SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  -------------


                                  FORM 8-K

                               CURRENT REPORT
                   PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                      SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

     Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 11, 2000


                            AVIS GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


           DELAWARE                    1-13315           11-3347585

(State or Other Jurisdiction of       (Commission        (IRS Employer
        Incorporation)                 File Number)     Identification No.)


      900 Old Country Road, Garden City, NY                   11530
      (Address of principal executive offices)             (zip code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (516) 222-3000


                                 NOT APPLICABLE
        (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)




ITEM 5.     OTHER EVENTS.

     On November 11, 2000,  Avis Group  Holdings,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation
("Avis"),   Cendant  Corporation,   a  Delaware  corporation  ("Cendant"),   PPH
Corporation,  a Maryland  corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
Cendant  ("PHH"),  Avis Acquisition  Corp., a Delaware  corporation and a wholly
owned subsidiary of PHH, entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated as of November 11, 2000 (the "Merger Agreement"), providing for Cendant to
acquire all of the issued and outstanding  shares of Avis' Class A common stock,
other than shares  beneficially  owned by Cendant,  PHH, Avis Acquisition Corp.,
Cendant  Car  Holdings,  Inc.  or any other  direct or  indirect  subsidiary  of
Cendant,  for cash at $33 per share. A copy of the Merger  Agreement as executed
on November 11, 2000, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein
by reference.

     On  November  13,  2000,  Avis and  Cendant  issued a joint  press  release
announcing  that they had  entered  into the  Merger  Agreement,  providing  for
Cendant to acquire  all of the issued and  outstanding  shares of Avis'  Class A
common  stock,  other than  shares  beneficially  owned by  Cendant,  PHH,  Avis
Acquisition  Corp.,  Cendant Car Holdings,  Inc. or any other direct or indirect
subsidiary  of  Cendant,  for cash at $33 per share.  A copy of the joint  press
release  issued in  connection  with the  execution  of the Merger  Agreement is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

(c)       Exhibits.

No.       Description.

99.1      Agreement  and Plan of Merger,  dated as of November 11, 2000, by and
          among Cendant Corporation, PHH Corporation, Avis Acquisition Corp. and
          Avis Group Holdings, Inc.

99.2      Joint Press Release of Cendant Corporation and Avis Group Holdings,
          Inc., dated November 13, 2000.

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                        AVIS GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.


                                        By: /s/   Kevin M. Sheehan
                                            --------------------------
                                            President-Corporate and Business
                                            Affairs and Chief Financial Officer
                                            (principal financial officer)


Dated:   November 14, 2000


                           EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.       Description.

99.1     Agreement  and Plan of Merger,  dated as of November 11,  2000,  by and
         among Cendant Corporation, PHH Corporation,  Avis Acquisition Corp, and
         Avis Group Holdings, Inc.

99.2     Joint Press Release of Cendant Corporation and Avis Group Holdings,
         Inc., dated November 13, 2000.