Budget.com Reviews - 346

I rented a car from

I rented a car from Budget through Qeeq, fully prepaid from Feb 15 to Mar 1, 2025. When I picked it up, the Budget guy said I had to put down a $345.97 deposit for gas, tolls, and other stuff. He didn't give me a rental agreement or any receipt, which felt kinda sketchy but I went with it. Returned the car on Mar 1, right on time, and asked about my deposit. The employee said I'd get a settlement email within 24 hours. Instead, on Mar 3, I got a bank alert that the whole deposit was charged to my card. No settlement, no evidence, nothing. I feel totally scammed and am thinking of contacting the LAPD for help.

I've used Budget a few

I've used Budget a few times and it was fine, but this last trip was a nightmare. When I dropped off the car, the receptionist showed me a tiny scratch on the bottom of the bumper and said it’s no big deal. Later, I got hit with a £119.14 charge for it. That’s crazy! I didn't get any paperwork about existing damage when I picked up the car, just an email I missed until days later. It listed 12 small damages that weren't even fixed. Seems like Budget is just charging people for tiny issues and keeping the money instead of fixing anything. You can't even argue since they take the money first. I'm done with Budget!

Wouldn't recommend

So, our flight was delayed by two hours, which meant we missed our car pick-up at Innsbruck airport. Only Budget was closed when we got there around 4:30 pm. Had to grab a taxi to the hotel and went back the next day to get the rental. But because we didn't get the car the day before, Budget charged us more than double the original price. They wouldn't even consider adjusting it. I feel like they totally took advantage of our situation, especially since the delay wasn't our fault. Their extra charges were just plain unfair. Honestly, it felt like a scam. Wouldn't recommend Budget to anyone after this experience.

Wow, what a trip that

Wow, what a trip that was! Flew all the way from London to Harare with a stopover in Johannesburg, only to find the Budget car hire place shut tight. No signs, no phone numbers, nothing. Just me staring at a locked door after a 20-hour journey. Had no choice but to rent a car from another company on the spot, which cost more and added a lot of hassle. British Airways has been pretty good about it, but I'm still waiting on that refund. Tried reaching out to Budget UK, but no response yet. Judging by other reviews, I might be waiting a while. If you’re planning a trip, maybe think twice before booking with Budget.

Just don't rent from Budget

Just don't rent from Budget at Perth Airport. I landed from Singapore at 2:30pm, thinking I'd be in Fremantle by 4pm. WRONG. Waited over an hour to be served because they were so busy. They told me to wait in the terminal and they'd call me, but I had an international number so that didn’t work. Finally got my car at 5:05pm, and there were still people lining up out the door. No apologies, they were just overwhelmed. I booked my car six months ago, they had plenty of time to prepare. Budget management should be ashamed of how they run this office. I won't rent from them again, especially not from this location.

Realy strange experience

I had a strange experience when renting a car, and I thought I'd share it. So, I went to pick up my rental, and everything seemed normal at first. They told me any toll charges would be billed to my credit card, which sounded fine. But then, they slipped in some paperwork for me to sign, and I didn't have time to read it all. Later, I discovered I'd agreed to pay a hefty daily fee for unlimited tolls, which led to an unexpectedly large bill. It turns out AVIS, BUDGET, ZIPCAR, and Payless are all part of the same group. I'd suggest looking elsewhere for a rental if you don't want to end up with surprise charges.

Terrible!

I recently had quite an experience with this company. Initially, I got an email confirming my bill would be $250, which seemed reasonable. But when the final bill arrived, it was a whopping $500! I called up customer service, thinking there must be some error. The representative on the line just casually mentioned that my base fee had been raised. When I asked for an explanation, all she could say was, "it happens." Really? That's the best they could offer? It's frustrating when a company can't communicate changes clearly or even bother to give a proper reason. It left me feeling like my concerns didn't matter.

I went to rent a

I went to rent a car last week, hoping for a smooth ride, but it was anything but that. The car was a mess, dirt everywhere, and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw duct tape holding parts together. Plus, the blind-spot detectors weren't even working! When I picked it up, the agent just handed me the contract without explaining a thing. I signed it, trusting them, but later found out they charged me $800 more than expected. I reached out to them to sort it out, but no one's bothered to respond. Felt like I was deceived. Honestly, it was a huge letdown, and I’d steer clear of this rental service in the future.

It’s frustrating

Booked a rental online, thinking it’d be smooth sailing. When I got there, the line was a mile long, felt like forever just to get to the counter. The pickup process was painfully slow, slower than any other rental place I've used. Finally, when I spoke to the agent, they said all I needed to do was return the car full and undamaged, and I'd be good. Did exactly that, but surprise, surprise! Got hit with unexpected charges for fuel and extra taxes. Not cool. Feels like they’re sneaking in hidden fees, and it’s frustrating. I'm leaving this review here until they fix it, hoping others don’t face the same mess.

It’s hard to recommend them

So, renting from Budget was quite an adventure. I grabbed a car that looked like it had been through a mud fight. Inside wasn’t any better. Then, not even 10 miles into my trip, the car yelled at me for oil—two whole quarts! Unfortunately, I was rushing to a family funeral, so turning back wasn’t an option. My brother later pointed out the front tire was practically bald, which definitely added to the stress. When I got home, I found a survey from Budget waiting for me in my inbox. I shared everything about my experience, hoping they'll step up their game. It’s hard to recommend them after this rollercoaster.

Rented a car and it

Rented a car and it was a mess from the start. They just handed me the keys and told me to find the car a block away, no inspection or anything. It was dark, so I didn’t see any issues until the next day when I noticed some scratches. Tried calling them about it, but after being on hold for nearly an hour multiple times, I kept getting disconnected. Finally got through and the rep was super unprofessional, basically hinting that I might be responsible for the damage. Felt like a setup since they had no record of any pre-existing damage. Most rentals do a walkthrough with you, but not these guys. Never again.

Stay away from them!

So, here's what happened. I rented a car and chose the fuel plan thinking it would be convenient, right? Turns out, they charged me a crazy rate of $9.99 per gallon instead of the $3.78 I expected. I've already called twice about this mess. The first person I talked to was super rude and made everything feel worse. Honestly, it made me think twice about using Budget again. The second person I spoke with was much nicer, though. She seemed to understand the issue and promised to sort it out. Now, I’m just sitting here, hoping she actually processes the refund. Fingers crossed I don’t have to wait another week.

I gotta tell ya, dealing

I gotta tell ya, dealing with this company was a total nightmare. My partner and I went to their Manchester branch, and the lady there? Unbelievable. Rude doesn't even begin to cover it. She acted like we were a bother the whole time, dismissing our concerns like they didn't matter. We tried to file a complaint, hoping for some resolution, but got zero response. Then, outta nowhere, this same lady has the nerve to email my partner asking for a positive review. Can you believe that? It’s like something out of a bad sitcom. Honestly, steer clear of this company. They clearly don’t care about their customers.

So, we landed at JFK

So, we landed at JFK after a grueling transatlantic flight, only to find out that Budget didn't have the car we reserved months ago. No car until the next day! Ended up shelling out for a pricey NYC hotel, a long bus ride, and an Uber from the bus station. I emailed Budget customer service twice—crickets. Then, I posted negative reviews all over the internet. Boom! Got an apology email and a three-day rental voucher from their social media team. It's worth maybe $150-180, nowhere near what we spent or the hassle we went through. Clearly, they care more about bad press than good service. Just saying.

I got into town late

I got into town late because of a flight delay, and things started going south quickly. Budget was a ghost town, so Avis stepped in with Budget's paperwork. I reserved a RAV4 but ended up with a Buick Encore, which was way smaller. By the time I noticed, the counter was empty. Customer service was no help till morning, but my hotel was two hours away. We squeezed into the car, with my wife and kids buried under bags. Next day, I finally got a bigger car, but it meant driving out of my way, cutting stops from our trip. The kicker? They overcharged me by $120. Not exactly the vacation start I had in mind.

I’ll definitely be more careful next time!

I booked a car in Calgary and thought I had everything sorted with full coverage insurance through Economybookings. When I got to the Budget counter, they insisted my insurance was basic and convinced me to buy their full coverage. It cost me an extra $250. Later, I found out I was already fully covered from the start. It felt like they tricked me just to make a quick sale. If you book through an agent, be cautious. They might claim you need extra insurance, but your original coverage should compensate for any damages. It’s frustrating to feel misled like that. I’ll definitely be more careful next time!

Rented a car through booking.com

Rented a car through booking.com and everything seemed fine at first. The car was great, no issues, and when I returned it with a full tank, they were happy there was no damage. But then, a week later, I noticed they started taking random amounts from my bank account, like £46 or £50, every few days. They only had my card details for the security deposit, so I’m confused and frustrated. I’ve already paid in full, so why the extra charges? No one has contacted me to explain what's going on. Now I’m dealing with booking.com and my bank to get my money back. Be cautious about giving out your bank details!

I had a really bad experience

I had a really bad experience with this rental company. First off, their car broke down in the middle of my trip. It wasn't even my fault, some mechanical issue, but they still charged me for it. And that mess made me miss my flight, so I had to spend an extra $500 on a new one. The worst part? They keep charging my credit card for that rental even now. Also, I wasn't allowed to use my AAA service, and then they hit me with a huge bill for towing without telling me first. Honestly, feels like they don't maintain their cars properly and just want to squeeze money out of you. Not renting from them again.

Man, where do I start?

Man, where do I start? I thought renting a car would be straightforward, but dealing with Budget was a nightmare. Right from the get-go, things went downhill fast. The service was lousy, and every time I tried to get a straight answer, I just got more frustrated. And it didn't stop there. After I returned the car, there were unexpected charges that no one could explain properly. It's like they just didn’t care. I’ve never felt the need to write a review before, but this experience was so bad I had to share. I won’t be going back to Budget, and honestly, I’d warn others to be careful. It was just awful.

Man, this company is a

Man, this company is a total rip-off. They advertise their cars at $70 a day, but somehow you end up paying $120 per day. It's like they lure you in with low prices and then hit you with hidden fees. If you're visiting from another country, beware—they seem to prey on tourists. I checked other reviews, and it's clear they don't care about keeping customers long-term. They just want to squeeze as much money out of you as they can, and it feels intentional. Seriously, they make everything so confusing just to drain your wallet. Avoid at all costs and find a company that actually values their customers.

I booked a package deal

I booked a package deal through British Airways, thinking everything was covered. After I got home, there was this unexpected charge. Tried reaching out to them, but it felt like shouting into a void. My emails were just ignored. It's frustrating, to say the least. I started digging around, reading other people's experiences, and it seems like I'm not alone. Looks like a lot of people have had similar issues, feeling ripped off. It's disappointing when a big name lets you down like this. Makes you question who you can trust with your travel plans. Definitely reconsidering my options for future trips.

Really disappointing

I recently rented a car and had a pretty frustrating experience. I didn't opt for any extra services, but they still charged me for full insurance. When I tried to sort it out, they just blamed it on their fasttrack system, saying it automatically adds insurance. It seems like this has been happening for ages, and lots of people have complained about it. It's honestly quite shady and unethical. I felt like they weren’t even listening to my concerns, just laughing it off like they got away with another scam. Really disappointing and I’d advise others to be cautious if considering renting from them.

I was driving in the

I was driving in the city, you know how hectic that can get, and had a little mishap. Just a small bump, a few scratches, and the license plate got a bit bent. Nothing major, right? But when I returned the car, they slapped me with a whopping 1800 euros charge! No clear explanation, no breakdown of costs, just a hefty bill. It's like they’re out to get you for every tiny thing. Honestly, if you're planning to drive around busy areas, you might want to think twice about renting from them. It feels like they’re waiting for any chance to charge you. Just a heads up, look for other options if you can!

I thought Budget was a

I thought Budget was a good company, but they messed up big time. They wrongly charged my card and now it's been a month with no one to sort it out or give me a proper invoice. They told me their system doesn't make invoices automatically, so they do it manually. This means they can charge your card without you knowing and when you notice, they quickly make an invoice to cover themselves. It's like they're stealing your money and making it look legit. Their customer service is awful and I'm seriously considering legal action. They had no right to charge my card like that. Avoid Budget if you can!

I had a pretty frustrating

I had a pretty frustrating experience with my recent car rental. When I picked up the car, the battery was only at 40%, which was a bad start. Tried charging in Lausanne, but the system didn’t work at all. We couldn’t make it to Crans Montana and had to spend the night at an Ibis in Sion, just to charge the car. Even then, the battery only got up to 60% the next morning. No one at the check-in desk explained how to charge the car, and there was no charge card provided. Seems like they’re not ready to rent out electric cars yet. I’m asking for a full refund for both the rental and the hotel night.

Alright, here's the thing. I

Alright, here's the thing. I went to pick up a rental car, thinking everything was sorted, but turns out, you really need a credit card for that. No one told me beforehand. So, I had to fork out £211.73 for insurance, even though the terms and conditions said it should've been just £75.13. Tried to sort it out over the phone, but got absolutely nowhere. Felt a bit cheated, honestly. With so many other car rental options out there with better ratings, I’d say give this one a miss. It's just not worth the hassle when there are plenty of other places that might actually look after their customers.

You won't believe what happened

You won't believe what happened at the airport. After a long flight, we were met with this never-ending line that felt like it was going nowhere. Everyone looked exhausted, and it seemed like they were doing it on purpose. As if that wasn’t enough, they started throwing all these hidden charges at us, things they didn’t even bother explaining. They rushed us to sign papers without clear details. Honestly, it felt like a trap. If you can, steer clear of them. If you can’t, double-check every charge they throw at you. This whole ordeal is not something I'll forget soon. It was a total nightmare!

I walked into the rental

I walked into the rental place thinking everything was gonna be smooth, but it didn’t quite go that way. First off, they handed me a car that was way below what I expected. It felt like a downgrade, honestly. Then, at the counter, the lady just tacked on an extra $9 a day for some service I didn’t even ask for. She didn’t even mention it, like she was trying to pass it off as a charge for gas or something. Definitely felt like a shady move. I mean, it’s not a big deal, but it’s frustrating when things aren't transparent. Next time, I’ll make sure to double-check everything before signing off.

I booked a car through

I booked a car through Expedia for three days at $285.69 to pick up at Dubai International. Returned it two hours late and got slapped with an extra charge of 718.20 AED ($195.53). Total bill came to 1,504 AED, which I think is way too much for just being a bit late. Plus, the employee tried to pin two small scratches on me, but I had video proof from when I picked it up showing they were already there. Even the VAT charges on the invoice don't add up to 73.15 AED. Emailed them twice, but no response. This whole thing felt like a scam. Definitely rethinking renting from Budget again.

Rented a plug-in hybrid from

Rented a plug-in hybrid from Budget, but it came with zero charge. Kept it an extra 9 hours due to a flight delay and got charged a ridiculous amount—$347 for the rental, then more than the original 3 days plus $127 refuel fee. Provided a refueling receipt as requested, but when I complained about the zero charge, they asked for a picture. Basically accused me of lying! They couldn’t even provide their own picture of the fuel gauge. Felt really unfair. Got hit with price gouging for the extra day, late fee, and rate change. Used to be loyal to Budget, but after this experience, not anymore.