I don't understand the distinction. Avis/Budget already has my driver's license-they had it when I used my old credit card, along with the expiration date.

That leaves the credit card and their ability to charge my card in the event of damage. I don't understand how that is different than any other purchase or authorization which is done over the internet. They know who I am, they know (or can verify) that it is my credit card, they check my ID at exit when I rent on Fast Break or Wizard. I must be missing something as I don't see what waiting at the counter and showing them the physical credit card adds to the equation.

Please feel free to educate me, as I am sure some will.

Just my thoughts on why they require a physical inspection (could be 100% wrong): Assume your name is John Smith. You could have another (stolen/otherwise not valid) credit card with the name of James Smith, John Smith Jr., etc. Most credit card verification online (that I'm aware of) only matched the last name & zip code. Avis might want to be sure the card actually says John Smith.

Otherwise, you could steal the rented car, they charge the card of James Smith and then James correctly disputes the charge. Avis is out the $60,000 QX56 that they "rented you".

While Avis & Budget are both owned by the AvisBudget group, they don't share back-end systems. Same thing as others: Zappos.com is owned by Amazon but they don't share credit card information.

This is an excellent analogy.

We're getting pretty far out on the edge of probabilities, aren't we?

I don't know if there is a practical way to avoid the scenario you posit, but in today's world, I'm betting there is.

And even if not, what reason exists to not allow showing the card at a time other than first rental, say while hanging around an airport waiting for a flight? And why not allow the credit card to be shown to security as you leave the lot? They're already trusting him or her to ID you sufficiently to avoid someone else taking the car in your name-it's a pretty short hop from there to reading the name of a credit card. If that's really what they're after.

I agree with everyone that says Avis should protect themselves from people taking cars illegitimately. I'm still waiting to hear how this policy does that.

I guess I dont get why we're even having this debate?

AVIS has a policy - like it or not, it is what it is. Dont like it? Dont rent from them.

Personally, I dont want the $9/hr security guard at the gate seeing my credit card.

That approach to travel would certainly reduce the posts on Flyertalk.

You're having this debate because you chose to read and contribute to this thread. Stop anytime you like, as does everyone else.

Here's how this all shook out in practice for me.

Rented from Budget at LAX using my Rapid Res number. I went inside the main building and could not see a Rapid Res or Fast Break desk. I told the clerk I had a Fast Break reservation and that I was using a new credit card that I had entered into my FB profile, and that over ther phone I had been told I would have to show the new card at the FB desk. I was told to go outside to the Fast Break area and show the credit card to the person at the exit gate.

Over the course of several Fast Break rentals at LAX, I have never seen any Budget personnel at the FB area except employees bringing additional cars to the pick-up parking slots. The screens showing FB reservation haven't worked for years and they still have computer printouts showing name and car category.

Turns out, I did not bring the new card I had entered into my FB profile and since I was running late, I told the gate agent I would just give him another card. He said he could use the one in the profile even though I did not have it with me, and I had never shown it to Budget. My rental went through to that card.

From all this, I think the whole 'need to show card" issue is a canard. I was able to use a new card I had put into my profile myself and statements by Budget phone CSRs that I would have to go the desk and show the card on my next rental were 100% wrong, in my case anyway. YMMV, but I doubt it as there is probably either a requirement or not.

Those that wrote that Budget couldn't be expected to trust the low paid gate agents with checking credit cards and other security matters might want to re-read the above. Seems they can and do.