programs, reputation and more.
By seeing how Avis and National compare feature by feature, you can determine which rental company is the better choice for your needs.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Avis | National |
| Locations | 5,500+ worldwide | 1,500+ worldwide |
| Fleet Vehicles | Broad selection of makes/models | Focus on luxury and premium |
| Pricing | Competitive value pricing | Expensive base rates aimed at executives |
| Loyalty Program | Points-based with basic perks | Robust elite status tiers with generous benefits |
| Customer Service | Mediocre with some disorganization | Better ratings but still room for improvement |
| Best For | Global coverage, affordable prices | High-end luxury rentals, business travelers |
Overview of Avis
Founded in 1946, Avis is one of the most globally recognized and established rental car companies. Avis operates over 5,500 locations in 165 countries worldwide.
As a leader in the rental car market for over 75 years, Avis strives to provide quality vehicles and top-rated customer service. Their fleet ranges from compact economy cars to luxury vehicles, SUVs, vans and more from major automakers.
Key Pros
- International presence with thousands of airport and local branches
- Large selection of makes, models and vehicle types
- Avis Preferred rewards program for frequent customers
Potential Cons
- Base rental rates can be higher than discount brands
- Some reports of long waits and disorganization
- Website and app lag behind competitors
Overview of National Car Rental
Founded in 1947, National Car Rental operates over 1,500 branches globally. Headquartered in Missouri, National is owned by Enterprise Holdings which also operates Enterprise and Alamo brands.
Positioned as a premium brand, National focuses on serving frequent business travelers with high-quality vehicles and excellent customer service. Their fleet consists primarily of well-appointed foreign and luxury models typically reserved for Emerald Club members.
Key Pros
- Airport-focused locations in over 110 countries
- Upscale fleet with luxury, premium, and green options
- Emerald Club rewards frequent renters generously
Potential Cons
- More expensive daily rates compared to value brands
- Limited everyday availability for walk-up rentals
- Outside North America, branches operated by local partners
Comparison Between Avis And National
Location Network and Coverage
When choosing a rental car supplier, having convenient access to pickup and dropoff branches should be a major priority. Here is how Avis and National compare when it comes to their location coverage:
With over 5,500 rental locations globally, Avis has one of the largest and most expansive location networks in the industry. By contrast, National has around 1,500 worldwide rental branches mostly concentrated around airports.
For North American airport availability, Avis and National have comparable coverage. But internationally Avis dominates with far more rental sites across six continents.
Avis also excels in local neighborhood locations while National focuses heavily on airports. For location accessibility, Avis is the winner.
Also Read: Differences Between Dollar And Thrifty.
Fleet Selection and Vehicle Classes
In addition to location availability, the types of rental vehicles offered is an important differentiator between rental car brands.
Both Avis and National provide a wide spectrum of makes and models ranging from fuel-efficient economy cars to premium luxury vehicles.
However, National sets itself apart with a fleet catering specifically to upscale business travelers. Many vehicle classes like convertibles, luxury SUVs, and high-end sedans are exclusive to Emerald Club elites.
Avis offers strong standard selection but National dominates for premium vehicles focused on customer experience. For the best high-end rental fleet, National takes the prize.
Cost Comparison and Discounts
For most travelers, rental car pricing is going to be a major factor in choosing a company. Here is an overview of how Avis and National’s pricing compares:
As a premium brand, Avis rental rates are generally higher than deep discount companies but competitive with other mid-tier providers. National prices run even higher due to their luxury fleet but promotions help lower costs.
Both Avis and National offer membership discounts and partner promotions to help save money. However, National’s everyday premium prices aim for upper-class business travelers versus Avis’ value pricing. Overall, Avis delivers better affordability for the average renter.
Rewards Program Comparison
Frequent renters can benefit from loyalty programs that provide free rentals, elite perks and bonus savings. Here are the membership programs Avis and National offer:
- Avis Preferred – Earn points toward free rentals plus benefits like expedited service and upgrades.
- Emerald Club – Tiered elite status provides special privileges, car selection and added rewards.
Both programs provide some nice basic benefits for members like express check-in. But National’s Emerald Club far surpasses Avis Preferred for rewarding loyal customers, especially frequent travelers. For elite benefits, National offers the superior program.
Reputation and Customer Service
Providing quality customer service is important for any car rental company. Unfortunately, neither Avis nor National score highly in terms of consumer satisfaction and reviews.
Avis receives numerous complaints about unorganized locations, long waits and problems with reservations. National garners critique for lack of communication and account issues.
However, National rates moderately better overall for service experience and transparency. For customer satisfaction, National edges out Avis.
Also Read: Differences Between Avis And Thrifty.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
As a globally recognized premium brand, Avis focuses more on quality service and vehicles rather than bottom barrel pricing. Budget built their reputation on ultra-low costs. But Avis offers competitive pricing through promotions and sales.
Enterprise concentrates on neighborhood and insurance replacement rentals while National focuses on the airport traveler market. National maintains a luxury fleet catering to upscale business clientele. Enterprise provides better local availability and budget pricing.
According to consumer surveys, Enterprise, National, Alamo, and Hertz are the rental brands considered easiest to rent from thanks to convenient locations, speedy pickup, and straightforward reservations.
Executive Elite is the highest tier status in the National Car Rental Emerald Club program. To qualify, you must rent 70+ days or spend $20,000+ annually with National. Perks include vehicle upgrades, elite-only rates, and personalized service.
Also watch the video to know more about National!
Verdict
When weighing all the key factors for renting a car, how do Avis and National overall compare?
Here’s a quick summary of the main takeaways:
Avis Pros
- Far larger worldwide location network
- Lower cost for mainstream rentals
- Easy reservations with decent mobile app
National Pros
- Focus on premium luxury vehicles
- Airport convenience for business travelers
- Generous loyalty program for frequent renters
Also Read: Choose Between Getaround And HyreCar.
Looking at the complete picture, Avis comes out slightly ahead as the better pick for most mainstream renters who prioritize value, convenience and location accessibility. Their wider global presence and affordable pricing beat out National.
However, National dominates for premium luxury vehicle rentals and pampering business travelers or loyalty members. If you want an upscale rental experience, National wins hands down.
Ultimately the best option depends on the type of customer and renter needs. For affordable, everyday rentals, go Avis. For high-end luxury vehicles and elite status, choose National.
Either way, you really can’t make a bad choice between these industry leaders.