Avis renters are saving money on gas and avoiding delays caused by waiting in cash toll lines, according to the company's annual study of travel delays experienced at the customer's destination.

The study found a 13 percent decline in Avis business travelers who report being inconvenienced by cash toll payments compared with last year.

"We have seen a steady rise in the take rates for eToll from Avis renters, who are avoiding unnecessary delays and enjoying more time for their business or leisure activities," said Thomas M. Gartland, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Avis Budget Group. "These findings confirm our belief that eToll is succeeding in helping our customers avoid having to wait in cash toll payment lines, thus helping them also save money on gas, by spending less time having to operate their vehicle."

eToll, Avis's electronic toll collection program, surpassed a milestone of three million transactions in April of 2008. Now beginning its third year in service, eToll eliminates the need for travelers to carry change or wait in long cash payment lines at toll plazas and allows Avis renters to zip through electronic toll payment lanes.

The study found that more than a third (36 percent) of Avis renters who experienced toll delays found those delays to be “extremely or very inconvenient." Also, the survey found that the amount of time being spent waiting in cash toll lines has doubled since last year, with renters reporting experiencing delays of nearly a half hour (24 minutes) per typical three-day business trip.

Avis says those renters who are taking advantage of eToll are better able to enjoy the ride, while having more time available to get work done, or even catch an earlier flight home.

The survey also found that males find "waiting in line to pay highway, bridge or tunnel tolls" slightly more inconvenient than females (males: 43% vs. females: 37%), despite the fact that men and women report spending the same amount of time waiting in those lines (25 minutes).

For more information on eToll, visit avis.com.