Every year over 8,849 items are found in Avis Budget Group vehicles across its Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane locations. Leaving belongings behind in a rental vehicle creates all sorts of stress so Avis Australia has launched a new internal lost property feature on its PhotoProofed app to speed up the process of returning lost property to its rightful owners.

The new lost property feature allows Avis Australia to simply photograph lost items and upload it directly onto a national database. Once the item is matched with the owner, the article will be sent back via parcel post so the customer can track their item.

The world of vehicle lost property is certainly interesting, over the years Avis has found all sorts of weird and wonderful items from ceramic crocodile heads, a bucket of fish to someone’s ashes. The new lost property feature aims to return even the most bizarre items to their owner.

Tom Mooney, Managing Director – Pacific, Avis Budget Group says, “We all know the feeling of losing something important or an item that holds great sentimental value. This new feature will allow us to return lost items to our customers in a timelier more efficient manner.”

As part of Avis Australia’s lost property policy all items are held for two months. In the case where items are not reunited with their owners, Avis has implemented several initiatives to repurpose and recycle lost goods:

• Unclaimed cash is donated to its chosen charities, R U Ok?
• All electronics are either recycled by a local provider or sold with the proceeds going to its chosen charities
• Documents are securely disposed of through shredding or using onsite secure destruction bin facilities
• International Passports, Drivers Licenses and Permits are returned to the country’s Consulate
• National Passports & Drivers Licenses are returned to the Passport office within each state
• All baggage, clothing, medications, make-up & personal items, food & alcohol are destroyed locally
• All eyewear is donated to the Fred Hollows Foundation.

For customers who have forgotten an item in an Avis rental, please contact Avis customer service on 1800 141 000 and provide staff with your booking details, as well as a detailed description of the lost item.