Budget.com Reviews - 266

I want my cash refunded!!!

I want my cash refunded!!! We, 2 students, saved up for a California trip and rented a car costing 460 a week. We were 5 minutes late dropping off the car and had to pay 900 extra dollars!!!!!! Workers gave us different reasons for the 900 extra charge. This is nuts, I will never book with this company again and will do everything I can to get my money back!

Get ready for a long wait to get your ‘security

Get ready for a long wait to get your ‘security deposit’ back. Budget says it’s been sent, but they don’t actually send it! They just let the pre-authorization expire, and the bank then cancels the transaction if it’s not claimed by the company within a certain time. This can take up to 2 months in some cases.

The car experience was good,

The car experience was good, but when we returned it, they took all $1817 we paid. We had proof of payment, but lost our commonwealth account because we couldn't fix it up. The payment came 4 weeks later with no communication. Now, we're in debt collection. Never using this company again.

Had a surprisingly good experience

Had a surprisingly good experience at Geneva French Airport Sector, despite reading all the negative reviews. Picking up the car was smooth—the reception desk was super friendly and helpful. The car was spotless and full of gas, ready to go. When I returned the car, I arrived half an hour early. The returns desk was empty, so I called using the courtesy phone and was told to drop off the keys at the airport with a quick "tank's full, no damage" note. A small hiccup: the car wasn’t checked back in until a few minutes past the agreed time, and they tried to double the rental cost because of this. But once I got home, I contacted them, and they quickly refunded the extra charge without any hassle. Great service, great resolution, and I’m looking forward to my next trip with them. 5 stars from me!

I’d definitely recommend renting from them

I recently rented a 16-foot truck from the Duncan Budget Car/Truck rental and had a pretty awesome experience. When I first called to arrange the rental, the agent in Victoria was super helpful and friendly. They really knew their stuff and helped me figure out everything I needed for the Duncan - Trans Canada location. The whole process went off without a hitch. When I picked up and dropped off the truck, the staff at the location were just as great. They were efficient and made sure everything was smooth sailing. Overall, it was a seamless experience, and I’d definitely recommend renting from them if you need a truck!

Highly recommend

Went to the Taunton Depot last weekend needing a car. Gotta say, the selection was impressive, plenty to choose from. Hannah, the manager, really knew her stuff. She walked me through everything about the car I picked. Explained all the little details, made sure I was comfortable before heading out. Felt like she genuinely cared about my experience, which was refreshing. The car was in great condition, just as she described. If you’re looking to hire a car, I’d say this is the place to go. They really make the process smooth and straightforward. Highly recommend them if you’re in the area and need a reliable ride.

I've used BUDGET car rental

I've used BUDGET car rental twice now, both times at Pathos Airport in Cyprus, and it was great! The whole process was smooth and easy. The car was in perfect shape, and the price was amazing. The best part was the super low refundable deposit, which came back really fast. Plus, I could use my debit card for the deposit, which was so convenient. Booking, picking up the car, and dropping it off were all hassle-free, giving me peace of mind for my holiday. Honestly, if I hadn't gone with BUDGET, my trip wouldn’t have been as good. If you need a reliable and affordable car rental, definitely check them out!

I'd definitely recommend checking them out!

I recently rented a car from the Budget Rental on Hwy 52 in Rochester, MN, and honestly, it was such a smooth experience. Kao Yer, the manager there, went above and beyond to help me out. You know when you just feel like someone genuinely wants to assist you? That's how Kao made me feel. He worked hard to find the best deal and save me some bucks, which I really appreciated. It's not every day you come across service where you feel valued and not just another customer. It made my trip so much more enjoyable. If you're looking to rent a car in Rochester, I'd definitely recommend checking them out!

Definitely a pleasant surprise!

I wasn't expecting it, but my experience at Liverpool Airport was actually fantastic! Usually, renting cars is a hassle, but this time it was smooth. I used Booking for the first time. James at the reception was super helpful and polite. The car was pretty new, just a few scratches on one wheel, which they noted right away. John accepted the insurance I bought through Booking, no annoying upsell pressure this time. Returning the car was just as easy as picking it up. Honestly, using Booking and Budget together in Liverpool made the whole process way better for me. Definitely a pleasant surprise!

I've been a loyal customer

I've been a loyal customer for years and never had a problem, but last week things got tricky while I was on vacation at Glacier National Park. Our car broke down, and there weren't any vehicles nearby at Budget locations. I was pretty stressed, but the service rep went above and beyond. They found a car 119 miles away and arranged to have it delivered overnight, so it was there when I woke up. I was amazed at how quickly they handled everything, especially since I called late in the afternoon. It's not every day you see customer service like that. Definitely made my trip a whole lot smoother!

It made our trip so much more enjoyable!

We decided to rent a car for our trip to Vancouver Island, picking it up in Ucluelet. Never rented a car outside our country before, so a bit nervous. But wow, what a great experience! The car was spotless, like it just rolled out of a showroom. They explained everything about the insurance in a way that made total sense, which was a relief. The team there? Super friendly and helpful, making us feel right at home. It was smooth and easy, no hiccups at all. If you're thinking about renting a car around there, I can't recommend these guys enough. It made our trip so much more enjoyable!

Thanks to the team for making my trip hassle-free!

I rented a car from Budget at Charleston International Airport last March. The staff was super helpful, especially the lady who assisted me with the Hyundai Santa Fe. She made the whole process smooth and easy, even though I lost my rental record slip. Her friendliness and efficiency were remarkable! The car itself was fantastic, probably the best rental I've ever had. It was clean, comfortable, and drove like a dream. I highly recommend this Budget location for their exceptional service and great vehicles. Thanks to the team for making my trip hassle-free!

I had a pretty good time

Honestly, I had a pretty good time at Salzburg airport. Contrary to what others said, they accepted my UK driving license, which was a relief since other companies try to trip you up with that. When I called to confirm, someone actually picked up and clarified it for me. They even upgraded our car for free, which was a lifesaver because we had a 9-month-old and a ton of baby stuff. No hidden fees or penalties, and I got my entire deposit back. The car was spotless and practically new when we got it. All in all, a surprisingly smooth experience.

Just had another fantastic experience

Just had another fantastic experience with Budget at Manchester Airport. Marco was super helpful and got us a really nice car. From start to finish, everything went smoothly. Honestly, couldn't have asked for better service. Definitely will stick with Budget for future rentals.

Had to share my recent

Had to share my recent car rental experience in Alicante. I booked through the BA flight + car deal, which I've done a few times in Spain. This was my first time in Alicante, though. I handled all the paperwork online beforehand, so picking up the car was a breeze. Got a Citroen C3, noted some pre-existing damage on the contract. Standard stuff like putting down a security deposit and being offered insurance, but they weren't pushy about it. I have my own excess coverage, but the agent still explained I'd need to pay for any damage upfront and reclaim it later. Very polite guy. Dropping off the car was just as easy, and the staff were lovely. Only gripe was the car being dusty on the outside, making it hard to spot any scratches, and the parking lot was a bit dark. So, bring a flashlight or use your phone torch to check for any hidden dings. Otherwise, pretty smooth experience overall.

We rented a Hyundai Tucson

We rented a Hyundai Tucson from Budget for our Arizona mountain trip. The car was fantastic—so roomy and comfy, perfect for those winding roads. Dropping it off was a breeze, which was a relief after our journey. Customer support was also helpful when we called about an oil change light, so that was nice. But picking up the car was a pain. We waited 30 minutes in line while other companies had none. Found some scratches on the car too, which we had to report. And that oil change light coming on after just a few days? Really annoying. Plus, Budget was pricier than others. We expected more for the cost. In the end, good car and service, but the wait and issues took away from the experience. Budget could step up their game in maintenance and pickup efficiency.

It was a bit frustrating

Rented a car from Heathrow airport recently, and the staff were super friendly even though they had some tough customers around. They upgraded me to a bigger, brand new car which was a nice surprise. Had no issues during the rental, everything went smoothly. However, got charged a £30 admin fee for a parking fine that happened after I returned the car. Getting hold of customer service was a bit of a pain, took ages, but they were helpful once I got through. Sent them proof the ticket was cancelled, fingers crossed I get my £30 back soon. Overall, decent experience but the admin fee thing was a bit frustrating.

Pretty frustrating!

Renting a car with Budget was smooth, and the vehicle was nice, but dealing with tolls from Normandy to Paris was a nightmare. When I opted for the Sanef system for toll payments, I was shocked to find unpaid tolls from the previous renter still on the account. The tolls are linked to the car's license plate, so I got stuck with them. It seemed nearly impossible to sort out my €8 tolls, even after disputing the charges. Budget really needs to take care of clearing tolls before handing over the car to the next customer. I emailed them about this issue a week ago, and still, no reply. Pretty frustrating!

Just had a not-so-great experience

Just had a not-so-great experience with renting a car at Miami airport. They were really pushy about selling extra coverage, even though I told them multiple times I already had full coverage through a third party. The guy kept insisting it wasn't enough and that I'd be fully responsible if anything happened. Felt like he was almost hoping for something to go wrong. Then at the Brandon location, it was a mess too. The attendant was late and there was no car ready, even though I had booked a week in advance. Had to pay extra for an SUV just to leave on time. Only positive was Anthony, who was super friendly and kept us updated. But he couldn’t check anyone in because he didn’t have access to the systems. The owner showed up to help but it was too late by then. Overall, very poor service at both locations.

I just had the most

I just had the most frustrating experience trying to book a car. We contacted three agents, and each one gave us a different price for the same car. When we tried to get the original price we were quoted, they flat-out refused. This all happened within a few minutes of each other. Booking.com wasn't charging any fees, so we decided to go through them. We asked Budget for a car seat, which they initially quoted us $45 for, but then they tried to charge us $80, claiming they give discounts to Booking.com customers. It really felt like they were just messing with us and didn't care about our time. The supervisor we spoke to was completely unhelpful, so we ended up canceling our reservation. Honestly, I'd suggest looking elsewhere if you want decent customer service.

So, I hopped onto Budget's

So, I hopped onto Budget's site just to tweak my trip dates a bit, right? Next thing I know, instead of just changing my reservation, it magically makes a whole new one for a different date and, bam, charges my card again. Now I'm juggling two bookings and facing a cancellation fee for the one I didn’t even want. Called up customer service in a panic, hoping they'd fix their glitch, but nope—they just brushed me off, saying no managers were around. Felt like I was talking to a wall. I shot off a complaint to corporate, crossing my fingers they'd cancel the mix-up and drop that fee. After some back-and-forth with corporate, they finally refunded everything, which I appreciate, but man, they gotta sort out that website mess and train their support better.

We took a family trip

We took a family trip from Jamaica to Florida and Maine, and decided to rent a car. At the counter, I specifically declined all the extra insurance. Imagine my surprise when my credit card got charged with fees I never agreed to. It seems they added the priciest coverage without telling me. Trying to sort it out was a nightmare. They insisted I needed a boarding pass or a photo of the key fob to contest a late fee, even though we returned the car on time. And despite their mistake with the insurance, they refused to fix it. It feels like they reel you in with attractive rates, only to hit you with unexpected charges. Not going back there again.

So, we rented a car

So, we rented a car in Split, Croatia, and it turned out to be a bit more complicated than expected. We thought we were all set with our travel insurance covering the deposit, but things went sideways. When we got there, the clerk wouldn't accept my debit cards for the deposit—only credit cards, and they had to match the reservation name. None of us had one that fit the bill, so we ended up having to pay for extra coverage, which doubled our costs. Not ideal, but, on the bright side, the staff was friendly and efficient, making the pickup process a breeze despite the hiccups. Still, it was frustrating not to use debit cards as usual.

Lesson learned(((

I recently rented a car, expecting a mid-size SUV, but they handed me a Jeep Grand Cherokee instead. I decided to roll with it, thinking it wouldn't be a big deal. The real issue came when I agreed to let Budget refill the gas tank. I dropped off the car with half a tank left, assuming they'd only charge for what was needed. But when I got my final bill, they hit me with a charge for a full tank refill. It was frustrating, feeling like I was being overcharged for something I didn’t use. Next time, I'll make sure to handle the refueling myself to avoid surprises like this. Lesson learned, I guess.

I rented a Peugeot 3008

I rented a Peugeot 3008 for 10 days, and it was quite an ordeal. The car seemed clean, but maintenance? Forget it. No valve caps, a split rear wiper, and the windscreen bottle cap was left open. Under the bonnet? Filthy. On the second morning, my wife noticed a soft tyre. By the fourth day, it was completely flat. I had to run around, with help from the hotel reception, to get it fixed. Budget's breakdown crew? Nowhere to be found. We wasted half a day and missed our tickets to Knossos. The screw in the tyre looked old, a slow puncture that should've been fixed before. Really disappointing!

Definitely not the slickest way

So, here's the scoop from my little rental adventure at Budget on Church St, Nashville. Arrived a bit before noon, all set to pick up my car. But bam, doors were shut with a scribbled sign saying, “Out to lunch, back at 1 PM.” No warning when I booked, nothing online. Just me and a few other puzzled folks hanging around outside, scratching our heads. It was kind of a letdown—waiting there wasn't part of my plan. If you’re heading over during lunch hours, might be smart to ring them up first or pick a different spot. Definitely not the slickest way to kick off a rental.

I rented a car from

I rented a car from Budget/Avis recently, and while the car itself was perfectly fine, I ran into some issues upon returning it. I made sure to bring it back with a full tank and well before the due time, but I noticed a strange charge of around £20 on my bill. There was no explanation given for this fee, and it felt really unfair. It might not seem like a big amount, but if this is happening to lots of customers, it adds up to a lot. It left a bad taste in my mouth, and I’m not planning to rent from them again. Feels a bit like they’re pulling a fast one on us.

Had to rent from Budget

Had to rent from Budget since my car was getting repaired. Everything was fine until I returned the car. They slapped me with a $450 cleaning fee. Apparently, a little bit of trash in the backseat foot space costs that much to clean up. It was just a bit of stuff, not even enough to fill a kitchen garbage bag. No stains, no damage, just some trash I forgot to take out in my rush. It felt like they were just looking for an excuse to charge extra. Really disappointing, definitely won't be using Budget again.

I went to rent a

I went to rent a Kia, but when I got there, someone already took it. They tried giving me a Jeep next, but it was way too high for my mom to get in or drive, seriously felt like it was made for a teenager. Then, they handed us an electric car. My mom has no clue how to use one of those. Really frustrating experience, wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.

So I booked a Jeep

So I booked a Jeep Wrangler for 5 days at €217.34 through E-dreams, including insurance, and was supposed to pick it up at LA Airport. When I got to the Budget counter, Rose helped me out. At first, she was super nice, asking about my trip and all that. I made it clear I didn't want any extras because I already had full theft insurance. She gave me the contract and asked for my signature twice in a rush. I knew from E-dreams the fuel policy was "full/full." I even asked Rose if I needed to fill up before returning, and she said no, fuel was included. So I signed and paid a €250 deposit, thinking everything was cool. Once on the highway, the Jeep started shaking badly. I thought it was the road at first, but it kept happening. I tried calling roadside assistance but got no answer. By not going over 60 mph, I managed to control it. After some Googling, I found out this "Death Wobble" is a known issue with these Jeeps. Not feeling safe, I didn't use the car for the rest of my trip. At my relatives' place in the U.S., who are lawyers, they checked the contract. Surprise! Rose had added extra services without telling me: $82.12 for fuel refilling, $9.95/day for personal belongings insurance, $9/day for extended roadside assistance, plus various taxes and fees. Back in Italy, I saw a €197.83 charge on my credit card I never agreed to. It's crazy that in 2024, tourists can still get scammed like this. I plan to take legal action against Budget and especially Rose for her shady behavior. Seriously, avoid this company. They are total frauds.