Budget.com Reviews - 313

Rented a big SUV from

Rented a big SUV from Boston Logan and what a mess it turned out to be. Stood in line for what felt like forever just to get the keys, and the car? Let’s say they missed a spot—or ten. Few days in, the engine light popped on. Customer service was zero help; told us to return the car immediately but couldn’t guide us to an open office. Drove an hour out of our way, only to get stuck with a smaller car. At drop-off, staff were dismissive, and we got slapped with £450 in extra charges—fuel for the faulty car, an airport fee, and a whole extra day for being late due to traffic! After endless calls and emails, a partial refund came through, but no apology or compensation for the hassle. Never touching Budget again.

I rented a car from

I rented a car from Budget in Italy and got hit with a surprise €1,200 charge on my card. After a lot of back-and-forth, they claimed it was for "damage" — just some tiny scratches. Luckily, I’d snapped detailed photos when picking up the car, which clearly showed those scratches were already there. Despite presenting this evidence, Budget won’t budge on the refund and hasn’t given a clear reason why. It feels like they’re trying to scam tourists with bogus damage fees. If you’re renting from Budget, make sure to take detailed, time-stamped photos and videos before and after, or better yet, choose a different company. This experience has really soured my opinion on Budget Italy. Rent elsewhere if you can.

I booked a premium saloon

I booked a premium saloon with Budget, expecting an E-class. They told me I needed two payment methods because it was a premium car. The day before, Budget called to confirm the E-class as my rental. When I went to pick up the car, they directed me to bay 9. But instead of an E-class, there was a mid-range 7-seater SUV. Confused, I went back to the office, thinking there was a mistake. Turns out, it wasn't. They said they don’t even offer E-Class vehicles. Also, they didn’t need two payment methods for the SUV. Pressed for time, I took the SUV. After the rental, I emailed them, and they tried to pass off the SUV as a premium car. Showed them their website, proving it wasn’t, and they stopped responding.

I rented a truck from

I rented a truck from Budget in Edmonton, and it was a nightmare. I paid in cash as agreed, but later saw the same amount charged to my credit card. Called them multiple times, sent emails, but got nowhere. They just kept giving me generic responses and empty promises. What’s infuriating is Budget's size and reputation—you’d expect better. Instead, I felt scammed and ignored. No one explained why I was double-charged or took responsibility. Their communication was awful, and the whole situation was stressful and costly. I’ve rented from other places without issues, but this was different. I'd avoid Budget in Edmonton at all costs. Save yourself the headache and go with a more reliable company.

It's been a nightmare

I rented a car from Budget at the end of April, planning a short trip, but then extended it for two weeks. Everything seemed fine until mid-May when the car disappeared. Panic set in—I thought it was stolen! I called Budget, and they told me it was impounded because they claimed I hadn’t extended the rental. I was in Georgia for a crucial medical appointment and couldn't just pop back to Orlando to sort it out. Left high and dry, I had to rent another car from Enterprise. My essential meds and glasses were in that impounded car, and Budget's promises to resolve this were empty. They refunded a late fee but ignored my pleas for help. It's been a nightmare, and my health is suffering from the stress.

Huge mistake

So, we headed to Orlando with the whole family and rented a minivan. Big mistake. The next morning, it vanished! Towed away because of expired plates. Our car seats were in there, so we had no choice but to skip our first Disney day. Nightmare, right? We had to drive 40 minutes back to the airport to sort things out because phone calls were useless. The airport manager was a gem, sorting out a new van and car seats, but our seats were MIA for days. Got promised some refunds, but the emails never came, and surprise, surprise, a hefty charge popped up later. Had to chase them down again to get that fixed. Honestly, if it wasn't for that manager, we'd have been stuck. Never using that company again!

Last summer, we rented a

Last summer, we rented a car from Budget for our annual getaway to Fort Myers. We've been loyal customers for years, and it's always been smooth sailing. But this time was different. We returned the car in its usual state—just a bit of sand from a quick beach trip with the kids. The attendant checked it over and said we were all set. But then, out of nowhere, we got slammed with a $450 detailing fee. Really? It felt like a money grab, especially since there wasn’t any damage or mess. It's disappointing, like they don't care about long-time customers anymore. With so many other rental companies out there, we’ll definitely be looking elsewhere next time. Budget really dropped the ball on this one.

I was frustrated

I booked a car with Budget, thinking it was a good deal, but it turned into a nightmare. After my trip, I noticed an unexpected charge. I called to sort it out, and was initially told I’d get a refund, but their system was down, so I had to call back. When I did, I had to explain everything again, and the person on the line kept interrupting me, insisting the charge was valid. I tried to explain that at pick-up, no one mentioned this extra fee, but she just got louder and eventually hung up. When I called back, the next representative said he couldn’t help since the previous person was his supervisor. I was frustrated and felt like nobody cared. I'm definitely avoiding Budget in the future.

I booked a BMW 4

I booked a BMW 4 Series Convertible through VIP Cars for my trip to Madeira, hoping for a luxurious ride. But what a letdown it was! When I arrived, Budget said they didn’t have the BMW or anything similar. They first offered me a tiny Fiat 500 Cabrio, which was totally impractical for Madeira's steep roads. After some back and forth, I settled for an Opel Corsa. While it was okay, it was nowhere near the luxury I had paid for. I even bought extra insurance expecting a premium car, which added to my frustration. Budget’s £30 refund felt like a joke, and VIP Cars just offered a discount for next time, which felt insincere. Overall, felt misled and overcharged. Wouldn’t recommend using them!

When I picked up my

When I picked up my rental in Olbia, Sardinia, everything seemed smooth at first. But then the counter lady hit me with extra charges I wasn't expecting. I was confused but decided to sort it out with my credit card later. A week passed, and thankfully, no extra charges appeared. Here's where I messed up: I didn't check the alloy wheels thoroughly when I got the car. There was some damage that I didn't notice. When I returned it, they zeroed in on that damage and charged me €280! I argued, but they didn’t budge. Lesson learned—always check the car completely and report any issues right away. Sadly, because of this, I won't be renting from them again, even though the car itself was great.

I thought renting a car

I thought renting a car at Fiumicino Airport would be straightforward, but it turned into a bit of a hassle. I prepaid for a car with an extra driver through booking.com, thinking all was set. When I got there, they assured me everything was covered and even handed me a toll road device, which seemed like a nice touch. But then I discovered that the charges were not fully covered, and I’d be hit with extra costs, tripling the initial price. Not what I signed up for! I've reached out to their service team and my credit card company to sort it out. It’s frustrating to realize I'm not alone in this experience. Definitely something to watch out for if you're considering renting a car there.

Frustrating experience

So, I rented a car from Budget Canada in YEG and ended up with a Chevy Malibu. Let me just say, avoid that car like the plague. There's this engine glitch mentioned in the manual that can randomly reduce the engine power. Imagine cruising at highway speeds and suddenly, you can't go over 80kph. Happened to me twice, once when I was overtaking a semi and another in the middle of busy freeway lanes. Scary stuff, right? I took it to a dealer, but they shrugged it off, saying it probably wouldn't happen again. They offered another car but didn't seem too eager to help. Budget just apologized when I raised my concerns, but no compensation for the time lost. Overall, a frustrating experience.

I had a pretty rough time

I had a pretty rough experience with this rental company. It seems like chaos runs their business, and I felt the brunt of it. I’ve been hit with charges for tolls I never passed and extra days even though I returned the car on time. One time, I got a car with expired plates, and yep, got pulled over. Customer service? Forget about it. They just bounce you around with no real help. The last straw was when I rented a truck without floor mats, and the battery died on me at 4am—right before a flight! They also tried charging me $450 for some sand on the floor. I’ve tried reasoning with them, even got the BBB involved, but no luck. I wouldn’t recommend renting from them or their affiliates.

I had a pretty rough

I had a pretty rough time with Budget in Beaverton, OR. Rented a car through Expedia, supposed to pick it up at 4 PM. Showed up at 4:03, and the place was locked up, no one around. Called customer service, and they were no help at all. One even joked about being in the Caribbean – super unprofessional. So there I was, stuck in the cold parking lot with my luggage, nowhere to go. They didn't even bother to call or text to let me know they wouldn't be there. Ended up wasting $60 on Ubers to and from the place. Never using Budget again. The next day, I went with Enterprise – night and day difference. Friendly staff, quick service, and they even followed up to ensure everything was good.

Renting a car at Glasgow

Renting a car at Glasgow airport was a real nightmare. I picked up a car without any issues, but when I returned it late at night, nobody was there. Later, I got slammed with a £200+ bill for a supposed paint chip, with no evidence. Honestly, walking would've been a better choice than dealing with this company. Even though I submitted my documents online, I still wasted 30 minutes at pick-up while the staff tried to upsell unnecessary insurance. Oh, and they called me beforehand, pushing more insurance. I booked a Vauxhall Mocca, but ended up with some tiny car I never heard of unless I paid an extra £10 a day for an “upgrade.” The provided phone number didn’t even work. Never again!

Infuriating experience

I recently had an infuriating experience with Budget car rentals. I initially booked a car for four days at £98 but ended up being charged over £400! At pick-up, I mentioned needing the car for an additional 7 hours. The staff assured me it would be an extra day's rental for just 30 or 40 euros. They also advised returning the car with an empty tank, claiming their fuel prices were cheaper than the forecourt. I returned the car 6.5 hours late with 3/4 tank left, and was shocked to find charges for a full tank of fuel and an additional £125 plus taxes for those extra hours. I felt completely misled and overcharged. If I'd known, I would've adjusted my schedule. I hate being deceived!

So, we arrived at the

So, we arrived at the car rental spot, thinking everything was set since I'd prepaid online. I'd booked it in my husband's name but used my card. No issues there, right? Well, turns out this place didn’t accept Visa debit cards. They refused to hand us the car we’d already paid for and suggested we rent another for a whopping $1,000 instead of the $300 I'd already spent. They said they could rent it to both of us, but here’s the kicker: because I didn’t take my husband’s last name, they couldn’t do it. Seriously? I ended up losing $300 and had to fork out an extra $600 for another car last minute. Really frustrating and kind of outdated, if you ask me. Avoid this place if you can!

Dropped off my Budget rental

Dropped off my Budget rental at RDU airport early morning on August 24. The moment was already stressful, but it got worse when an employee on the lot started yelling at me. He used some really offensive language, which caught me off guard. Tried reaching out to Budget via email, but all I get are automated responses. It’s been days, and still no meaningful reply. They did send an email from someone named Steve Padilla, claiming to be a manager, but no luck there either. It's like they don’t care. I’ve got a trip to Florida coming up, but I'm definitely considering other rental options after this experience. Budget and Avis seriously need to step up their customer service game.

Pretty rough experience

I recently had a pretty rough experience with Budget at Nashville Airport, and it was a total headache from the get-go. I ended up swapping cars four times, believe it or not. The first car they gave me had a “DO NOT DRIVE” warning right on the dashboard! I mean, how does that even happen? Clearly, someone dropped the ball there. But what really got me was the customer service. They seemed completely uninterested in helping me out. They responded to my first email, then nothing—radio silence. I'm starting to think this isn’t just a Nashville thing but maybe a Budget-wide issue, especially with the low ratings they’ve got on Trustpilot. I’d think twice before using them again.

Had a rough experience with

Had a rough experience with a car rental recently. The first car I got had a jerky gearbox and squeaky brakes—definitely not safe. They swapped it out, but the second car was filthy and covered in scratches and scuffs. It was raining, and no one was around to help with the pickup either. I paid for full insurance, but when I returned the car, they claimed I damaged the tire. They even called in another guy to back them up, pointing to a barely visible mark. They pressured me to fill out an accident report even though I didn’t have any accidents. Felt like a scam to charge me for pre-existing damage. This whole ordeal really ruined my trip and I’ll never use Budget again.

I booked a rental car

I booked a rental car through Priceline a while back, thinking I got a great deal for $300. Everything seemed fine until I went to pick up the car from Budget. They charged me an extra $250 at the counter, even though I had already paid Priceline. I figured it was still a decent deal, so I went with it. But when I returned the car, they slapped me with an additional $1,200 in charges! I was beyond frustrated. Calling Priceline and Budget customer service was a nightmare; each blamed the other and refused to help. Plus, Budget is a franchise, so their systems don’t even connect. I had to deal with the original rental location for any issues. Never again with these companies.

I tried giving Budget another

I tried giving Budget another shot after some past issues, hoping they'd improved. Big mistake. I paid for a toll pass that never showed up, so I ended up covering tolls out of pocket. When I reached out for help, the customer service was just awful—felt like I was being talked down to. They told me I needed to upload all my receipts for a refund and then call them back in 30 minutes. Like, really? I've followed their steps and still can't get a hold of anyone or see my money back. Plus, they’ve pulled the stunt of charging for fuel even when the tank's full before. I kept receipts and photos just in case. Sadly, it seems they’re just as bad as ever. Not going back to them.

I run a small business

I run a small business and recently sent employees on training trips, and the experience with Budget was a nightmare. First trip to Dayton—employee couldn’t get the car because he didn’t have my credit card. When I called, the clerk was no help and my employee had to rent from Hertz instead. Second trip, flying into Chicago for Dixon, IL. They claimed no payment was on file, even though it was. Refused to take payment over the phone, so my employee had to use his own rent money to get a car. Customer service couldn’t change the card on file either. I was assured twice by customer service that everything was set, but clearly, it wasn't. Will never use Budget again.

Lesson learned—always double-check what you're agreeing to!

So, I went to pick up my rental car, excited to get on the road. I thought everything was sorted since I prepaid through a third-party, including insurance. But, when I got my bill, it was way more than expected. Turns out, they slipped in extra insurance at the counter without me noticing. I reached out to customer service, hoping they'd fix it. The rep seemed helpful, said she'd refund me, but then I got an email saying no refund because I signed for it. Super frustrating! Their sneaky tactics left a bad taste, and I can't recommend Avis or Budget. There are better companies that won't pull this kind of stuff. Lesson learned—always double-check what you're agreeing to!

I booked and paid for

I booked and paid for my rental car online, making sure to decline all the extra services I didn't need. When I went to pick it up, they made me fill out the rental agreement again, and once more, I declined the extras. After I returned the car, I found out they had added over $100 in fees that I had already declined. To make matters worse, two weeks later, they charged my card for more fees without any notice or reason. I emailed them about it, but they haven't responded and won't adjust the charges. I had two people with me who can confirm I declined those fees at the counter and in my original reservation. Be cautious and think twice before renting from this company!

Picking up the car from

Picking up the car from Quebec Hilton on August 18th was supposed to kick off our stress-free adventure to Toronto, but things took a turn. We'd prepaid everything, so imagine my surprise when an extra 2600 Canadian dollars popped up on my credit card! The rental contract was all in French, which didn't help. When I called on the 19th, they explained the prepayment covered just one day and that dropping off in a different city was pricey. After a few more phone calls and involving our broker, things finally got sorted. But honestly, the whole ordeal left us frazzled. Budget won't be our choice next time, that's for sure. The trip was meant to be relaxing, not a hassle.

Renting a car in Rome

Renting a car in Rome turned into a headache I wish I'd avoided. Booked for $998 but ended up paying $1,277—figured it was a mistake, but it’s been 11 months of back-and-forth with Budget/Avis, and nothing’s fixed. They added charges for a second driver, but I was solo the whole time. Then there’s the fuel charge. Filled up the tank before returning, even sent them the receipt, but still got hit with extra fees. They keep saying they’ve got "proof" of this phantom second driver, but I’ve seen nothing. It's been endless emails just to keep my case alive. Since then, I’ve switched to other companies, hassle-free. If you’re thinking of renting, steer clear of Budget/Avis.

I can't even begin to

I can't even begin to explain how frustrating my experience was with Budget. Imagine being stuck on a bridge with your kids in a car that decided to give up just minutes after leaving the lot. It was a real nightmare. Calling their customer service felt like talking to a wall; they were zero help. Waiting hours for a tow truck wasted a whole day of my trip. And the kicker? They promised I wouldn’t have to pay for gas when swapping cars, but guess what, they charged me anyway. Trying to sort it out was another headache. There are other rental companies out there; trust me, you'd be better off with them. Walking might even be a better choice than dealing with this mess.

Horrible renting time

Renting from Budget in California was a nightmare! My partner and I got stuck in a risky avalanche zone near Lake Tahoe when the truck’s tire suddenly blew out. We had the best insurance plan, but Budget's roadside assistance said it would take over two hours to get help. In that situation, it was way too long to wait, so we ended up shelling out $625 for a local tow truck that arrived much quicker. The truck had warning lights on, like the ABS, making us feel unsafe. We returned it early, not willing to risk driving it anymore. It's frustrating that Budget won't reimburse us for the tow despite their faulty vehicle putting us in danger. Never renting from them again!

So frustrating

I had a really frustrating experience renting a car in Germany recently. When I got to the counter, they seemed super rushed and didn't even offer a walkthrough of the car. They just pushed papers at me to sign. The car was parked really far away, in a dimly lit area that felt unsafe. When I returned it, they claimed there was a "scuff" on the trunk, which seemed almost invisible and old. Despite my protests, they slapped a 2000 euro charge on my card without ever sending a breakdown of the repair costs. After weeks of back-and-forth, my credit card company had to step in. This company is not trustworthy, especially for international travelers. Avoid them if you can!