Avis Car Rental
Columbus, OH Hours and Location

Get all the latest information about Avis

Company Overview

Avis Car Rental and its subsidiaries operate one of the world’s best-known car rental brands with approximately 5,500 locations in more than 165 countries. Avis has a long history of innovation in the car rental industry and is one of the world’s top brands for customer loyalty. Avis is owned by Avis Budget Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CAR), which operates and licenses the brand throughout the world.  

Quick History

Founded in 1946 by Warren Avis (who sold his interest in 1954), Avis was the first company to rent cars from airport locations. The company grew rapidly during the 1950’s through franchised and corporate-owned expansion. In 1963, Avis introduced the award-winning “We try harder®” campaign and the tagline remains the company’s rallying cry even today. Ten years later, Avis launched its innovative Wizard system, the company’s proprietary reservation technology. Avis changed ownership multiple times in the 70’s and 80’s, becoming employee-owned in 1987. That same year, Avis introduced the Roving Rapid Return, a handheld computer terminal allowing customers to bypass the Avis counter. Two years later, the company launched Avis Cares® a program aimed at promoting renter and employee safety. In 1996, HFS Incorporated acquired Avis, which was then spun off as a separate public company, all but the franchising rights, Wizard system, and reservation operations. In 2000, the company introduced Avis Interactive, the first Internet-based reporting system for commercial accounts in the car rental industry, which was significantly enhanced and re-launched in 2006. In March 2001, Cendant Corporation purchased all of the outstanding shares of Avis Group Holdings and later that year moved its world headquarters to Parsippany, NJ. In 2006, Cendant Corp. separated into four independent companies: Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide, Travelport and Avis Budget Group, Inc., which is now the parent company of Avis Car Rental. In 2011, Avis Budget Group acquires Avis Europe plc. The transaction re-unites Avis Budget Group with its licensee for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

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About this location:

Location

Port Columbus Intl Airport

Additional Travel Information

Avis Car Rental is one of six providers of airport car rentals at Port Columbus International Airport (CMH), and the only one that offers you the ability to accelerate your travel experience with Avis Preferred, a complimentary membership that allows you to skip the line and go straight to your car.

Avis has a wide selection of Port Columbus International Airport rentals cars, from compacts that are perfect for downtown driving and parking to luxury vehicles and SUVs that offer comfort, spaciousness and style. Peruse our fleet of Columbus airport car rentals to find the best choice for you.

To locate the Avis CMH car rental location, head through the baggage claim area, following the signs to the underground walkway that leads to the parking garage. Exit the escalator and proceed to our counter.

Once you’ve picked up your keys, it will only take you about ten minutes on the interior highway system to reach Columbus’s business district. After your meetings, discover nearby Short North, the city’s hip arts district next to Goodale Park.

On the northwest side of downtown you’ll find the Arena District, the city’s entertainment center and home to many restaurants, nightclubs and bars. The North Market, adjacent to the Arena District, is well known locally for its artisanal shop and eateries, and its summer food market.

But first you need a vehicle, and for business travelers looking for Port Columbus International Airport rental cars, there’s no better choice than Avis.

Additional Location Information

AFTER-HOURS RETURNS

• Park & lock the car. Place the completed contract & the keys in the key drop box. Remember to take your personal belongings with you. Our drop box for returns is at the front of the return lane next to the preferred booth. We have counter agents that stay until last flight. The garage is currently staffed until 2am to assist with late night returns, with another agent coming in at 430am. If late night preferred renters do not see their name on the reader board or manifest posted in the window of the booth, they can proceed to the rental counter for assistance.

PREFERRED SERVICE

• Proceed to the baggage claim area. Follow Car Rental signs to the underground walkway leading to the parking garage and up the escalator or elevator to the rental car facility.

• Upon arrival at the rental facility, check your email on your smartphone or the Preferred board for the space number of your preassigned vehicle.
  You have the option to accept the preassigned car or exchange it for a similar car from the Select & Go Exchange Area or upgrade the car to a specialty vehicle from the Select & Go Upgrade Area. Cars in the Select & Go Upgrade Area have the additional daily cost posted on the hangtag.
  Once you have selected your vehicle, drive the vehicle to the exit booth and present your driver’s license to the Avis representative who will quickly complete the transaction and get you on your way.

*GENERAL DIRECTIONS*

• AIRLINE PASSENGERS
  Proceed to the baggage claim area. Follow Car Rental signs to the underground walkway leading to the parking garage. When you exit the escalator or elevator, proceed to the Avis counter.
  WALK-UP RENTERS
  Follow airport signs for “Car Rental Return”. They will lead to the Avis counter in the parking garage.