Avis and Budget Rent a Car are taking their fleets smoke-free

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If you’re planning on renting a car from Avis or Budget Rent a Car after Oct. 1, then you’d better plan on using the old ashtray for spare change and not much else.

Starting next month, Avis and Budget are taking their entire fleets 100% smoke free, parent company Avis Budget Group Inc. said in a statement.

Every make and model will be adorned with a sticker to inform customers about the new policy, and Avis and Budget are also putting in place a new inspection process and cleaning fee to ensure their cars stay smoke-free, the Avis Budget Group said.

If a rental car is returned with the smell of smoke or other evidence of smoking, a $250 fee will be charged to the renter, Avis said in an e-mail to customers.

“Tobacco smoke leaves a residue on fabrics, fibers and surfaces of vehicles, which emits odors that many people find unpleasant,” Larry De Shon, Avis Budget Group’s executive vice president of operations, said in a statement. “In fact, we receive more customer requests for smoke-free vehicles than any other ‘special request.’ ”

-- Nathan Olivarez-Giles