Maximize Your Avios: Earning Points with Budget Car Rentals

The article details how to earn Avios points when renting cars from Budget, a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, which is now part of the joint venture with Avios. While Avis is well-known for its partnership with British Airways, Budget also offers opportunities to accrue Avios, albeit with some distinctions.

For British Airways Club members, earning Avios with Budget is straightforward: 2 Avios are awarded for every £1 spent on rentals booked directly using BA Club details. This applies globally, without needing specific booking codes. Key restrictions include a cap of 10,000 Avios per rental, and exclusions for corporate, chauffeur, van hires, or third-party bookings. Importantly, the popular free additional driver benefit, available with Avis rentals for BA Club members, does not extend to Budget bookings. The earning rate is also lower than Avis's 5 Avios per £1.

However, Budget also partners with Qatar Airways Privilege Club, which utilizes Avios. This presents an alternative for earning, potentially at a higher rate. Base Privilege Club (Burgundy) members earn 2 Avios per $1. Elite members benefit from accelerated rates: Silver earns 3 Avios per $1, Gold 4 Avios per $1, and Platinum a significant 5 Avios per $1. To qualify for these higher elite rates, bookings must be made via the special Qatar Airways / Budget page, which might affect the rental price. A notable limitation is that Avios cannot be earned in Qatar Airways Privilege Club for Budget rentals in the United States.

Both British Airways and Qatar Airways occasionally run special promotions, such as double Avios offers, making it advisable to check both airline sites before booking. In all cases, Avios are exclusively earned on the base rental cost, not on additional charges like taxes or airport surcharges, meaning the actual Avios earned will be less than what the total paid price might suggest. This guide helps maximize Avios earnings through strategic Budget car rentals.

(Source: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/10/03/how-to-earn-avios-points-from-budget-car-rentals-2/)