What is the difference between Avis Leasing and Avis Flex?

Whole-service leasing and long-term car rental are apparently similar services, but in reality they differ in several ways. Olgert Tamm, head of Avis Estonia’s leasing department, and Raili Rits, a specialist in long-term car rental, talk about how to decide which is right for you.

Period and flexibility

In a nutshell, full-service leasing is a tailor-made solution where the monthly price of the vehicle includes, in addition to leasing and insurance, services such as maintenance, tyre changes and car washes – all at the customer’s request. All of the above, with the exception of car washes, is also included in the Avis Flex long-term car rental.

However, the main difference between a full-service lease and a full-service rental is the flexibility and the length of the rental period. “For leasing, the average period is 3-4 years, while for renting it is between 6-12 months,” says Tamm.

Long-term car rental is also much more flexible. “Customers can change cars every month. One month Audi, the next BMW. It’s a good way to try different cars,” says Rits. “However, leasing comes with a long-term commitment and the customer has to be sure that he really likes the vehicle he is leasing before signing the contract.”

The lease is simple: the customer has only one option – simply return the car to Avice at the end of the period. But with leasing, the customer has three options: buy the vehicle, return it to Avice or lease a new four-wheeler of his choice.

One complements the other

Whole-service leasing and full-service authoring work together as a symbiosis. There is close communication between the two departments and one service constantly supports the other. “It often happens that a customer drives a rental car for several months and starts to like it so much that he decides to take it on full-service leasing,” says Rits, adding that the leasing price is usually lower than the rental price and makes more sense for the customer in the long run.

However, Tamm says that if the customer only wants to use the car for half a year, their request will be forwarded to the rental department. “We will always find the best solution for the customer,” he adds.

The fact that you have the vehicle right away is definitely a big plus when renting. ” With over 60 vehicles in our fleet, we have something for everyone. There are tiny vehicles as well as premium SUVs. Most of the time, the customer will receive the car on the same day,” Rits points out the advantages of renting and adds that Flex fleet vehicles are 1-2 years old at most.

With a full-service lease, you can get the vehicle you want in 1-6 months, or in a couple of weeks for a fleet car. According to Rits, it is normal for the customer to drive the rental car until the vehicle of their choice arrives. So, if you need a car immediately but can’t find one in the rental fleet, you can compromise: you can drive around in a rental car until the factory makes the vehicle, and then drive around in the car that’s “just right”.

Everything is possible

Rits says that Avis is very customer-centric and there are always different arrangements to be made. “Our rental fleet is located in Tallinn, but for an additional fee we can take the vehicle to the customer in Võru,” he adds, adding that if desired, the rental car can also be left in Latvia or Lithuania.

As with full-service leasing, long-term car hire comes with Avis’ convenient car assistance. “The customer can digitally order a tow and see on the map how far away the tow driver is – just as convenient as ordering an express taxi,” says Tamm. The service works in Estonia and elsewhere in Europe.

It is also possible to use the Avis digital claims handling. If there’s a small “scratch” in the car park, you can conveniently fix it over the phone. According to Tamme, this saves 75 percent of the car owner’s time.

When you book a car, you can conveniently choose the rental period, excess and mileage.

But which is right for me?

According to Tamme, the choice between full-service leasing and renting largely comes down to the type of person. “For example, some people don’t want to make a long-term commitment,” he says. “Leasing is long and binding, while renting is a short-term and more flexible solution.”

Rits adds that long-term car rental is used, for example, by companies where a new employee has joined the team but it is not yet clear how the cooperation will work. “Even those who are only in Estonia for the summer are happy to rent. In short, full-service car rental is suitable for those who need a vehicle temporarily for an extended period or who are not yet sure they want to lease a particular vehicle,” he says.