Budget.com Reviews - 313

I rented a car for

I rented a car for 8 days to visit my elderly aunt, who'd just gotten out of the hospital. While I was there, my brother-in-law had a medical emergency, and sadly, we had to take him off life support. Alaska Airlines were amazing and rescheduled my flight, giving me full credit for my return. Budget, on the other hand, kept all the money for the last 4 days of my rental, even though I didn't use the car. When I reached out to customer service, they gave me a measly $15.18 credit. I wasn't asking for a full refund, just maybe half or two days back. But nope, they probably rented the car out again and made double the money. Seriously, Budget? That's just disgraceful.

Horrible experience

So, renting from Budget was quite the experience I didn’t expect. I picked up a car from Miami airport on April 20th, aiming to drop it off at Charlotte by noon. Well, life happens, and I got there at 1:18 PM. The person at the counter assured me no worries about the extra hour, but surprise, surprise, I got charged for another day! Even a phone rep said it’d be fine, but nope, they billed me for two days. Trying to sort this out with customer service? It’s like talking to a wall. Feels like Budget’s more into squeezing cash than keeping folks happy. I’m sticking with Enterprise and Hertz from now on – they might cost more, but at least they’re upfront and honest.

So, I rented a car

So, I rented a car from this company last May, and it was quite an experience. When I picked up the car, they noted some damage on the right-side rims, and I was cool with it since it was already there. Fast forward to returning the car, there wasn’t anyone around to check it back in, so I parked it myself, filled up the tank, and snapped some pics to prove it was in the same shape as when I got it. However, later, I got this damage charge which didn't make sense because I didn't add any new scratches! I showed the photos to the staff, but still, they invoiced me. It's puzzling that such a reputable company could mess this up. I’m hoping they’ll sort it out soon!

I can't recommend them based on this experience.

I rented a car from Budget Rental in Littleton, CO after my car got into an accident, and I needed it for over six weeks. Initially, their rates seemed appealing, but the experience turned sour quickly. They hit me with $800 in late fees after I extended my rental, even though I had made them aware of it. It felt like they were just trying to squeeze extra money out of me. They admitted it was a mistake, blaming it on an "oversight." But here I am, a month later, still waiting for my money back despite their promises. The constant back-and-forth calls have been frustrating, and their customer service is lacking. I can't recommend them based on this experience.

Really frustrating experience

I recently had a really frustrating experience with this car rental company. After returning the vehicle, they didn't release the pre-authorisation on my card, and they even charged me. I tried reaching out to them, hoping to sort things out, but it was like talking to a wall. The staff seemed completely uninterested in helping, and I felt stuck without any answers. It's disappointing when you're expecting a smooth service and end up with such a hassle. If you're thinking of renting from them, maybe reconsider. This experience left me quite stressed, and it's not what anyone wants when dealing with rentals. Really hope they improve their customer service soon.

Renting a car from this

Renting a car from this company turned into quite the ordeal. Initially, the deal seemed perfect, with a week's rental priced at $365. But when I got to the counter, they tacked on an extra $217 for services I neither asked for nor used. The worst part? They didn't even bother to inform me about these additional charges at the counter, leaving me in the dark until it was too late to address it. When I reached out to customer service for an explanation, I got nothing but vague responses, and no refund ever came my way. It felt like a deliberate attempt to overcharge unsuspecting customers. If you value your money, I’d suggest looking elsewhere for car rentals.

So, renting a car from

So, renting a car from this company was a total disaster! I booked through rentalcars.com and somehow got slapped with a 900 euro overcharge. When I realized the mistake, I contacted their customer service and, surprise, still no solid explanation. First, the contract they emailed me was completely different from what I agreed to with rentalcars, and then they charged my card even more than that shady contract stated. The whole rental process was a nightmare too. The line was painfully slow, and there was no system for who's next. The display board was broken, so it was total chaos. Honestly, dealing with them was such a hassle. I'm definitely not going back.

Totaly scam!

I rented a car from Budget at LAX and had quite a time. I thought I was getting a good deal at first, but things took a turn. The guy at the counter wasn't the friendliest and somehow tacked on an insurance fee I didn't ask for, which pushed the price way up. I didn’t catch it in the electronic contract, and it ended up being a costly mistake. The car itself? Not great. It was dirty, had low tire pressure, and there were scratches everywhere. The tank wasn't even full. I did get a small refund after complaining, but it didn’t cover the unnecessary insurance. If you rent here, double-check everything, take photos, and maybe you’ll have better luck than I did.

Dropped my rental car at

Dropped my rental car at Perth airport around 4:50 PM, no confirmation given. Later got an email with photos, which seemed alright, but then an unexpected $115 charge hit my debit card. Emailed them, and Tyron explained it was for a late return at 7 PM, even though I clearly filled up at 4:21 PM, just a few kilometers from the airport. I even had a dinner receipt from 6:01 PM after check-in. Got an automated response, and it’s been two days without my money back. Tires were underinflated, around 26-27 PSI, when it should be around 32 PSI. Plus, the service light was on. It feels like they're trying to scam me, and I'm considering reporting them to the ACCC.

Avoid them at all costs!

My husband and I rented a car from Fort Myers airport, and it was a nightmare from the start. They didn't even bother to inspect the car when we picked it up. While driving, we noticed the passenger side mirror was jiggling dangerously. It turned out the mirror was broken and held together with masking tape! We only reported it because the hotel insisted. Then, Budget sent us a generic email demanding $750 for the damage. It felt like they sent the same email to thousands of customers to collect money unfairly. Calling them was pointless; they were rude and wouldn't listen. They just kept charging us repeatedly for the same issue. Avoid them at all costs!

We traveled from NY to

We traveled from NY to Houston for a wedding and rented a car from Budget. The car was fine initially, but the steering failed and engine light came on just when we were heading to the rehearsal dinner. Called for a replacement and they wanted to charge us to deliver a new car to our hotel, which was only 35 minutes away from the airport. Ridiculous! Why should we pay for their faulty car? My 78-year-old dad had to Uber to a different airport to get another car. We were late to the dinner and stressed about the wedding day. How can they treat customers like this? Feels like they don't even check their cars before renting them out. Truly awful experience.

Experience like a nightmare

My experience with renting a car from Budget Keflavik was a nightmare. The car broke down because of some AdBlue sensor issue, which wasn't my fault at all. I got stuck in the middle of nowhere, ruining my whole trip. What's worse, I had to pay to get the car towed back to the airport myself. Even though the car was unusable for days, they refused to refund me or cover my towing expenses. It's crazy how Budget Keflavik is quick to charge for every tiny scratch, but when their car fails, they don't take any responsibility. This isn't how a big company should treat its customers. If you want reliable service and fair treatment, look somewhere else.

Honestly, dealing with this rental

Honestly, dealing with this rental company was a nightmare. I landed in Belfast, headed straight to the car hire desk, thinking everything was smooth since I’d already booked. But nope, no mention that they only take credit cards for the deposit. So, after going through all the formalities, I tried to pay the deposit with my debit card. Turns out, they don’t accept those. They then made me pay an extra £50 per day for insurance to waive the deposit. My 11-day rental went from £123 to £606! And only £100 of that is refundable for fuel. Seriously, what a rip-off. I would have saved money bringing my own car on the ferry. Avoid this company at all costs!

After a long journey and

After a long journey and finally reaching the car rental desk, I found myself waiting for over an hour because no one was there to help. I had pre-paid for my Budget car rental through Autoeurope, so this was frustrating. Once back in the UK, I noticed a charge of over $1,000 for things I never requested, plus some I had already paid for. The invoice was full of errors, showing an extra 350 miles and the wrong return time, making me suspect the car was driven after I returned it. They offered to refund a third of the charges as a "gesture of goodwill," but the issue remains unresolved. It's been a hassle, and I'm still waiting for a proper resolution.

Rented a car from Budget

Rented a car from Budget in Dublin last August and things went south fast. While it was parked, a camper smacked into it. Police got involved, took all the details. The car was a mess – bodywork damaged and mirrors gone. Called Budget for a replacement, but they said no cars available due to high tourist season. My holiday was pretty much ruined. Returned the car, explained everything, and they seemed sorry, but then I saw a €2000 charge on my card back in Italy! Contacted Budget and they assured me I'd get reimbursed once paperwork was sorted. Now, it’s been over a year, countless follow-ups, and still no refund. Just awful, be careful with them.

I arrived in Kona around 2pm

So, I arrived in Kona around 2pm, ready to pick up my rental car from Budget. There were only a handful of people ahead of me, but it took nearly an hour to get to the counter. When I finally got there, they didn’t have the car I reserved two months ago. They gave me another car, but I had to wait 45 more minutes for it to be washed. When I got in, the check engine light was on. They gave me another car, claiming it was ready, but it was filthy and hadn’t been cleaned in days. After waiting another half hour for a clean car, my rental process took over 3 hours. No apologies, no discount. Budget really let me down; I won’t be renting from them again.

Rented a car for a

Rented a car for a trip, paid $350.72 online. Flight got delayed four hours due to weather, so I picked up the car late. Everything seemed fine at the counter. They told me which car to grab, and a lady said she’d email my rental agreement. After the trip, I checked the email receipt and saw they charged me $968 instead of $350. There was a $90 fuel fee, but the rest made no sense. Spent hours on calls and emails, only to hear that picking up the car late voided my original agreement. They never told me about a new, pricier deal. Didn't sign anything new. Now, they refuse to refund the extra $500. Avoid this company—they’ll find a way to overcharge.

Rented cars many times, but

Rented cars many times, but this experience at Budget in Budapest was something else entirely. My wife arrived late to pick up a prepaid car, which we understood might cause issues. However, the staff said she forfeited her right to the car because she was over an hour late and blamed her for being inconsiderate by showing up close to closing. It was shocking how rude they were. Either Budget's policy is absurdly rigid, or the staff misunderstood it. To their credit, after much stress and my wife nearly crying, they eventually found her a car. But it shouldn't have come to that. It was an embarrassing experience, and Budget really needs to improve.

Booked a car from Budget

Booked a car from Budget online and paid upfront. When I arrived, they suddenly demanded a £300 deposit, which was never mentioned before. Had to cancel the hire. The guy at the desk was super rude and refused to give me the customer service number. Ended up asking another staff member who was polite and gave me the number. Called customer service, explained everything, and they promised a full refund. Guess what? They still took £30 as a cancellation fee, even after saying they wouldn’t. Totally feel scammed. Now they’re ignoring me, so I’m taking further action. Horrible experience, rude staff, and a shady operation. Avoid them at all costs!

Let me tell you about

Let me tell you about my recent mess with Budget Rental. So, I grabbed a car from them on the evening of June 27th, expecting to return it on June 29th by 9:48 pm. But somehow, returning it at 10:20 pm turned into a whole ordeal. When I dropped it off, the lady just told me to leave the keys in the drop box, no other instructions. Next thing I know, I'm hit with extra charges for supposedly returning it at 6:01 am on June 30th. Seriously? I called customer service, but they were no help. Even when I offered proof of my return time, they brushed me off. And to top it off, I filled up the tank more than needed. Not a fan of this kind of service!

I rented an 8-seater car

I rented an 8-seater car at LAX, and it was quite an ordeal. After waiting in line for two hours with only three agents working, I finally got to the counter, only to be told there were no 8-seaters available. Another hour of waiting, and I finally got the car. Just as I was about to leave, I noticed the tire pressure was low. The attendant inflated it and said it was fine, but 100 miles later, the pressure dropped again. I called customer service, and they said a supervisor would get in touch, but no one ever called. Ended up spending $50 to fix a nail in the tire. It's been four days and still no word from them. Very frustrating experience.

I booked a minivan through

I booked a minivan through Priceline for a late-night pickup at Salt Lake City Airport, but when I got there, they didn't have it. They handed me an SUV instead, which wasn’t what I needed. Then, out of nowhere, I was told I had to buy their insurance because of my German driver's license. I'm a U.S. citizen and had coverage with my Chase Sapphire card, but they wouldn’t budge. This unwanted insurance bumped my bill from $868.01 to a whopping $1,493.13. When I complained, Megan from Budget said sorry about the car mix-up and promised a $142.53 credit, but it’s been 24 days and nothing yet. Their service was just frustrating and disappointing.

Arrived in Geneva after prepaying

Arrived in Geneva after prepaying for a car through Easyjet and got insurance beforehand. The queue at the desk was massive. The guy at the desk tried to sell me more insurance, snow chains (which are mandatory with snow tyres in Switzerland) – I said no to everything. When returning the car, I got a device showing no damage, but the second page had charges for add-ons I already declined. I said I prepaid, and they said it would be sorted. Got home and found an extra £196 charge. After weeks of wrangling, only got some of it refunded. They were cheaper but be very careful. Always check every line for hidden charges before signing anything.

What a nightmare!

Ugh, what a nightmare! I booked a van three weeks ahead for a Christmas trip to Florida from Newport News Airport. Got there early, but waited forever only to find out they didn’t have the van. They offered a dirty SUV with bad tires that wouldn’t fit all of us or our gifts. The guy at the counter couldn’t care less and said that’s all they had. And since it was past pickup time, he said I’d lose my money if I canceled. No help, no apology, nothing! Called the 1-800 number myself to cancel. Saw others having issues too – one car was shaking, another had a flat. Total chaos. Never dealing with Budget again. They ruined our Christmas plans!

I booked a rental car

I booked a rental car for a Tuesday morning in Mansfield, all set for a 10 am pickup. When I arrived, not a single car in sight. No heads up, nothing. They said some car carrier had swooped in and taken everything to the airport. Told me to check back later, but still nada. Just as I was about to get my refund, a car suddenly appeared. It was dirty, but by then, I'd already missed three important client meetings, costing me more than the rental itself. I felt stuck, so I took it. Got the car at 3 pm but still had to return it by 10 am the next day. They promised I wouldn’t need to fill it up, but still, not thrilled with the whole ordeal!

Frustrating experience

Let me tell you about my recent car rental experience in Rome—it was a shocker! I booked a car through Orbitz for $695 USD, thinking I was all set. But when I got to the Budget counter, the price skyrocketed to $1900 USD. They piled on unexpected charges like a $275 Euro location surcharge and extra insurance, even though I already had insurance from Orbitz. Plus, a 22% tax on everything? Ouch. I couldn’t believe it when the final bill came to 1650 Euros, or nearly $3000 AUD for 10 days. When I returned the car, I complained and got $200 off, but it still felt like a massive rip-off. This was a frustrating experience I won't forget soon.

Chaotic experience

Flying into Cincinnati, I expected a smooth car rental with my prepaid reservation. But nope, Budget and Avis threw a wrench in my plans. Apparently, same-day reservations aren’t their thing, and they told me this only after I landed. After a frustrating back-and-forth and trying other rental companies, which were all out of cars, Budget offered me a 12-passenger van. I mean, seriously? Driving that thing solo wasn't exactly my idea of safe. Meanwhile, folks around me were getting cars without a hitch. It was a mess and a half, and I was left scrambling because they just didn't honor my reservation. It was honestly a chaotic experience.

You know, I thought I’d

You know, I thought I’d found a decent car rental agency, but it turned into a bit of a nightmare. Returned the car just like they asked – on time, spotless, full tank. Yet, they still swiped €100 from my deposit. No explanation, just gone. Tried reaching out to their team, hoping for some clarity, but got nothing useful back. Some messages were even ignored. Felt like I was talking to a wall. It's frustrating when a company doesn’t play fair, leaving you feeling cheated. If you're after a rental place that respects customers, keep looking. There are better options where you’re treated with honesty. This one’s just not worth the hassle.

I booked a car to

I booked a car to pick up in Seattle and drop off in Portland, but plans changed quickly, so I canceled just 15 minutes later. Got an email confirming the cancellation, but it didn't mention anything about a $50 charge. I reached out to their customer service, got a case number, and was told the refund would be processed. Fast forward to now, six weeks later, and after a bunch of calls and excuses, still no refund. They keep promising the money will come, but I'm starting to lose hope. It's just frustrating how something that seemed simple has turned into such a hassle. Just hoping they actually follow through with their promises soon.

Pretty disappointing

I gotta say, Budget left me pretty disappointed. Waiting in line forever, only to deal with employees who couldn't care less about my experience. Their policies? Total mess. The pre-inspection was a joke, they missed the windshield damage and later charged me for it. I tried to resolve it, spent weeks talking to at least 7 different staff members, but it was like going in circles. Even with photo proof, they wouldn't budge. They don't seem to care about giving customers the benefit of the doubt. Honestly, I’d suggest looking for another rental company or make sure you document every little thing yourself. Trusting them was a mistake.