Budget.com Reviews - 313

We booked a gas car

We booked a gas car for a quick Oregon getaway, but when we showed up at night, they said no gas cars were available. We had to take an EV or wait hours, and nobody even called us to warn us. Accepting the EV, we later found out about surprise charges for a second driver. The EV was a nightmare—charging stations were either non-existent or full. We wasted hours trying to charge, and it wrecked our plans. We missed the Seaside Aquarium and almost missed a concert in Portland, even spending extra on Ubers. Budget’s customer service was no help, dismissing our concerns and offering no compensation. The whole experience was frustrating, with poor communication and unexpected costs. If you rent from Budget, don't count on them honoring your reservation or helping when things go south.

Driving down from Oregon to

Driving down from Oregon to Southern California was supposed to be a breeze, but things took a nosedive real quick. The car's brakes started acting up, and then a tire just gave out completely. No spare tire, stranded on a dark freeway—felt like a scene out of a horror movie. Roadside assistance took ages, and we ended up getting towed all the way to L.A., miles off our route. At the Budget center, they gave us the runaround, and after a long wait, finally got a car, but not without more hiccups. The paperwork didn’t match, and we spent more time sorting it out. Got charged extra for returning the car late, even though it wasn’t our fault. Customer service kept us in limbo for weeks, and they shorted us on hotel reimbursement. Just a nightmare. Avoid Budget or Avis if you can.

Such a mess

Man, what a mess. Renting from this company was a disaster from start to finish. When I got there, the staff seemed like they couldn’t care less, just shoving papers at me without explaining anything about the fees or rules. I had no idea about the extra charges or conditions until it was too late. After I returned the car, a random €96 charge showed up in my bank account. No idea why. Tried getting answers, but customer service was a joke—emails got ignored and phone calls were just endless waiting. They also slipped in a young driver fee out of nowhere, and the deposit was way more than they said. Still fighting to get it back. The car was a wreck, and when I complained, they just shrugged it off. Avoid this company if you don't want your rental experience to be a nightmare.

Man, what a mess. I

Man, what a mess. I thought renting a car from Budget would be a breeze, but boy was I wrong. First, I had to wait an hour at the airport just to get the car. Then, while I was enjoying my vacation in Cambridge, I got a parking ticket, even though I was sure the spot was legit. Things got worse when the police towed the car. The tow company wouldn’t let me pay the fee directly, insisting I needed a Hold Harmless Waiver from Budget. Budget refused to help, saying it would take days to inspect the car. I was supposed to fly back to Utah the next day, and Budget couldn't care less. Finally, the tow company called and let me pay $140 to get the car back. Returned the car to Budget and got slapped with an $800 bill, way more than the original estimate. Never using Budget again.

Real bummer

So, I rented a car from Budget during my Hawaii trip in December. They held a $300 deposit on my credit card, which was fine. I returned the car in perfect shape, full tank and all. But back home in Australia, I noticed a charge of $158.59 on my card for "Non PKG items." I had no clue what that meant. I reached out to Budget, and they told me it was for some coverage and plans: PAE, ESP, and RSN, plus taxes. Honestly, I don't even know what those acronyms stand for. Asked for clarification, but it's been three weeks and no response. They also claimed I got a signed agreement copy, but I only got a pamphlet on returning the car. Super frustrating since I can't do much from another country. Seems like they know I won't pursue legal action for that amount. Real bummer.

Renting a car in Hungary

Renting a car in Hungary was supposed to be a breeze, but it turned into a bit of a nightmare. When I got to the airport, I expected to pick up the car right there, but turns out, I needed to catch a shuttle. Problem was, there was no clear sign where this shuttle was, and the airport staff were just as clueless. Tried calling customer support, but the line was all messed up, and they couldn't hear me. After over an hour of back and forth, they told me to take a taxi and promised a refund. Got to the pick-up point, and the office was locked. When someone finally showed, they were rude and refused to reimburse me. Returning the car wasn’t any better; more rude staff and surprise cleaning fees for just a bit of dirt. This was hands down the worst rental experience I've had.

I’ve never had such a

I’ve never had such a miserable time renting a car! Got a vehicle from Budget that smelled terrible, like something was rotting in there. Every time I turned the AC on, it was like being hit with a wave of stink. The guy at the counter? Just as bad. He rushed through everything, talking so fast with his thick accent that I barely caught a word. When I asked him to slow down, he just got louder, like I was the problem. The worst part? They slapped me with a $250 fee for "excessive sand" after I returned the car spotless. Their photos were zoomed in on a couple of grains, trying to make it look like a beach party happened in there. Calling to dispute it was pointless—the woman on the line was so rude, acting like my issue was a joke. Never touching Budget or Avis again.

Let me tell you about

Let me tell you about my recent car rental experience at Marco Polo Airport in Venice with Budget. We thought we were all set with express pick-up, having pre-registered and all. But, surprise, surprise, we ended up in not one, but two long lines. What’s express about that? After about 30 minutes of waiting, we finally got to the car. Except, it wasn’t the compact one we booked; they gave us a bigger one. Parking the car was another adventure. We parked where we were told, but then had to move it again. And then, the attendant vanished! Later, I got slapped with an email adding over £100 to my bill for no reason. Customer service was no help, just kept repeating the same thing. Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend Budget. It’s been a frustrating journey trying to get a refund.

I booked what seemed like

I booked what seemed like a great deal for a car rental in Cape Town through a UK website, paying £202 for the car and £74 for insurance. But when I arrived after a long flight, Avis didn’t recognize the insurance I’d arranged. They switched my car last minute, claiming it was in the same category, which didn’t really sit right with me. The pickup process was chaotic, with questions flying at me in a noisy hall. The car they gave me was notoriously targeted for theft, which stressed me out the whole trip. On returning it, I noticed an extra charge on the contract. The agent assured me it’d be refunded, but I ended up being charged £229 more. After disputing it, I was told no refund since I’d signed. Be cautious—hidden costs and unclear terms are a big issue with them.

Beware when renting from Avis/Budget!

Beware when renting from Avis/Budget! My family reserved a minivan for a short trip from Ft. Lauderdale to Orlando. When we arrived, there was no minivan available and they offered us a Toyota 4 Runner instead. The car was dirty, smelled like smoke, and had the oil-change light on. We took it anyway since we only needed it for a few hours. The trip was fine, everyone slept through the ride, and we returned the car on time the next morning. A week later, we got a letter saying we owed $450 for cleaning fees. I argued that we didn't make any mess, and we're non-smokers. They ignored my response and charged our credit card. After looking online, it seems this is a common scam by Avis/Budget. I regret not knowing this earlier. Please avoid renting from them.

I booked a rental car

I booked a rental car through Bookings.com with Budget, where the drop-off charge was supposed to be 0 EUR. Paid everything upfront before my trip. When I got to my destination, the guy at the Budget counter said I needed to make a deposit. I asked if I’d get it back after returning the car, and he said yes. He promised to email me the paperwork, but I never got it. Back home, I checked my emails and found out the “deposit” was actually a 150 EUR drop charge plus 88 EUR for gas. I returned the car with a full tank! I emailed their customer service with proof, but after weeks of back and forth, they refused to reimburse me. Budget doesn’t respect agreements with Bookings.com. I regret not checking reviews before renting. Never renting from Budget/Avis again!

Just leave truck rentals to the pros

I recently had quite the experience with Budget Truck Rental that left me shaking my head. I booked a truck and a vehicle tow dolly, thinking it’d be a smooth ride. But when I showed up, there was no dolly in sight. They assured me I could grab one at another location, but turns out, there weren’t any available anywhere nearby. Customer Service couldn’t even find one in the whole state. I only got the bigger truck because of the dolly requirements, and there weren't any smaller trucks available either. The local manager even admitted this happens often. I ended up renting elsewhere that day. Two weeks later, the reservation's still open, no refund, and I'm getting calls from their Recovery Department. Budget, seriously, just leave truck rentals to the pros.

Just had a rough experience

Just had a rough experience with Budget Car Rentals at Harry Reid Airport in Vegas. We had a 12-day rental booked from January 26th to February 6th, 2025. Prepaid through GotRentalCars.com with unlimited mileage, 24-hour assistance, collision damage waiver, theft protection, and third-party liability insurance all covered. We even had extra insurance through Eversure. But when we got to the counter, the rep told us we had to buy their insurance or no car. Said Budget at the airport is a standalone franchise. Ended up shelling out an extra $793.86 after a long flight from the UK. Felt totally ripped off. Never going with Budget again. Heads up, folks – go with a reputable provider. And don’t trust GotRentalCars.com – their prepaid insurance wasn’t accepted.

Alright, let me tell you

Alright, let me tell you about my recent experience renting a car from Budget at Miami Int’l Airport. Picked up the car on October 11th, dropped it off on the 13th. First off, the car wasn’t exactly spotless, but the rental location was so chaotic, I just went with it. Returning the car was a whole adventure. Drove from Boca Raton, thought I dodged the tolls, but ended up in Downtown Miami, had to U-turn back on I-95. Dropped the car at the airport, everything seemed fine, flew back to NYC. Then, bam! Got a $16.54 charge on my credit card on October 21st. Turns out, it was a $2.64 toll and a ridiculous $13.90 “convenience fee” from Budget. Seriously? Next time, I'm definitely going with another rental company. Budget, you really need to do better.

I had a really bad

I had a really bad experience with Budget Car Rental that I think people should know about. After renting a car, they hit me with a $450 cleaning fee for a "smoke smell." Problem is, I don't smoke. When I called them, they even claimed they had videos of me smoking, which is totally false. What made things worse was how they tried to handle it. First, they offered to cut the fee in half, then down to a quarter, and finally agreed to remove it entirely. But guess what? They still charged my credit card! I'm filing complaints with the BBB, Attorney General’s Office, and FTC. If you’ve had similar issues, do the same. Be careful and contact your credit card company if you run into this kind of problem. We need to hold Budget Car Rental accountable.

Such a mess

So, renting from this place was a bit of a mess. I booked a car days ahead, but ended up hanging around for over three hours before getting one. They didn’t even try offering another option, even though I could see other cars sitting right there. When I finally got the car, it was a disaster inside—leftover junk everywhere, including some random solo cups. Spent time cleaning it out myself just to avoid any blame. Returning it was another hassle. I filled the tank just around the corner from the airport, but somehow got slapped with a charge for 1.5 gallons of gas. The receipt showed the tank wasn’t full, but I swear the gauge said it was. No one even checked it upon return. This whole deal was super frustrating. If you can, find another place to rent.

Awful and nightmare

Yikes, what a nightmare! Rented a car with Budget in Memmingen but ended up in Munich due to flight delays. Figured switching the pickup spot would be easy, right? Wrong. Went to the Budget desk in Munich, and it was chaos. First, they said I had to go to Memmingen to get my car. Then, they offered me a car for €150 a day just to drive to Memmingen. I decided to go with that, but suddenly they said I could take a car from Munich. Just when I was about to sign, the price jumped from €260 to €1200! They canceled everything, and the €150/day car option vanished. Ended up taking an Uber to Memmingen with my kids, only to find out my booking was canceled. The guy at Memmingen was nice but shocked at the mess. Avoid Budget if you value your sanity.

During a trip to Houston,

During a trip to Houston, I had a prepaid car booking with full insurance. Everything seemed straightforward until I reached the Budget Rental desk. Marquise, the clerk there, told me I needed to place a hefty deposit of £841.34. It was shocking, but he assured me it was just a deposit that would be refunded. Fast forward to car return, and surprise—I got charged the full amount. Marquise blamed it on a "system error" and said nothing could be done since I booked through a third party. Dealing with Budget Rental was a nightmare; it took over three months to resolve. They tried to settle for less, claiming I owed for insurance I'd already paid. Luckily, AMEX had my back and issued a full refund. Be cautious if you're considering Budget Rental.

I had a dreadful experience

I recently had a dreadful experience with a car rental company in Orlando. The folks at the counter are relentless about upselling extra services. Even though I refused all the add-ons, they sneakily tacked them onto my contract anyway. I get that taxes are part of the deal, but being charged for stuff I never asked for is just wrong. And get this, they didn’t even give me a receipt when I paid. I only found out about the extra charges when I saw my credit card statement. Had to call customer service to get a receipt—what a pain! We ended up paying over double what we agreed on. No wonder this company has such terrible reviews. If you're thinking about renting from them, do yourself a favor and look elsewhere. Better options out there.

I had a terrible experience

I had a terrible experience with Budget at Birmingham Airport. My wife and her friend prepaid for a car and even confirmed everything with customer service the day before. But when they arrived, the staff refused to give them the car, saying the address didn't pass their check. The lady there was extremely rude, refused to double-check, and wouldn't let us speak to a manager. She even stopped talking to us altogether. My wife had to take an expensive taxi in the middle of the night to get to her destination. Next door at Europcar, they were much more helpful and managed to sort everything out using the same details. It's shocking how poorly Budget handled this. I will definitely be seeking a refund and never using their service again.

Awful experience

Wow, what an experience at LAX! I mean, I was stuck waiting for a rental car for almost 2.5 hours. First, the line took forever—nearly 2 hours, if you can believe it. And when I finally got to the counter, it was another 20 minutes before the car was ready. Meanwhile, folks behind me were getting their cars and leaving. The person helping me seemed more interested in chatting with coworkers and checking her phone than actually doing her job. Every time the phone rang, she'd ask if I knew what it was about. Isn’t that her job? Then, they hit me with an extra $30 charge I never agreed to and charged me for fuel, even though I filled up right before returning the car! Feels like they make a habit of overcharging customers. Avoid this place!

Rented a car from Budget

Rented a car from Budget recently, and it was a total mess. They gave me a Suzuki Vitara instead of the promised Kia Sportage. The Vitara was way smaller, barely fitting our luggage without cramping the seats. Major pain for a trip where cargo space was a must. The car itself was falling apart – taillamps dangling, missing parts, and just not safe. I reported it, showed photos, but no immediate fix. They only offered an expensive upgrade, no decent alternatives. Told them I’d return it next day and rent elsewhere, got assured I’d only be charged for one day. Rented from another company, no problems there. Later, Budget overcharged me and their customer service was slow to sort it out. Left a bad taste, won’t use Budget again.

Really frustrating time

I had a really frustrating experience with a car rental company that seemed cheaper at first glance. When I returned the car, I was slammed with unexpected charges. I thought the fuel policy was "full to full," and I filled up the tank before returning it. But then I got a $75 charge because I was unknowingly signed up for a prepaid fuel plan. On top of that, they added unnecessary insurances at the counter without explaining anything. I had already covered these when booking online. When I tried to contest the charges with customer service, it was a nightmare, and now I'm dealing with my credit card company to sort it out. I've rented cars all over, but this was by far the worst experience. Definitely not using them again!

Rented a car from Budget

Rented a car from Budget and was hit with an extra charge of $615.02, but was assured it would be refunded at drop-off. When we returned the car, the guy there said everything was fine and that the refund was processed. Fast forward, I called Budget today and got nowhere. The lady on the phone kept putting me on hold and eventually said she couldn't help, mentioning a request would be put in, and I'd hear back in 7-14 days. I told her that's too long and asked for a manager. She said none were available and someone could call me back in 1-3 hours. Seriously? I can't sit around waiting for a call. Customer service both at the pick-up spot and on the phone was awful. Definitely avoiding Budget in the future. So frustrating.

Misleading practices all around

I recently rented a car and it was a bit of a rollercoaster. The car itself? Nearly new, spotless, and comfy, though not the exact model I booked. But here’s where things went south. The insurance I bought online wasn’t recognized by Budget/Avis. They said any damage meant I’d pay upfront and chase my money back from the broker. So, I had to shell out an extra €210 for their insurance at the desk. Picking up the car, I found unexpected charges for airport pickup and road tax, totaling €80, straight out of my deposit. And contacting DoYouItaly for help? Useless. Spent ages on hold for no response. It was a frustrating experience, and I’d steer clear of DoYouItaly and Budget/Avis if you can. Misleading practices all around.

I tried picking up a

I tried picking up a rental car from Budget at Bologna airport on October 9th. Everything seemed fine until I got to the parking bay – no car. It was 12:30 am, no staff around. Had to get two taxis for my group of 8, costing us 400 euros. Next day, I took the train back to the airport, only to find out my car had been given to someone else the day before. Spent the entire day at the airport, waiting until 6 pm for them to sort it out. They wouldn’t give me another car until they found the first one, seriously? They even suggested I might’ve stolen it! Got home to find an extra £242 charge on my card despite having full insurance. Two weeks later, still no response from customer service. Absolutely appalling experience.

Avoid Budget!

So, we booked a car through booking.com to pick up at Belfast International Airport. Arrived around 4:45 PM and the staff at the desk was just awful. The guy didn't even greet us, just asked for our names. When my husband handed over his driving licence, he asked for the counterpart licence, which we didn’t have. Nowhere in the booking docs did it say we needed it. His colleague chimed in, rudely saying both parts should be kept together. Who does that? We couldn’t hire the car, despite paying for it. They seemed to enjoy our frustration, no apologies whatsoever. We called booking.com, they were great once we got through. Meanwhile, Hertz next desk was super helpful and hired us a car with just the photocard licence.

I had a really rough

I had a really rough experience at the Chicago Lakeview Budget. I booked a Kia Rio or something similar, but ended up with this enormous, bright red Jeep SUV. Not at all what I wanted. The agent there was kinda pushy, tried to convince me I didn't need the GPS I had added on, probably 'cause the Jeep didn't have one. Just perfect, right? Navigating unfamiliar streets with Google Maps on my phone instead. When I asked for the smaller car I was promised, the guy had the nerve to say they were the same ‘cause they both had wheels and a steering wheel. Seriously? And then he handed me keys to the wrong car! Ended up just asking for a refund after he said I might get the right car if I waited an hour. Terrible service!

Terrible experience ever

I recently had a terrible experience with Budget Car Rental at Dulles Airport. The cars they provided were absolutely horrible. I had to switch cars three times due to safety concerns for my family. The vehicles were in awful condition – missing parts, damaged tires, and they smelled like smoke. They didn’t even bother to clean them. If you see windshield wipers up, it means the car has a maintenance issue. Avoid taking it! The third car broke down halfway through my trip, forcing me to get another vehicle in a different state. To make things worse, Budget charged me for gas in the broken-down car. Ridiculous! They should be compensating me, not charging extra. Renters beware – Budget is not what it used to be.

If you're considering renting a

If you're considering renting a car, maybe think twice before choosing Budget. Had a rough time with them on my last trip. Grabbed a car at Tampa Airport, and as soon as I hit the road, the bumper just started dragging. Turns out, someone had tried to fix it with a makeshift tie that snapped. We were stuck on a bridge, stressed out and hungry after a long day of travel. Called for help, had to wait forever for a tow, and then head back to the airport for another car. No apology, no compensation, just hours wasted. To top it off, they billed me for the damage! Tried disputing it, but they wanted photos of the car's undercarriage from when I picked it up. Seriously? Just a heads up, maybe try another rental company.