Budget Car Rental Reviews

I did the reservation online, when I went to pick up my car, after long waiting, they said "we have no cars". That simple. My trip was same night to different state (9 hours away). Already paid for the hotel (very short notice to ask for refund).

The service at this location was good and the staff were professional during pickup and return. However, I did have an issue regarding toll charges that future renters should be aware of. During my rental, I went through some tolls. I called the location twice to ask how to pay them and was advised to go to the state toll website and pay them myself. The tolls never appeared on the website. When I called again, I was told that because it was a rental vehicle, the toll bill was sent directly to the rental company. They paid the tolls without notifying me and then charged me an additional $50 administrative fee. I was never contacted or given the opportunity to pay the tolls myself before the fee was added, which was disappointing. If you plan to rent from this location and expect to travel through toll areas, I recommend asking detailed questions about their toll policy in advance to avoid unexpected extra charges.

Arrived at Chicago Midway on March 23rd with an existing reservation at Budget. Waited in line for two hours to be advised that they had no cars. Ended up taking an Uber to our hotel and renting a car from Hertz in the suburbs the next morning. Never again.

Made reservation one month in advance. They constantly try to up sale throughout the reservation process, spammed my email with up sale requests leading and during the rental, and more up sale at the counter. The cost was higher at the counter than in the reservation, full of hidden dubious fees, and even accounting for all that they still overcharged me. My receipt from them shows they overcharged but they refuse to reimburse the difference.

BEWARE when renting from Budget at Jacksonville Airport or any Budget Location. I had a very frustrating and uncomfortable experience. When I arrived around 10 PM, the process felt disorganized and unsafe. The car was not ready, I had to leave my luggage unattended to go retrieve keys, and there were people sitting in nearby personal vehicles that made the situation feel uneasy. The car itself was clearly not clean—it had a strong, unpleasant odor the entire time. I was later told there had been a spill in the back, which explains the smell.

I rented a full size suv and after a long wait I entered the car and it had a flat tire in the back that I had to move over in order to get my luggage in. Then while driving the vehicle the flat and low tire lights were on and the car would barely stay in the lane. Also the engine light kept coming on saying it needed an oil change. Budget refused to give me a refund.

The price for the rental was great and it was easy to make the prepaid reservation using my debit card. I got to the Tulsa Airport to pick up the rental only to learn that the require a credit card for a $200 deposit. I don’t use credit cards in my life. I have never had to use a credit card for a rental nor have I had to pay a deposit. In fact, I rented a Jeep Wrangler for 12 days from the Orlando Airport prior to this one day rental. The email I received clearly states that an up to $300 deposit may be required for use of a debit or credit card. Nowhere did it say that this depends on where the vehicle is picked up from. These are details that Budget really needs to be upfront with. Now I have to sit in the airport until I can be picked up by a friend.

After driving off the lot. Within about 20 minutes. The van said check oil. Need oil. We had no windshield wiper fluid. Tire light came on stating needs air. When we drove above 25 the doors would click and ding like it was constantly locking. Would say doors are not closed when indeed they was. Called customer service multiple times. Was told to add oil and windshield washer fluid.

My rental got towed. They made it impossible to get the car back. They made it easy to put money into their own pockets. Absolutely ridiculous insensitivity and poor customer management. Never rent here!!!

I booked a flight and car rental. night before my take off my daughter had to have emergency surgery and I was not able to go. No recourse for refund or discount of any kind. They emailed that I would get a refund but nothing for a month now.

DO NOT RENT A CAR FROM THIS TERRIBLE COMPANY!!! While traveling, I left my brand new Bose headphones charging on the center console, and in a rush to catch my flight, I forgot to take them. I realized I didn’t have them within 15 minutes of dropping off the car, but I couldn’t go back without missing my flight. An employee was present at drop-off and the items were left in plain view. I immediately filed a lost item report, only to be informed two days later that my item was “not found”. The integrity of their company and its employees is obviously not a priority for them. Gross.

Yesterday I attempted to reserve a car on my app. Upon hitting the reserve button, I received an error saying my CC was invalid. I entered it again, hit reserve and received the same error. I then attempted to process the payment via Apple Pay and again, same error. I looked at my banking app and lo and behold, I was charged THREE times!! I immediately called customer service and was informed it would be resolved in a few hours. This morning I checked my bank account and ALL THREE CHARGES HAD POSTED.

Jessica at the Budget location on Bennett Street in Cambridge provided absolutely outstanding customer service. From the moment I arrived, she was professional, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable. She took the time to explain everything clearly and made the entire process smooth and stress-free. What really stood out was how attentive and helpful she was. Jessica anticipated questions before I even had to ask and made sure I left confident about every detail. It’s rare to come across someone who truly cares about providing excellent service, and it made a big difference in my experience. If you’re visiting this Budget location, I highly recommend working with Jessica. She is a true asset to the team and sets a high standard for customer care.

Awful company. Rented me a vehicle with dodgy steering which I then returned, and they then rented me a vehicle with exterior damage all over of which I taken pictures and three months later I am still arguing to get my money back that they have overcharged and they just put you onto a bot rather than answer.

Bait and switch - NEVER USE BUDGET RENTAL CAR! We booked through Kayak with a price around $250 for our total trip. Checkout went smooth, but when we checked in, they charged us over $1,200! We were never notified of this increase, but they said it was in the fine print of the contract. We were also never provided a copy of the contract that we electronically signed on their screen at check out. When we called to dispute, they just said that’s how they do it, and we should review the contract. We were never provided any verbal or written notification that our price would not be honored. Save yourself the money and hassle! Don’t use this dishonest company.

My flight was cancelled due to a serious snowstorm!! I got a different flight 3 days later and called to keep the car 3 days longer and they said no problem!! Then they charged me more than double my weekly rate. 1100 DOLLARS FOR A 9 DAY RENTAL AND JUST 200 miles! They took advantage!! They are not nice people and I will never use them again!!

3/6/26 planned pick up a rental at West Palm Beach airport. Came in at 11:45 pm. Offices inside are closed. Therefore you go a shuttle that’s allegedly come every 10 minutes. There was over a dozen of us waiting by 1245. No shuttle! Never came. There was a hotline number to call the manager, which was just recording. Completely useless. Budget office closes at 1 AM. I had to have a friend drive an hour to get me an hour back in the middle of the night. When I called customer service the next day they offered me a “one day coupon”. Seriously!!! Spoke to management. The only thing they would do is “two day coupon.” no discount on my current rental. When I finally got my vehicle and drove it out of the lot I noticed there was soda cans and a dirty Band-Aid in there. Called Budget again. They seem to care less. All these phone calls took hours of my time. First time using Budget, last time using Budget.

Never again! Budget burned me bad on a week rental in Oklahoma City! I had reserved and paid on line but was hit with an additional $300+. She said Budget doesn’t accept private insurance and I had to buy it. If I refused and the car was in an accident, I would be liable for 75% of repair costs!! I still can’t believe it — I should have refused to pay, cancel reservation and used Uber. I’m sure I would have paid less than the $800 Budget robbed me of. I may try to file a claim to recover the $300 since it was not mentioned when I made reservation online.

Never again will I rent from Budget. I booked my car 3 weeks ago and they call me the night before my trip to let me know they are out of cars. We get rescheduled to another location and they confirm it and then they call the morning of my trip to tell me they are out of cars. We book at a 3rd location and they tell me, we may or may not have cars available at the time you need it. This is a joke. Worst rental experience I've ever had.

Reserved and paid extra for convertible thru Costco travel package. After waiting an hour in the line, there was no convertible. They refused to refund the extra money I had paid. I will NEVER again rent with Budget. You shouldn't either!

While they may be cheaper than other rental car agencies - the service is AWFUL! I have rented from the RSW airport many times. The wait time in reservation lines are anywhere from 45 mins to over an hour. Car class I reserved wasn't available. The car I was given had damage to it that hadn't been documented, and gas tank was not full. The manager on duty promised a one day refund for all my trouble and inconvenience, but it was never given.

Budget Car Rental refused to put new tires on our rental car after we had them checked because one tire wouldn’t hold air. It could not be plugged so we had to pay for a new tire to finish our trip. Budget Rental was not interested in our safety at all. I will never rent from them again and suggest that if you do rent from them your life might be in danger from less than road worthy vehicles!

I rented a vehicle (requested a small SUV). I also signed up for Fast track and prepaid so that I wouldn’t have to wait in line. I waited (standing) for over an hour and a half. I’m a senior citizen with a bad ankle. No seats were provided because if you got out of line you lost your place. Fast track was not available as they had no vehicles. I ended up settling for a sedan. The car had stained upholstery. After making a complaint twice with no response I called customer service. They offered 2 free days on a future rental..not acceptable. I can’t see myself ever renting from them again.

I rented a car through Priceline for Budget. When I picked my car up at St. Petersburg airport in Florida, I was upcharged $400 for things that I did not authorize. When I contacted customer service. The reply is "Sorry". There was no resolution to my issue. I will never rent from budget again.

Absolute trash, the only reason I gave 1 star is because I had to. Horrible customer service with people that have no clue how to even do their jobs. Do NOT waste your time or money with this trash panda company.

I prepaid for a Budget rental simply to spread out my expenses — not because there was any benefit to prepaying. Budget allows you to reserve a car without prepaying and cancel for free. But when I canceled my prepaid reservation, they charged me a $50 cancellation fee. There is no discount for prepaying, no added value, and no clear warning that prepaying actually removes your right to cancel without penalty. The only difference is that Budget gets your money sooner — and then charges you for canceling something that would have been free to cancel if you hadn’t prepaid.

I reserved a car online for one week a month in advance of my family's travel to Sarasota FL. In advance of travel I tried to call the Sarasota Budget office - I called multiple times of day over the two days prior to travel without getting a response (rang and rang until just disconnected). Several days before traveling I did the online check in process and received a confirmation of this.

Worst customer service. I rented a FULL SIZE SUV, prepaid everything upon reserving. Got to Fort Myers Airport location and they had no cars available in my class group. They downgraded me and basically said take it or leave it. What a start of a vacation. I had 7 people and 7 pieces of luggage. Not what I figured I’d be dealing with on a vacation. Something so simple. Make a reservation, pay for the car, have the car when I need and paid for it. I held up my side of this deal, paid when asked. Sure I couldn’t pay half of what they asked and tell them take it or leave it. Simply absurd.

The staff know they have no cars for close to 2 hours but defied lot to post any signs for customers. As a result I waited in line over 1 hour at Atlanta Airport then upon arrival to the counter was talk another 1 1/2 to 2 hour wait for a car that I booked a month ago. In the meantime 100% disorganization as the representatives gave cars to people who were non minority first while the minorities waited for hours. Additionally poor customers service at the counter. It is highly advised that you avoid them if possible unless you have no other alternatives. I would have switched to Alamo not they want to charge double since it is a same day reservation. You might be better off using Alamo or enterprise or book with multiple companies for the pay later option to avoid waiting over 2 hours for a car. It is 12 noon and my flight landed at 10 am and I am still waiting for a car once again booked a month ago.

This company is the worst down to the dot matrix printers from the 1980’s at all locations. Just this 1 simple $400 fix at each location would help with long wait times and customer satisfaction. It doesn’t take a brilliant Franchise CEO to realize this 1 detail! The amount of negative things I could say about this company is overwhelming. I can’t even believe I’m wasting my time complaining about Budget. It’s worth paying the extra $10 a day somewhere else or more wherever you need to go. All I can say is don’t use Budget if you ever want an even decent rental experience!!!!

We rented a car @Jacksonville Fl. Airport and Seniors BEWARE!!! The guy behind the counter asked all the questions about options,, insurance coverage, etc...We declined everything as we carry full coverage for both our vehicles and don't need theirs. He checked every box as if we accepted the coverages and rushed us to sign the agreement. Then we received no paperwork. All we recieved was a piece of Avis paper with the parking space, description and RA number on it. And we were given an "upgrade" to a mini van instead of the full sized SUV we rented. We felt as if we were RUSHED through everything. Now we are charged $104 more for this because he did this and got away with it. This happened on Feb 10th @ approx 8:30 pm. We called customer service and filed a claim, but because we signed the agreement we have to pay. Please READ the paperwork and DON'T let them rush you. We will never rent with Budget again.

Mesa AZ airport - I prepaid for an SUV, when my plane landed at 1:30am the only vehicle left was a CARGO VAN. I had to cancel my next morning's vacation plans and drive 45 minutes (1 way) to swap out for a smaller car vs. the SUV I originally reserved. That location charged me a second deposit. When I returned the car, I filled it up with gas at a gas station close to the airport. They still charged me $67.00 for gas and a $20.00 fee for not having it full. GOOD THING I had my receipt!!! It took me 2 calls (the first one "dropped") and almost an hour of my time to get that money credited back to me along with the 2 separate deposits.

Budget Las Vegas airport defrauded me a By adding a $225 fee + taxes as a “ Local Tax Fee.” I rented a vehicle on government business for just 36 hours and driving a total of 21 miles. I put $2.47 worth of gas in the car and have the receipt. Which was done to avoid the Budget car rental at Las Vegas airport from automatically adding a gas fee although the tank is full. When I got my receipt via email and saw a $225 local tax fee I was told to go to the budget fastbreak counter to have it correct. However, budget fastbreak was closed with the sign saying be back in 30 minutes just like it was when I rented a car. I have not been able to reach anyone to find out what this local tax is, it is a complete fraud and a scam.

I arrived to West Palm Beach for my Budget rental car. Prior to that I was getting a minivan for my five grandchildren on at least three occasions. I even gave them my credit card information. When I arrived, I knew something was wrong when there was no shuttle for 30 minutes. When I arrived to pick up the car, they told me that there were no minivans. Despite that I confirmed it. He told me I could have a Surburban which could accommodate at least seven passengers. When I went up to pick the Suburban, it was no longer available and someone had taken it. The gentleman at the desk was not helpful and said that there were no large cars available. After some protest, he found another gave to me. When I went to pick that up, that was actually another person though I had the keys. So the same misfortune that occurred to me occurred to him. The people at the desk were not helpful at all. There was no manager.

I am writing to express my disappointment with the service I received from Budget Rent A Car. They collected my grandson's credit card payment three weeks in advance, only to deny him the rental car upon arrival due to his age of 23 years. Despite numerous attempts to resolve the issue, the funds have yet to be refunded to the credit card after two months. When I contacted Budget, they claimed to have released the funds, which is inaccurate. I have since disputed the charge with my credit card company, but Budget has failed to respond. I am compelled to warn others about the subpar customer service provided by Budget Rent A Car.

Made a reservation at the Harrisburg Pa airport. Been waiting in line at the AVIS counter for 30 minutes and looks to be at least another 50-60 min wait, there were 2 people working but one lady disappeared 15 minutes ago. The one lady working is doing her best to get everything done including answering the phone and taking reservations! #1, WHY is there NO staff at the Budget kiosk, left with a sign directing us to Avis!! EVERY other rental car company is fully staffed and moving people along!! My advise is NEVER EVER rent a car from Budget rental!! Ever, ever!!! Wish there was a zero star rating.

We rented a Mazda CX-50 or similar from Budget Car Rental but when we arrived to pick up the car at the West Palm Beach Airport, we were told that they did not have many vehicles on their lot. Our choices were a 12-15 passenger van or an electric vehicle. We had to Uber to our hotel and rent a car elsewhere. Very poor customer service!

I flew from Austin to Los Angeles to help my ailing 92-year-old mother who is nearly blind has severe arthritis and mobility issues.

Budget cancelled moving truck rental 16 hour before my reservation and offered no assistance. Cannot reach the rental location—-phone just rings. Called national #, they were of no assistance and hung up on me when I asked for a supervisor.

Beware I got a $6 toll in Chicago (they don't staff tool booths anymore) and I got a $6 charge on my credit card for the toll and a $26 dollar convenience fee for paying my toll. I also had a $1 toll for Indiana and a $6.95 convience fee from Budget for paying it. BEWARE. THIS IS THE WAY THEY DO BUSINESS NOW. Also take pic of gas gauge, they have been charging people even when they fill up.

I want to give a huge virtual hi-5 to Jessica at Budget car rental, Capital City Airport, Lansing Michigan. I ran into a hiccup when renting and she went above and beyond to help me out. We always get exceptional service at this location but she really went above. Again, Jessica ty so much.

I reserved a van through my United App for 2 weeks in Miami. First, when I arrived to pick up the car in Miami, I stood in line for at least 1 hour with close to 50 people in front of me before I could get to the counter. Then, I was able to get the van I had reserved but the agent was trying to push every supplement he could, except the pre-paid fuel that I wanted to get. I refused everything else but he kept coming back about the E-toll unlimited that I should really get in Miami and told me (at least it's what I understood) that it was not a fee but it was to be able to pay the toll fees directly as part of the rental car bill instead of paying them separately.

Rented a vehicle in Midland, Texas. Drove for 2 days and brought back with apparently excessive dust. Charged me 125 for washing the outside of the car that already gets washed because of excessive dust. I was in Midland, it's dusty everywhere. Twenty dollars at the car wash would have cleaned the dust off of it.

Although Budget Rental Cars allows you to book your vehicle online using a BANK MASTERCARD, your deposit can only be taken with a MAJOR CREDIT CARD. Since some of us would rather not pay interest rates at 28%+, once you arrive at the pickup location to collect your vehicle, you WILL be denied because you can't pay the $250.00 deposit with your BANK MASTERCARD. Funny thing: they had no problem booking online and taking $455.00! In 3-5 business days, we will receive our refund. Does my husband no good. He's stuck in Tulsa at the airport without the vehicle we paid for online. But hey... "Can't take that $250.00 deposit with your Bank MasterCard, but we can certainly run it to secure your car!" Maybe you should add MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ONLY to your website! Negative Stars as a 1 is too much!

Budget rental car regarding rental agreement number **. (January 22 through 26 rental). I initially booked a midsize SUV for my stay in Dallas. When I arrived on January 22, they informed me that they would be putting me in a dodge hornet. The vehicle seemed rather small considering that I rented a “midsized SUV”. Upon receiving the vehicle, I noticed that it had damage along the side of the driver side, and that there was also damage to the front passenger side of the vehicle.

Standard policy for withholding a deposit is that it's removed when the car is returned w/o damage. Budget charged me the $300 deposit and continues to lie about their billing error. Is it an error when they refuse to acknowledge it? It's now 3 weeks since I returned the car and still no refund, no satisfaction. DO NOT RENT FROM THEM.

Charged us 1480 when we were told 860 dollars. They said we took their filthy car when we returned it 2 hours early. Never in my life will I allow friends to rent from them. They are greedy and lie.

Reserved a full size vehicle. Informed upon picking up rental told I was given and upgrade. Went from a full size sedan to a compact suv. What an upgrade since I am a big guy getting in to a clown car.

Horrible experience. Long wait to get to the car rental. Huge line at the rental desk. Car received was dirty inside and out, 77,000 miles. Numerous scrapes, scratches, dirt and stains. Was charged $125 for the vacuuming fee. Waited in long line to return vehicle and to return to airport. When speaking with customer service, English was not the primary language, with the initial representative or with the supervisor (they appear to farm out their customer service to foreign countries). Customer service was not friendly or helpful. Will not use this company in the future. They have lost a customer for life.

Only an electric car available if you choose economy or compact. Sure, I'm a fan of clean green energy, but not when I have no idea of the electric infrastructure in the area and no place to plug in at my vacation rental. Asked for a gas car and was told I had to upgrade to a "midsize" Toyota Corolla. Argued with agent for a while, but people in line behind me, so I was forced to relent. Classic bait and switch. I reserved a Hyundai Venue or similar. Certainly did not get that. Terrible experience.

I just got off a cruise running a car from the Miami port shuttle service and picked up my vehicle with about just over a quarter tank. Dropped it off with a little more than what was in there. Got gas just before I dropped it off. Get my bill. They charged me $150 gas fee. They don't have a care in the world that they screwed up and they're taking it out. I would never run a car from Budget Car ever again.

Never rent with Budget. I had a prepaid rental and when picking up the car they denied me a rental because my driver's license had some minor damage. The lamination on one corner began to separate due to grabbing it out of my wallet from the same spot. Agent told me she could not accept my license. I asked for a refund and she said she could not do it and I had to call a corporate 800 phone number. It has been 7 calls, 3 months and hours trying to get my refund. They keep saying they are sorry and will refund me, but they never do. They have ripped me off for $460.

I rented a vehicle at Tampa Int. Airport for one night on December 14. I drove it to see my elderly mother and to dinner and to hotel. I stopped by my mother's assisted living facility the morning of December 15 then returned the vehicle to the airport. On January 7, 2026, I received an email from Budget/Avis that I had done $1000 in damage to the windshield. It is a lie. It is fraud. But they waited so long, I am certain the video from the gas station and the assisted living is gone. Further, they provided no photos of the car from the date I returned it. It's 100 percent fraud. I explained that to them, but they keep emailing me. It is quite stressful. Their cars are TERRIBLE too. They always smell like weed.

Hidden charges. $502 taken out as deposit when we were told max would be $250. Money would be refunded when vehicle returned. Money has not been refunded but taken out of our bank. Budget said it is because we asked for insurance but documents show all insurance was denied.

Horrible company. Said they had no cars for rentals but took my money then. It has been a month and I still don't have my money back. Do not recommend anyone wasting time or money on this company. Called 5 times. Get same run around and emailed as well.

I rented a car back in November. Budget sent me a bill stating that we returned the car with a crack in the windshield and are charging us for the damage. This "crack" or "ding" in the windshield WAS ALREADY on the windshield when we walked out to the rental. No one came out to the car with us to go over the car NOR did the woman checking us out go over the car when we dropped it off.

Despite pre-paying and reserving a car online, they denied me at the counter because my credit score wasn't above 650. I have rented from this location many times previously and credit checks were never mentioned anywhere online. Very disappointed. 7 days later still waiting for a refund.

The absolute worst experience I have ever had with any company. My reservation at GSP airport was for 830 but thought I could get a jump on getting to a funeral. The counter was supposed to open at 7am but the agent strolled in at 815 without an apology. She never sent me a copy of the contract as advised so when I went to return the car at Budget in Atlanta he would not accept it because of lack of paperwork and directed me to Avis.

I've used Budget all my life. Until this time here in Florida I would have given 5 Stars but. I tried to prepay online so they charged twice for the rental then put a 200 deposit. That was December 28. They have a hold on 380 and said that they dropped the hold but all they did was put me on a fraud notice because of THEIR MISTAKES. So much for ever using Budget rip off car rental EVER again. Try to get a supervisor and of course none available.

I have rented from Budget for years and this was the worst. I reserved an intermediate SUV during the 2025 Christmas season at the Columbus, OH airport. I was given a Dodge Hornet which looked like a compact hatchback, not a mid-size SUV. I questioned this and was told it is in the same class. Next when starting the vehicle the dash tells us the key fob battery is low. When I went back to say this, she said as long as the fob was in the car, it would start. I said but what if it dies, the car won’t know the fob is in the car so it likely won’t start. She again, two more times said the same, as long as in the car somewhere. I said, "I don’t think you are understanding my question" and she said, “I don’t think you are understanding my response and for the fourth time, if it dies, you just hold it against the start button and it will start”. Well, that was the first time she said that. She was very condescending.

I rented a vehicle in Tampa FL and when I arrived everything was ready to go. I brought my own toll pass and told them not to activate the toll feature. Everything seems to go fine until 10 days after I returned my vehicle. A toll charge showed up on my credit card. I have notified my credit card company and reached out to Budget to tell them this is not acceptable and to reverse the charge and delete all my information from their systems. Also, when I returned my rental the gas tank apparently needed a gallon and a half so they charged me $10 a gallon ($15 total)! I felt like I was dealing with a criminal syndicate. I will never rent a vehicle from this company again, even if it says they are the best rate because in the end after all the fees they won't be!

My experience with Budget Car Rental has been horrible. I returned the car to Logan Airport on October 18, 2025 and a month later my credit card was charged for 450.00 for a cleaning charge. No call from them, just a charge which was not true. They said I smoked and vaped in the car which was not true. I have asthma and have never smoked or vaped in my life. There are pictures which the items are not mine. I will never rent from Budget again.

Wasn’t planning on saying anything but after leaving a complaint on their website I decided to leave it on here so people can be careful so I went online to Budget rent a car in Las Vegas. The only reason I booked through them was they offered a Mustang convertible or similar for our highway drive. The price was higher than other companies but it was available for the dates we were there. When we landed we were shuttled to the rental company and they gave me a Mini Cooper convertible. In what universe is a compact mini that barely fit two people and luggage in the vehicle comparable to a midsize sports car with plenty of trunk and leg room. The mini had a bag of food in it under the drivers seat and they never noticed it because the seat was pushed back against the rear seat.

We will never rent from Budget again. Arrived at our destination and waited 3 plus hours in line to get to an agent. No apologies, no extra help was called, total apathy from all the employees. When we finally got to the counter, they told us to bring the car back at 70% charged. We refused insurance. We got to our car, 4 hours after our arrival and found it to be charged to 30%. We barely had enough to get to our destination. We charged it to 100% the next day. We returned it at over 70%. When we got our final bill it was almost double what I agreed to and when I called they said they had to refuel (extra cost) and we signed up for insurance (which we did not). The whole experience was infuriating.

It took 45 minutes, and the guy that took us did not welcome us, me mostly had to get out our own bags on the bus and off the bus. And it was not like the other one were slow. Not kidding, we saw Hertz bus 7 times before ours.

If I could give no stars, I would!!! Absolutely horrible!!! Asked for a suv, 4 wheel drive or all wheel drive. Received a jeep grand Cherokee. No 4 wheel drive or all wheel drive. Called customer service, after being transferred to 4 different people & told they could have a different vehicle towed to us (possibly our expense) & they can’t guarantee they will bring a 4 wheel drive! Absolutely frustrating!!! I will never deal with Budget again!!! Waste of money!!

We rented a full size van at Minneapolis airport. It was not clean. It looked like a dog licked the windows. It smelled like the previous renter was transporting animals. The smell caused allergy flare ups by family members. The window washer did not work. We had to reconnect the washer hose under the hood. The rear end sounded like it was about to fall off in mid drive. The heater would randomly turn to cold.

AVOID AVOID AVOID!!!! BEWARE that Budget makes up for inexpensive rental charges by charging for unsubstantiated services after the fact. I reserved a vehicle at San Francisco Airport (SFO). Waited over an hour at the counter, Budget overbooked. Budget were distributing vehicles as they were being returned. Budget was not cleaning or doing any other maintenance upon return of the vehicles. Finally received a vehicle (not type I reserved) and the engine was still hot from previous renter. It was obvious that the vehicle was not cleaned. Crumbs in the console. Wife scraped off something from the glove compartment door. Since I needed to pick somebody up at the airport and I already waited an inordinate amount of time I took the car and was glad to leave the Budget complex.

I had a confirmed airport rental with Budget Rent a Car and was explicitly told someone would be available when my flight landed. We arrived at 1:30 AM, and the counter was completely closed with no staff present. No notice. No call. No instructions. We were left stranded at the airport in the middle of the night and forced to pay $99 for an Uber just to reach our destination. This was a complete service failure and unacceptable for an airport rental company that knows flight arrival times. If Budget does not staff late arrivals, customers should be clearly told in advance. Leaving paying customers stranded after midnight is unsafe and unprofessional. I am requesting reimbursement for the transportation cost caused directly by Budget’s failure to provide the reserved service.

Rented a car from Avis Budget Midland airport. Customer service was awful, rented a standard SUV, the lady said all they had was the van and she doesn’t know when others will be in. She offered an intermediate SUV for the same price I am paying. I asked about a discount and was told no, they wouldn’t do it. I walked out to my rental and it was marked in yellow all over passenger side, went in to report it, and was told that’s all they had.

Please do not rent a vehicle at Budget/Avis. I reserved a passenger van 10 days in advance. My reservation said to pick up the van at 12pm. As I am always early, I was there at 11:30am and was told it will be a few minutes. After an hour and a half, I was told that they do not have any cars to rent. Not one. Just don’t waste your time.

This should be 0 stars. This company should be under investigation pay all those who suffered unfair charges from Budget. San Jose, CA at the Eastridge Mall pick up & drop off. Few days that is it. A rear view mirror missing from drivers side. I reported it. They asked me who I have insurance with. I said Progressive. Have Budget call me. Get information we can do a claim. I expected a call from their insurance department. Nothing. I asked my car insurance if they received a claim. Nothing... I got a bill with administrative fee. I blocked it from my bank account because I used my bank card and I did do a claim because I thought the letter was a scam. Something didn't seem right about it. Well they fooled my bank which is Bank of America. They didn't show anything what I signed. They refuse to answer my car insurance to get a claim started. Of course I had to start a claim.

We rented a Jeep Compass and after driving for 5 hours, we stopped at a convenience store. Thanks to a customer, we were alerted to a serious safety issue with the front passenger-side tire. The tire was completely worn down on the inside edge. We had to make an emergency trip to the nearest airport, losing a significant amount of valuable time. We don't even want to think about what would have happened if it had been at night on an interstate highway while driving. We have video and photo.

Buyer beware!!! We were scheduled to return our rental by 1pm with a full tank of gas. We arrived at 115pm with a full tank of gas but there was no one in the area to accept the car and verify our arrival time and the full tank of gas. The sign said leave the keys in the car and proceed to the terminal which we did.

Ms. ** was exceptional! She totally took care of us as we had to turn in our car before business hours in the Sheraton. We were met in the garage by her coworker at 7:00 am per her arrangement. She could not have been more courteous or more helpful. Budget is lucky to have her as an employee!

I had placed a reservation for an SUV but was told at the counter by a man with a very thick accent that I could barley understand, to sign, sign, sign and no SUV would be available and that I would need to go to Avis and pickup a van instead. I had already reserved, paid in full $544, signed documents and declined all the extras, so I went ahead and took to van rather than the SUV. I returned the van one day early and the woman that took the keys and checked the van said I would be refunded for the extra day. I recorded her saying it after my experience with the first guy.

I just received a bill for $125.00 for a cleaning fee on a rental car. It rained in Texas and there was some mud on the car mat from my shoes that would have taken them about a minute to take the mat out and hose it off. I have never had this happen before and I rent a lot of cars for my business. The customer service representative said that they do not normally clean the cars between rentals because they lose money if they have to take time to clean a car. I find that disgusting that they don't clean the cars. Hotels clean their rooms and restaurants clean their tables but Budget doesn't clean a rental car! I don't have time to take a rental car to a car wash before returning it to the airport. That should be part of the service that Budget should supply. No more Budget cars for our company!!

Avoid Budget rental car at All Costs. Bait and switch contract practices throughout. Switched contract done online with one with extra fees. Never use them, refused to give a receipt, refused repeatedly.

Rented a car through Budget Rental out of White Plains New York on 12/20/2025 a Toyota 4Runner, driving it felt a little unstable and a slight shake a 55 but ok a 65 and usually is just a tire of of balance, the 21st I happen to park the SUV with the tires turned out and when I got out of the vehicle I noticed the tires were so worn down on the inside that the belts were showing all the way around the inside of the tire, so I looked at the other steer tire and the same thing was happening on that one also, now I'm supposed to be somewhere and can't drive this vehicle anywhere because of possibly a blow out and someone possibly getting hit or killed because of their negligence in the maintenance on their vehicles, now they want to give me a voucher for Uber for the rest of my vacation which is till the 27th, absolutely will never think of using Budget ever again,.

Zero or negative number stars. Paid for a reservation over a month ago.fot a medium SUV. PAID IN FULL. Day of reservation, "oh... Sorry. We don't have any cars that size. We can put you in a compact or give you a refund which will be available in 3 to 10 days." What is the purpose of a paid reservation if they are too inept to provide? Called customer service... Pretty much the same response... "oh well. Ummm... Sorry." This company is horrible!!!

My experience with Budget raises serious concerns about their business practices and treatment of customers. Upon returning the vehicle, I was informed that one tyre was slightly under-inflated. Based on this, Budget refused to release my guarantee deposit, claiming they needed to “inspect” the tyre. I formally submitted an appeal explaining that a minor pressure issue is easily correctable, that I was never informed of any defect at pickup, and that the tyre had been gradually losing air throughout the rental period, indicating a likely pre-existing issue.

Do not rent from Budget or Avis. They called me ten minutes prior to my pickup at 8am on Dec 12th in North Carolina and said there were no cars to rent. After multiple calls to customer service they said sorry no cars are available! The reservation was made a month in advance. They could care less about their customers. I had twice the charges by using an Uber and they would not reimburse me funds or offer any free rentals. They don’t care how their company impacted my day and travels! Beware!’

⭐ 1 star – Unfair charge and terrible customer service. My experience with Budget Rent a Car was extremely disappointing and frustrating. During my rental, a side window on the passenger sliding door broke after hitting a pothole, with no accident, no collision, and no fault on my part. I immediately reported the issue, was given a case number, and followed all required procedures.

If I could give zero stars, I would. First van we had to return for a hybrid electrical servicing issue (I have pictures of error message), and he didn’t change out the time we left and kept the original 1230 reservation time, even though we didn’t leave until after 2 pm, then check engine light came on and wouldn't go off, finally did in Utah.

I rent regularly from Budget in Fl. I went down for 10 days to our place in Fl the day after Thanksgiving 2025. I ordered an intermediate SUV, I received a Chevy Trex (compact SUV), it was a mess. Seats were filthy and worn, radio not working, hood all scratched up. This was a 2025 with 11k miles on it!! Called customer service and the woman tells me take it back to the airport (40 mins away). She offers 2 day credit which I accepted, after I was demanding a credit, otherwise she wasn't offering any reprieve at all. I stopped at a Budget I didn't know was there (5 mins away) to see if the radio was not working because of something I was doing, Budget rep said the antenna is broken off.

Very poor customer service, quite rude at the counter and provided a dirty & damaged car. Just thought it was their usual poor standards, but got a shock when they billed me for leaving the dirty car they provided dirty! Gave them every chance to come to a fair resolution but after 23 emails from a robotic customer service. I'm just going out of my way to warn others on every site I can find not to risk using them.

Just don’t! They are called Budget for a reason. 2.5 hour wait in line to get my car. They didn’t have my car ready for me and they overcharged me at the end. They did refund me $20 though, so I guess that makes up for the additional $225 I was charged on top of my original quote. Stay away unless you want to get screwed!

Got a rental in Ronkonkoma NY, the rental had issues and was informed it was a dealer problem. I spent a whole day of my vacation trying to swap the vehicle because they couldn’t make a phone call to let me know who had one available. I brought the rental swap as I returned to Ny. I was promised a discount and instead of getting one they charged me a late fee even when returning the vehicle on time. The person receiving the car failed to informed them I was there early. I will never rent from budget again. My whole vacation was a nightmare and took me longer to get to my destination due to their lack of fully checking the rental.

So I lost a key and paid for a new “key" but never got a receipt for the actual key! My insurance covers other expenses but not keys so when I asked for a true breakdown they refused. Trash company. Would not recommend Budget to anyone but my enemies.

We reserved a Mustang EV for the weekend. When we got to the counter, the unfriendly clerk said we were getting a Chevy Bolt. We said that's not comparable to a Ford Mustang and she said they didn't have one. Went out to get the car and there was a Mustang Mach EV parked 2 spots down. The Bolt has 40k miles and all kinda of dings and dents. The range of the Bolt is significantly less than the Ford, also. We asked about just switching to a gas car but they were going to charge us 17.00 a day more.

Please be aware of Budget Rental at the Miami International Airport. I have rented from Costco Travel many time with Enterprise & Alamo before with no issues whatsoever. They are crooks! They offer all of these thing such as insurance and options about gas and you let them know that you will handle bring the gas full as it's given to you but somehow when they have you initial the contact you don't realize that they have included it, in the contract as well. We filled tank with gas before drop off and got dinged with another $70 when we review bill days later after drop off. What should have been car rental for $565 with tax, tolls. Charge came back at $640. BEWARE! NOT HAPPY AT ALL! Very disappointed with Costco Travel Member Services as they were unable to Help at All.

The most horrific experience I’ve ever had after 30 years of renting cars. When I picked up the vehicle, (late in the day), it was filthy inside and out, had damage all over it and was covered in so much bird feces, I couldn’t even see out of the passenger side window. The agent never even left the desk to look at the car, auto started it from inside, and overcharged me for services I didn’t authorize. I should have left it in the parking lot but was running out of time & options to drive myself across the country to get to my minor son.

Do not rent from this company. I rented an Expedition from them. During our trip we ran into some rain. We did get the floor mats dirty. After returning the vehicle I received a notice that I was being charged $450.00 for excessive cleaning. They said the vehicle had to be sent out to be detailed. According to their agreement the vehicle has to be returned in the same condition as it was rented. It also says they will charge a fair price for cleaning. This is so far out of line from other companies. I rented the car through Southwest Airlines and they were not responsive.

Reserved car from Budget to pick up in downtown Grand Junction Colorado. Train from Reno was going to be 2 hours late, so I alerted Budget main number because it was a Sunday afternoon and the Grand Junction downtown office had no one answering phones. We arrived in Grand Junction next morning and I called the local office to alert them that the train made up for the lost time. I was then told the car was cancelled and no Budget cars were available at either the downtown or airport locations. We were very lucky we got the last car available among all the companies at the airport although it was quite pricey. Our trip would have been ruined otherwise.

A man known as "BOB" works in the Budget location on Research Parkway (La Quinta Hotel) Orlando, FL. This individual is a LIAR. Me and my brother had a reservation and in the middle of the rental process he told us certain Liability Insurance was mandatory. I told him we did not want it and said he would not give us the car if we did not take it. I insisted to decline it and he told us to leave "his office " or he would call the police. I called the corporate office and they said we would have to go to another location to pick up the car. We were given one free day on the rental , but even so this individual has to be fired. I should have called the police on him. Our reservation # was **.

Seems the policy (unwritten, just expected) is that you wash and vacuum the rental before returning under normal use. They DO have a policy regarding smoke, pets, sand, trash, and excessive dirt, but there is nothing stating that the rental must be cleaned prior to returning it after normal use. I rented a vehicle for 2 weeks while my car was in the shop. I do NOT smoke, did not have sand, not a shred of trash, and do not have pets in my home or vehicles. There was some dirt from my shoes in the driver's floorboard area, which is to be expected as I drove this car for 2 weeks. I was charged a $125 cleaning fee for that dirt on the floor. I called to resolve this issue and was told that they do not clean the cars when you return them. If they have to vacuum or clean the vehicles, they will charge you for that cleaning!

Zero stars is not an option—I'd give this company a negative five if I could. I had a prepaid reservation because I needed to drive from Virginia to South Carolina. Four hours before pickup, Budget called to cancel my reservation—after I had already confirmed everything with them yesterday. Absolutely unacceptable. I paid in advance, planned around this, and they still left me stranded at the last minute. Completely unreliable and not worth the risk.

Unscrupulous company. I reserved a convertible car over a month ahead my trip. When I got there, they said they didn’t have it! Wouldn’t even give me a contract printout! I was told the printer didn’t work. Instead of the convertible, I was offered a Toyota Camry, the rear seatbelt didn’t work, the trunk flew open. I was being threatened and pressured into buying their insurance also. Which I didn’t after calling my insurance company. I was told that I would be getting a discount for the inconvenience, but miraculously my bill was the same as what I was quoted for the mustang which came out to more than the rental price of the Camry. They put a hold on my credit card for $200.00, which I was told would be refunded upon return of the car. That hasn’t happened yet. I wrote a letter to budget rent a car expressing my concerns and discontent. I got a letter saying, sorry for the inconvenience. Budget rent a car is a dishonest company, and thieves.

Last week at the Kalispel MT airport, I rented a Rav4 that I booked through United Airlines. The quoted rate was a fair price. At the pick-up counter, the Budget agent asked several questions, including if I wanted the "Loss Damage Waver" due to my home insurance coverage for the car rental. I said yes. She also asked if I wanted the "Gas Service Option" that would refill the tank "at the lowest price in the area being $2.79/ gallon". I agreed. The "Loss Damage Waver" ended up costing me $32.99 /day. That apparently is accepting their insurance coverage not "waving" it due to my own coverage.

DO NOT rent a car with this Budget. I had a horrible experience with Budget. I arrived at the airport with my family around 9:30 PM and went looking for the Budget booth to pick up my reserved car. There was no one there. I called them about 10 times at the number provided in the reservation, but nobody answered. I took a ride to their offices at the address provided, and there was no one there. I went to the Hertz agency, and they told me that Budget closed its offices around 6:00 pm. I was stuck with my family in the airport at Monterrey, Mexico at midnight without transportation. I called another 10 times to Budget, but no one ever responded. I had to rent a last-minute car with Hertz, and it cost me 4 times the amount for what I reserved with Budget.

We arrived at the Kauai cruise port in October 2025 and had made rental car reservations months prior. We called Budget when we arrived to ask about a shuttle to the airport and when we were on the call, I received an email indicating our reservation was cancelled. On the same call, they offered us a similar car for 100.00 more. This is illegal price gouging and they have been reported to the FTC.

Logan Airport, Budget Rental. I waited in line for an hour to pick up a car I had reserved three weeks ago to be told that my card was not accepted because it was a debit card. I have used this visa debit card through the same bank for 25 years to rent cars with around the world. Now I’m 1200 miles from home stuck in Boston for four days without a car. GFY Budget Car Rental!

Budge Rent A Car, Panama City Beach, FL Why are all rental car desk workers so dishonest? This place is right up there with them. Booked a rental online and of course when we got to the desk, Chad, tried everything he could to get us to pay more. He told us the car we had selected was electric and to upgrade to a gas vehicle, which was the next class up would be $50. I showed him the rental agreement, it said nothing about being electric (Kia Soul or similar), but he was persistent. Eventually he brought the upcharge down to $20. I finally agreed to it as I felt like I was being held hostage and wanted to start my vacation. He then mentioned that if I would have contacted him directly I could have saved $120 off the rental price. I told him I'd take that price then but refused because my name was "already in the system". Make sure to call or text Chad at ** for the best deal.

I am going to leave feedback about my experience with Budget at various sources. I just want to alert the managers at the Ft Lauderdale Airport location of Budget (Daniel, Miles, and Adam) that I was thoroughly displeased and disappointed in my experience picking up my rental car on November 15, 2025 at approximately 11:00 am. I specified that I wanted to rent a sedan, not an SUV or bigger automobile, because I was unable to handle such a large vehicle. I was assured that my reservation of a Toyota Camry would be honored, or a similar sedan provided for my purposes. When I was assigned a vehicle by the desk agent (Norma B., a 30-year employee), I expressed to her that I reserved a sedan and could not and would not accept a larger vehicle; that was the point of my reservation with Budget. Things got testy between us, but voices were never raised.

I am relieved by reading these reviews to realize it wasn't just me who was scammed by Budget. I found a crazy good deal on Expedia for a luxury car through Budget. Budget left a voicemail on the day I was to pick up the car a couple hours before I was to pick it up....AFTER the time I could cancel the reservation...to tell me the luxury cars were sold out but they would give me a RAV 4 without a discount. I called back to see why I was not going to get the luxury car and the agent became rude and talked over me. I then said, this was not my problem and they had better have a luxury car for me or else I wanted my rental for free.

The worst experience I have ever had with a company. They charged our credit card weeks after our rental, saying we had lost the key. No alert that we would be charged, I just saw it pending on my statement one day. We called Budget and they said the counter agent at the location we returned the car to said the key was missing. We turned the car in and had a receipt, so we opened a dispute. The dispute process was not transparent, and just opening a dispute was a pain. This company is so sketchy the employees on the phones will not even use their real names when speaking to you. Our second time calling to check on our dispute we were told that the person making our case number the first time hadn't actually sent it in. We were informed after several days of calling back to check on our dispute that we would receive a full refund.

Reserved a van 6 weeks ahead of time. Got an email the evening prior to our cross country trip saying the vehicle was not available. When I called to speak with ‘customer service’ I was yelled at - no exaggeration- by a guy who proceeded to call me back twice to tell me that he was canceling my reservation and repeated his nasty diatribe. It’s taken me 3 weeks to write this… still cannot believe the awful experience. We rented from Enterprise, same day, incredibly positive experience. Never again will I even consider Budget.

I rented a car from Budget in Athens Greece. I had unlimited mileage and a car seat from Sept 30th through October 6th. We extended our stay one extra day and returned the car to the same location on October 7th at 6:35pm. The car attendant said we were all good and since we were staying only 3 blocks away, we left for our apartment. When I received the charges of $1,467.69 I was shocked since my original contract was only for $200. After multiple emails and calls, Budget said I returned the car to a different location, making it a one way. This is absolutely not true and I have pictures showing my travel companions under the Avis/Budget rental car sign in the garage at the same location where we picked up the car. This is either an egregious mistake or is completely crooked and unethical. Don't trust Budget/Avis.

I rented a car in Bradenton through Expedia without purchasing insurance, as I have my own coverage and never opt in. During check-in, the middle-aged woman employee repeatedly pressured me to buy their insurance. I clearly declined, yet I was still charged approximately $944.73!!! Almost a thousand dollars despite her mentioning a “$2-a-day special.” Since then, no one at the company has answered the phone to help resolve this unauthorized charge. When I contacted the corporate customer support office, I was told the employee may receive commission or bonuses for selling insurance. I had requested an investigation and a full refund from her commission— no response from management.

Budget Car Rental Company, has poorly trained and unscrupulous employees that cons unsuspecting customers into contracts that costs an arm and a leg. They provide little to no clarity when renting cars. They add unnecessary items to the deal even adding toll prepayments for days unused. adding upgrades to a bill for the same car. ⭐ 1-Star Review: Extremely Disappointed with Budget Car Rental.

I reserved a car 4weeks in advance and Prepaid. Arrived airport to over an hour wait line. Greeted by an unapologetic, rude man. Was informed that without a credit card, they would do a soft pull on my credit! Not told that I couldn’t add insurance after the fact over the phone. Had to drive to a store, then had to open another reservation to add insurance. Poor in every aspect.

Totally disappointed in Budget. We rented a vehicle expecting to have a good weekend and instead had multiple issues with the car not wanting to start and twice the vehicle power steering cutting out while driving. After almost dying twice in the death trap Budget put us in we were so uncomfortable driving it we had to spend extra money on DoorDash and Ubers just to complete our weekend before swapping the vehicle out to drive back to Richmond. When we called customer service they would only give us a 50% discount for almost killing us. This just shows how little Budget cares about their customers or people's lifes.

Rented a car at Miami International Airport for 10 days, only put 267 miles on the car. Returned the car to Miami International Airport on 10/29/25. I was told I would receive an email receipt in an hour confirming drop off of the car, did not receive anything until 5 days later. Ten days later I receive a letter saying I am being charged $190 for a tire repair. We had no indication that there was problem with the tire, the car ran fine, the car instrument panel never gave any info that there was a tire problem. The person who met us at the rental drop off did not inspect the car.

Budget is a scam rental car agency. We prepaid for a car 3 weeks ahead of time. We got the car in LA Airport. First, we waited an hour in line. The attendant tried to upsell us extra car insurance and gas provisions. We clearly stated more than once we did not need anything added to the reservation and we pre-paid. At the end he had us sign the form for rental. We returned the car and the new system in L.A. you don’t see anyone. So, we assumed everything was fine, until an additional $151 was added to the bill. When we called, they told us the roadside assistance and gas was added. We said, "No we turned it with a full tank of gas and we turned down the extra insurance." We can’t dispute the upcharge because we signed the rental form. What a scam, so my advice read the fine print and don’t rent from Budget.

I am just among many who were appalled by Budget's incompetence and fraud. Despite reserving a vehicle giving advance notice as did the other customers the DTW location had a single agent. The result was a 52.5 hr wait to get our vehicle resulting in our missing an important family dinner. Despite reserving a luxury model that was advertised that we desired to test drive we were given another car without the option of reducing to a standard model. This is an obvious bait and switch. Without forewarning us our vehicle only had 1/3 of a tank of gas which we did not notice because it was night, so we could have run out of gas on the road. We returned the vehicle with more gas than what we were provided. Budget charged a $90.91 fuel service fee charging us for fuel we did not use, likely also charging the previous Renter. This is fraud.

BEWARE!!! We've rented multiple times from different companies, and this was an experience that I don't wish anyone goes through. We've rented the car in January 2025 for 1 day, returned the car with everything in great condition. On September 29, 2025 we received a letter from Budget for a fee due to vehicle repair cost. We've called their customer service department and spoke with their supervisor, given a case number, and employee ID number and reassurance that the charges were cancelled, as they never sent any proof or any other documents.

I rented a car at LGA, and used it for 5 days. I just got a $250 cleaning fee for a medium severity case of excessive dirt in the car when I returned it. I could have vacuumed the interior of the car in less than 10 minutes to remove the dirt. A $250 fee for 10 minutes of work is absurd. I doubt they did anything different than what they would have done in the ordinary scope of their business when a car is returned. I will contest this fee. The one thing that is certain is that I will never use Budget again. Looking for ways to overcharge their customers is a bad business practice and they will never get my business again because of it.

We are senior citizens that rented a car in Fort Myers. We go to the beach. We do not smoke, nor do we have pets. We were charged for “excessive cleaning” despite just having a small amount of beach sand in the car. It would ordinarily require ordinary cleaning, but Budget deemed it excessive. $125! Ridiculous. I am appealing, but beware! I appealed and was told that additional detailing was necessary. It was not. It was a little beach sand.

Was charged $469 for 3 days. We had a Kia SVU! Worst car rental ever! I used Costco to rent the car and was quoted $170. That's one hell of a difference between quoted price and actual price. I will never rent a vehicle from Budget ever again.

I took a trip to Ohio in July and rented a vehicle from Budget Car Rental at Hopkins International Airport. After returning home to Las Vegas, I was shocked to see several unnecessary charges on my credit card — my total jumped from the original $450 to $663. Since then, I’ve spoken with multiple Budget representatives about my security deposit, and each time I was told it would be credited back to my account. It’s now been four months, and I still haven’t received a refund.

First of all the agent in Charleston did not give me a choice. She said $100 more for a gasoline vehicle. I know a ev car is an upgrade. Why is Budget gonna charge me $100 more for gasoline car. The ev car was charged with 80 % and agent knew I was going to return in Jacksonville. I tried charging it in different places in Charleston and Hardeeville. I charge it 40% for about 2-3 hours with enough miles to make my destination. But fell short and stranded me in Darien Ga looking for a charge point. They towed me to a charging station in Brunswick Ga and it wouldn’t take the charge. So I called roadside again to pickup the car. Now they want charge me for r road side assistance $494.71.

Budget Car Rental Las Vegas - Beware!! We rented a car from Budget for a week to visit friends in Pahrump. On day 3 I received two emails in the middle of the night that the car indicated that it was being smoked in. The first email said there would be a $75 charge, then the email that came in 5 mins later said there was a $450 charge. My husband and I do not smoke, so I figured something was wrong with the sensor or something, so I decided to deal with that email when I dropped the car off.

Budget is trying to blame me for a red light violation on a car that I could not possibly have driven since it occurred at 2:26 PM, just 21 minutes after I landed at 2:05 PM on a far runway of O'Hare Airport. After landing and taxiing for at least 15 minutes, I had to stand waiting to exit from row 22, walk to the terminal exit door near baggage, walk up, over, and down to catch the shuttle train, stop at Terminal 5 to load more passengers, arrive at the rental facility, and get up through heavy people traffic to the 2nd floor. More time was required after selecting a car from a "zone" and discovering a problem that required attendant attention. Having done this walk many times over the last few years, I have found that it takes at least a one-hour walking and shuttle journey from the plane landing to the car rental facility.

Without a doubt, the most dishonest company we have ever dealt with - anywhere. Buyer Beware!!!! Had a reservation for a car at London Heathrow airport for $893 for 12 days. When we arrived, they said the car we had booked (Mercedes Sedan) was unavailable and provided an older hatchback in poor condition. When we said it was too small, they did a bait and switch on us and charged us $200 MORE PER DAY for a car that their website listed as only $20 more per day. After numerous weeks of phone calls getting the run-around from customer service, they denied our appeal and we ended up paying $2400 more than the original reservation. WE WOULDN'T DEAL WITH BUDGET CAR RENTAL AGAIN EVEN IF THEY OFFERED US A FREE CAR.

Budget car rental sucks! Charged me too much and won’t refund me. When I picked up the vehicle they never told me about extra charges. Be honest with prices with all customers. Don’t need any hidden cost.

I prepaid for a rental car for a specific period of time. When I did not need the vehicle for as long as I originally thought I would need it, I called the rental location and was told I would get a refund for the unused portion even though I had prepaid. When I returned the car I was told I would get a refund, but I would have to call Budget customer service. When I called I was told I would get no refund. When I called the rental location, they would not honor what their employee had said about the refund. I posted a Google review and was given what seemed to be a sincere response about helping me. When I followed the instructions on the Google review response, they gave the the same no refund response even knowing their counter person said I would get one. DO NOT RENT A CAR FROM BUDGET EVER!

We rented a car for 4 days.. When we received our final bill there was a up charge for the car and an additional day rental. We should not have been charged for an upgrade of the car because they didn’t have what we asked for. Then we showed timestamp photos that we had returned the car within the allotted half hour window. They still refused to credit the additional day. Even with timestamp photos showing that we did not possess the car at the time they are showing in their computer. And a timestamp photo showing the car in the lot when we dropped off. They still refused to remove the additional day charged. If I could rate them a zero I would. We will absolutely never use this company again.

This company has ripped me off twice. I can't believe I gave them a second chance. The first time, I attempted to rent a car rental from them and was charged $794 for a week. Claimed the deposit was high cause I used a prepaid debit card. When I got to the location to pick up the car, they wouldn't accept my debit card. Yet they had deducted the $794 from my account already with the very card they refused to accept at the pickup location. In the process of trying to get that money refunded, I spoke to a man named Josh in billing at LAX location. He played like he wanted to help me. Told me to get a prepaid card from Go2Bank for $500 and that would cover the rent fees and deposit.

They do false advertisement online because it says there is Free Cancelation at the bottom right corner, but they end up charging you 50 dollars to cancel. This company is a complete scam. Never using this car rental company again.

I arrived at the Denver airport and took the Budget Bus to the rental car area. Since I was using Fastbreak, I was assigned a Toyota 4Runner SUV in space L13 by text. I had just enough time to get to the vehicle and get to work. However, there was no vehicle in space L13. The parking lot attendant said I would need to speak to the woman in the building nearby. I explained the situation to her, and she said someone must have taken my vehicle, so I could take the Chevrolet Equinox in space M23. I immediately discovered this was a downgraded (basic) vehicle with no power seats or power hatchback, etc. There was also a noticeable offensive smell, like body odor covered with Febreze. I then discovered the "gearshift" would not engage unless I repeatedly tried to move the stick. Also, I found no headlight switch.

Worst company ever! Good luck resolving an error - all their calls are picked up overseas where the CSRs have no clue what you're talking about and worse yet, I can't understand what they're asking. I was charged TWICE a $450 cleaning fee for a vehicle that cost me under $100 to rent. I asked for proof and they sent me photos of pet hair UNDER the seats! I don't have a pet, nor was I in the car with a pet! Best I can figure is that the renter before me had a pet and they failed to clean it properly. How is this possible? I can't prove that I don't own a pet to them and why should I have to? PLEASE .... Take a video when you rent the car - make sure that you capture under the seats and under the car mats - if any. Then photos all around the vehicle as well as on top!!!! Budget will screw you, just because they can.

I had an awful experience Oct 7 at Love Field. I rented a red Jeep and waived their $30 a day ins. under much pressure by the agent. I went to the car which was dripping with water and drove to my family’s home on 135. I was in the car for 1.5 hours when I heard a swishing noise and pulled off the closest exit. I saw I had a blow out. I was shaking and nervous. I called my family to come help me. My brother in law was a mechanic and he looked in the truck and no Spare. Only a flat fixing kit. My tire was too bad to try this. We called roadside assistance and they did get a tow truck.

We went on a trip of a lifetime me my daughter and two grands and a 3 year old. We upgraded to a Lincoln Navigator and 3 times it wouldn’t start. We tried calling and it was extremely hard to get ahold of anyone. They wanted us to pay for tow and lose a day if our trip. I bought a jump box but we still were worried. They refunded us less than 10 percent. Lesson learned. Don’t use BUDGET.

The rental price I agreed to on Sep 6th was 261.91. When I returned the car I was charged a small fee of 3.14. Not sure why? I then received a second invoice shortly after charging me an additional 535.82!! I was told because the mud on the tires from driving through Utah where some roads are dirt and if it rained had puddles and I was going to be charged a damages charge! The car required a car wash wish I assume every single car receives when it's returned. The business emailed me pictures of the mud on the tires. They claimed this is damages and the additional charges are staying! I have since asked a Manager to call me back. I've had to call the company for updates as no one has called or emailed me back since the pictures. They are hoping I go away.

I arrived at the Burlington VT airport and proceeded to the Budget Car Rental to pick up a PRE-PAID car which I had also confirmed via phone twice prior to arrival….only to find the counter dark and closed, with a sign saying they had run out of cars and come back in the morning!! In both phone calls I had confirmed my rental because of the 10:10 PM arrival time and both times they had assured me they didn’t close until midnight and that my car would be available given that I had pre-paid. I had no option at that time of night but to go to the only rental car counter open (National) and they charged me $400 more than the price of my Budget rental.

We reserved a car well in advance for pickup immediately after our flight landed. Upon arrival, we stood in line for over an hour while only three representatives staffed the counter. The line stretched nearly out the door, and the employees appeared disengaged—spending time chatting with each other or disappearing behind the counter for long periods rather than assisting waiting customers. When we finally reached the desk, we were told the mid-size car we reserved was unavailable but that we could take a minivan for the same price. We agreed, and the representative directed us to row C, space #1. Once outside, however, there were no cars in row C at all. After locating an employee on the lot, we were told there was nothing they could do.

Rented a car from Tampa Airport in September. Lady at desk asked me if I wanted insurance and I clearly said no. Went through the process. Returned the car and they said my $250 security deposit would be returned to me in 5 to 7 business days and they gave me back $6. Called them to get the rest back and they told me the lady signed me up for the insurance when I told her no. After this I will not be using Budget ever again. It's been almost a month and still no money back. I called again today.

Been in line half hour - one person at the 10 checkouts departed, line of 20 people plus waiting - with nobody getting anybody through their system! Took me over a half hour to get to the spot where on ninth line, but there is nobody taking customers at all, so no way to predict how long it might take to actually get my car and get out of the Minneapolis airport.

I’ve had nothing but great experiences at Budget rental from the people to the vehicle. However, went in recently and they requested facial recognition…which seems like a way to collect data information for scammers or identity fraud. I say this because they don’t have the resources personnel to protect our personal data. Government agencies have a tough time with this. Why would a routine business interaction request something that compromise themselves and their customers. Budget puts a target on themselves when they house that kind of sensitive data. Stop requesting data you can’t protect.

Less than one star. I rented a car from Budget from Bangor, Maine airport on 9/27/2025 and returned 9/29/2025. Credit card charges are the correct $371.77 (have rental contract) but my CC statement also indicates charges of $200 and $1371.77 from "Car Rental", not Budget. Budget denies that the extra, exorbitant charges. Their "agent" who confirmed a refund, a "Daniel **," gave me three phone #'s to follow up. None are working #s. Budget billing has denied me a refund because CC statement doesn't indicate 'Budget." What's going on?

Reserved through Costco for 4 days. Got a rate of $368. After adding so many hidden fees the actual charge was over $650 The agent was RUDE. When we got to the spot the car was not there. Went to another agent and finally got the car. Total BAIT AND SWITCH company. Beware of sounds like they are now part of 3 other car companies. Will never use any of these three companies. Awful business practices!

On Oct. 17, 2025 I had a car reservation for a Toyota Rav 4 to be picked up at 10:30 a.m. I arrived at 10:30 a.m. there were two people working the booth. The young lady walked off and left the young man alone for 30 to 40 minutes as the lines got longer. I waited in the line from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Once I got to the reservation desk, I was asked what kind of car was my reservation for, I told the service representative and she stated, "Oh, I don't think we have anymore of those, but wait I think I can find you something similar." She wrote up a contract gave me the paperwork to go upstairs and they would give me a car there.

1 star is too good. I rented a car for 5 days in Charleston, SC and prepaid for the rental ($320). I had to wait 45 minutes for a car to be available (another person was waiting 3 hours!). Once I got to the hotel, I realized that having a car was not going to be a good idea. It is tough to park everywhere and the downtown was very walkable.... so I returned to the airport and returned the car. The Budget attendant in the garage, told me I didn't have to go inside, and to just drop the car off and I would be credited. WELL... I was not credited ANYTHING! Their fine print says if you prepay and drop the car off early, there is no credit. I didn't even have the car a few hours! THIS IS THEFT!!! I called customer service and also emailed, and they would not credit me anything. NEVER USE THEM!!!

This Rental car company is terrible. Their customer service is overseas and very difficult to understand. I wanted to move my reservation up by 2 days. It is booked over a month out. But they doubled my price, or if I cancel, they have $50 cancellation fee. Then, when I got hold of support, they couldn't find my reservation. Hell, I had a hard time understanding them. Terrible experience. Mt last rental I had a flat a few miles from the shop on the expressway. They do a lousy job of checking their vehicles. I wouldn't rent from them again, even if I had a gun pointed to my head.

Budget hired ** scammers working for them. They lack customer service, and it is difficult to understand them due to their thick ** accent. They charged my credit card even though I had never confirmed the transaction.

I rented a car from Budget at the Kona airport in Hawaii. On the 3rd day, the car wouldn't start after brunch. I called Budget Roadside Assistance and they told me it would cost me $127 to get someone to come jump, fix or tow the car. They want ME to pay to fix THEIR car??? ** They should have been bending over backwards to get their car operational again ASAP to minimize the impact to my family's vacation. When I rent a car, I assume the car is in good condition and well-maintained, not a piece of junk with a bad battery. And if something does happen, I expect the rental company to do everything in their power to fix the situation with as little impact to my vacation as possible.

This company needs to understand what customer service is about. Not give standard answers to problems. Ask for supervisor. No supervisor available to talk to customer. Will never rent from Budget Car Rental again. Problem was with the Tulsa Oklahoma rental.

I have rented cars from Budget for 30+ years. These guys have gone off the deep end. I was 3 days longer on the rental and they sent a certified letter to my house saying they were out looking for the car so they can tow it. These people have gone nuts. They charged me $450 dollars for recovery even though I returned the car immediately after the certified letter. I just called customer service to discuss this and the first two levels said "Does it really matter?" The supervisor would just put me on hold as I was talking in hopes that I would hang up. I asked her if I maybe called the wrong number and this was some kind of prank. She assured my this is just the way they are now. Odd.

We rented a 2024 Toyota Highlander at the Manchester, NH airport and were completely dissatisfied with both the customer counter wait time and the vehicle's condition. Upon arrival, we waited in line for about an hour. After finally completing the paperwork, we discovered that the Highlander was in poor shape. It had only been partially cleaned, as if minimal effort had been made, and it should have been properly cleaned before being handed over to a customer. The front floor carpeting was badly damaged, with large holes and tears.

I booked a premium car THREE MONTHS in advance and paid extra for quality — but they gave me a dirty, beat-up junker instead. The car was disgusting inside and out, with bugs smashed on the windshield, visible trash inside, and dents on the outside. Totally unacceptable! The customer service was even worse. The manager was rude, arrogant, and completely dismissive, acting like my concerns didn’t matter at all. I was undermined, disrespected, and ignored from start to finish. This company is a scam and a joke. They take your money, downgrade your car, and treat you horribly when you speak up. I will NEVER rent from them again and strongly suggest everyone go elsewhere. Save yourself the headache — this place is trash.

I booked a car for 7 days. Just was notified the Airline bumped my flight from Tues to Wed. One Day! I called Budget to add a day and they said $52 extra! So I canceled the reservation and only paid $50 fee. NEVER AGAIN WILL I RENT FOMR BUDGET CAR RENTAL!!

Flew from Phoenix to Denver. Took as long to get rental as it did to fly there. 30-40 stations in building only 4 people working. Someone added gas service charges without my authorization. Called customer service about it before returning car told me it was removed. I returned car full but was still billed for it. Disputing charges as we speak.

I am writing today to warn everyone to stop using BUDGET CAR RENTAL!!!! I rented a car from MIA Airport 7/31/2025 and returned the rental 8-4-2025!!! When I picked up the car the window was broken, garbage left in car from Burger King and it was disgusting. I went back into airport and made a complaint but, because I paid online they could not help me or give me another car that day! They gave me a number to call and get a credit.

Budget charges me $250 for the cleaning up the sand on the driver side and passenger side floor pads. This is a ridiculous charge I never had before with a rent car. Do they expect me to do a full cleaning up before I return the car? Also, a charge $250 for cleaning the sand is way too high, the only thing was sand on the driver's side and passenger side floor pads, vacuuming should clean up the sand. When I returned the car, I asked the clerk/agent to fully check the car, but he didn't tell me anything then. They are robbing customers.

Reserved car a month in advance. Flew to Orlando. Followed signs to parking garage and waited 45 mins for someone to show up just to be told I have to go inside. Get inside and wait 2 and a half hours to get to the counter (longer then flight). I get to counter just to be told I can't use a debit card it has to be on a credit card. No other car rental place in the airport had cars available. Luckily I found one off site that ended up costing me double. Two days later I get a email from Budget charging me a $50 no show fee. They can charge my card for that but not the car. Absolutely horrible customer service. Never had a problem with Enterprise but thought I would give Budget a chance. Never again!!

If I could give Budget no stars I would! Don’t rent from them. When I picked up my car they said they didn’t have the type I reserved. I seen one and asked why I couldn’t rent that one and was told it was reserved for someone else. I told them I had to return it at a different airport that was 30 minutes from the airport no flew into and was told there was no fee for returning there. When I received my bill they charged me me $300 for returning but to a different airport. $300 is crazy! This company brakes advantage is horrible. When I called and questioned the charge they basically said that’s too bad!

I have now rented twice with Budget. In both cases there was an issue with them providing the "CLASS" of vehicle I needed and reserved for the travel. In the first case, in Arizona, they claimed they had no SUV class, which I needed and tried to give me an open pickup instead which would not work at all. Eventually they relented and said that it was late to be preparing the class of car I had rented, but they did do it. The vehicle also had a dent which I was not informed of but it had already been marked on a previous inspection so not a problem but concerning.

Poor Customer Service, refused Credit Card that they took before, a Visa Credit Card! Manager rude. Destroyed my Vacation. Lost over $300 dollars in fees and Budget Corporate did nothing! Lying and stealing is Budget's Motto!

Budget was my worst nightmare. I booked gas car and when I got there, they offered me electric car. I could not take it as I had to travel interstate and did not have time for charging due to tight schedules. I called their customer support to get a gas car close to me and even at the airports of Washington DC. Answer was they do not have gas car at all. All my plans were messed up. I will never rent from budget again and I am also filing complaint.

Deceptive Practices at Budget Car Rental – Beware! I booked a car rental with Budget through Costco, picking up the vehicle at the SMF rental location. Despite verbally declining insurance coverage multiple times with the rental agent, I later discovered that $175 worth of insurance had been added to my invoice without my consent.

Our rental broke down because the battery died. We got it going but had to pull over a block later. Privacy code or something. Waited for a tow truck that Cust service sent but when we got back out to the Denver airport location customer service agent Brandon went above and beyond to make sure that our every last need was met with assuredness reliability and integrity. He turned a completely negative situation into a positive one and that’s why we do business with Budget. No hidden fees. No scams like NU and the others. Just straight forward rentals. I won’t use anyone but budget.

Last time they gave me a lower grade car. Today October 10, 2025, I went to the fast break window because they claim the envelope will be there, just grab it and go but no envelope and no one working. I went back to the terminal with 30 people waiting online, many fastbreak customers in the same situation. I called customer service and they said fill out a survey. Avis had people ask working. I used Budget many times in the past. No more, I'll take my business elsewhere. Company is a joke. Check other reviews on other sites. Average rating 1.3 stars.

We didn't realize until we were at our first destination that we were given the wrong vehicle. We thought we were given a hybrid by mistake, we rented gas, but discovered it was full electric. Customer service was horrible! No help at all. We were outright lied to. I've been home over a week trying to work this out. Complete run around. We were also charged for insurance that was never agreed to.

I would give a negative star if I could. After being scammed for $450 for what they claim with smoke damage, I have disputed this fraudulent charge for months with my credit card and with budget. I even had an agent verify that the recon vehicle report did not state anything wrong with the car when I returned it. After going online and reading pages of the same cleaning scam by Budget Car Rental, run! Pay the higher fees at another car rental because if you rent from budget, you’re gonna be paying fees at the end of the day for fraudulent accusations.

Never Again, never again. Budget robbed me w/o a weapon. Rent a car for 1 day, (Thursday, turned back in on Friday) and charged my account $343. and change. Then to top it all off, had the audacity to run my credit as if I was purchasing/leasing the vehicle. By the way, the car I rented was a small economy car. Do the Math folks, I was robbed. Beware of them and watch what out for the fast talking they do to ensure you're not me when dealing with them. This is for the Budget @ Love Field Airport. I should have went next door to Hertz instead.

I just want to say Pelani was really the best customer service rep at the counter. There was three other girls, one was on her phone literally phone to her ear, pregnant, being so insanely rude to her customer. I was so glad I did not have to go to her. If I had to give anybody 5 stars it would be Pelani. I hope I spelled her name right. I told her that her name was beautiful and she made me laugh saying like me I hope! She got me into a nicer car. I booked a compact but she upgraded me for only $10 extra a day which is a steal with everything being so high! Anyways the first had low tire sign so she got me into one without it her and I believe his name was H? He was nice as well. I’m giving this four stars because the other counter people were rude and the first car had low tire pressure. But hope she gets a raise!

Beware of gas return scam!!! The car was nice. We filled the car up with gas 5 minutes from the airport, even re-engaging the pump after it turned itself off to make sure it was full. The gas needle was showing full. We turned it in with no trouble. Later we received a bill for $18 because it was 1 gallon short!!! After calling Budget they said the gallon used was from driving from the gas station (3.1 miles away) to the airport!! This is a scam if you don’t pay for them to fill your car up at an up charge price!!

We rented the car in Bangor, Maine airport. Went to Acadia National Park-low tire warning. Had to leave Bar Harbor automotive. Found out tires were over inflated. Continued our trip in Woodstock, NH. Tire warning. Informed all 4 tires worn. Back tires had to have patches put on. Budget Bangor airport should have checked those tires. It could have been a disaster.

My wife and I had the most horrible experience with Budget Car Rental in Denver. When we arrived at the airport, we found a very long line at the Budget counter. After waiting for nearly an hour, we finally reached the front, only to be told that cars were “in high demand,” and therefore our rate would be tripled. Feeling pressured and unsure if the man behind the counter was being truthful, we went ahead and paid $1,466.59 for seven days, a shocking amount. Later, we discovered that the same rental online was only about $500 for the same time period. They gave us an ugly Bronco at that. Never again will Budget get another dime from us.

Below 0 rating! Terrible customer service in the Burleson/Fort Worth, Tx area. I will never rent from Budget ever again! Overbooked, location closed early with no explanation which we all were waiting outside not knowing what was going on. My advice is rent from another business.

Prepaid for rental car was a breeze but at the rental car desk took on Gas service option which was told would be refunded if returned with a full tank of gas. I filled the tank and two weeks later never received a refund. They do not answer the phone when trying to question when I would get my refund. Such a scam.

I booked intermediate SUV from Costco travel for $359. We reached around 9pm to the car rental to pick up our car. After waiting in line for an hour, we have been told that the car we booked is not available. We either need to get an electric car or pay extra to get an upgrade. I never drove electric before and we were going for road trip. I asked them to give me us smaller car but they refused. So we were forced to pay extra for an upgrade and we end up paying $1030 (minus $250 for insurance) for the same reservation. There are lot of hidden fees as well. Never going chose Budget for car rental again.

I was turned away at the counter in Portland, OR on 8/13/25 after waiting in line for 30 minutes at 10PM. I had a valid reservation that was refused. Upon complaint to customer service, I was given a voucher for a 3 day rental, which I had one of their customer reps make for me in Phila., Pa. When returned the car I was astonishingly billed full price. I was told the reservation was changed and the voucher voided. I can assure you it wasn't me that changed the reservation. Clearly this is a completely untrustworthy company. I will never, ever rent from them again and advise you to keep as much distance between you and Budget as possible.

Absolutely the WORST customer service in the world!!! I picked up a car at Phoenix airport last night - which that itself took 1.5 hours and was a disaster. When I went to the spot they told me it was a different car rented to someone else. They switched the car out and I left - as I get on the freeway an alarm is going off- the tire pressure is low in one tire. It’s after midnight and my girls are exhausted because it took forever to get the car. We get to the hotel and this morning try to put air in the fire which is now down to 10psi. There’s a piece of metal in the tire.

I called Budget directly to book a reservation. They quoted me a price, (given me being a Costco member I qualified for a discount). They charged my card for the purchase. (I wasn't aware I got charged right away because I was told I would pay at the counter upon checkout). I get to the checkout counter--After waiting nearly ONE HOUR, behind 25-30 other customers in the line at the airport, mind you- which was a longer wait than my flight halfway across the country. I returned my rental, no issues. Came to look at my credit card statement and saw I was charge twice. Once on the day I booked ($348 with Costco discount) and then again upon pickup ($385 no discount). I called Budget. They asked I sent an email with proof. I did. I sent credit card statement. A week goes by and I got no response. Emailed again- generic email response.

I am completely dissatisfied with this company. I went for a weekend to see my daughter for her first baby shower and ended up with an $800 bill. They did NOT go over the mileage limitations at all. If I had known about that I would have gone somewhere else. I had to drive over 50 miles from the airport to see my family. So just driving to and from the airport would have completely used up the "free" miles. This company is a scam and deceptive. I would never recommend this place. You should be ashamed of yourself. Deceive hardworking people like that. Your company caused quite a strain on me financial. I am on a strict budget and what you did hurt me. Shame on you!!!

I will never rent from Budget Rental again. I wanted to ask a second driver. I asked the representative three times if I had to be there or if the second driver could just take an Uber to the airport and add her driver's license information. The representative insisted I did not have to be there. When my sister got there. I had to be there. Budget does not hire English speaking representatives in an English speaking country of the USA. He could not understand what I was asking, and I could barely understand him. I will never rent from this company. Horrible, horrible, horrible

Do not ever rent here. I have rented cars 100+ times and this place rims a scam. On September 28th at 4:10am I returned my rental full on gas and caught my flight heading back to Tampa. The following afternoon on the 29th my card is billed for $100 towards gas even though it was full and they claimed I didn’t return the car until the 29th. Taking my rental fee of $77 to $280. Now I’m stuck on the phone with the airlines for hours to prove I was on the flight. Dropping the car off the worker told me I was good to go. Absolute scam. Don’t let it happen to you.

Customer service is a joke. It takes so long to get to a human that their answering script begins by apologizing for the long hold. A customer is not allowed to speak to anyone even in the same country as the rental. Impossible to speak to someone at the location of the rental. The AI routing tree cannot comprehend anything outside a very limited number of key words. I would like to say this is the worst customer service experience I’ve had, but unfortunately this is the way mega businesses now run their services. The customer service is very bad but no worse than any other uncaring profit center. These corporations expect loyalty from vicinity provide none in return.

I used this company to get me home from a long trip returning late at night. The price was right, so it was way cheaper than to pay for parking or to get an Uber or Taxi. When I returned the car the next day and received my receipt over email, the cost increased by 34%. When I called customer service, they said I did not return it with full gas, which I did. I had to tell them where I got gas, how much I put in, what the total cost was, how many miles it was from the airport, etc., etc. After the representative who was from some other country came back on, she told me she could not remove the charge because I filled up more than five miles from the airport. That is a charge of $35 per gallon charged, if I used a half gallon to get there ($2.74 per gallon, so for $1.38 worth of gas). What a rotten company. I am disputing the charge with my credit card company, and will never use this deceptive trash organization ever again.

Once she drew up the new paperwork I noticed that the total was now $242.12. I asked her why it was so much more when I had prepaid for it, and she said it was due to the deposit that I had to put down and I would be reimbursed that amount after returning the car. I also noticed the the new paperwork that she drew up had Lorton Virginia listed as the return location and not Albany NY where we had specified in the original reservation. When I asked her about that she said it didn't matter because we are allowed to return the vehicle to any budget location. I should have known better but we were on a time crunch so I dismissed my intuition, signed all of the paperwork, and left with the vehicle. The vehicle itself was clean and undamaged. While driving back to Albany I noticed that my credit card was charged for $442.12. This was in addition to the $127 that was already charged.

Horrendous, I was charged 125.00 dollars for having left a water bottle and a cardboard box which the agent at the airport when I left the car. I had asked if he wanted me to throw away and he said no, that he would easily take care of. Had he said he would charge me 125 dollars to remove it, I would of just done it myself. They lost a customer forever.

Terrible customer service. The car was great, the local agent was great. But I signed up for Prepay and the online system defaulted to a 2 day rental, when I wanted and only used the car for 1 day. I spoke to agent at pick up to change the return date and he said with Prepays is call Customer Service. I returned the car within 12 hours, tank full, excellent t condition. I received a receipt showing 1 day charges/usage. The Customer Service people were rude, dismissive and told me they would make no adjustments. They said it was in the contract terms that there could be no change to a Prepay. That is absolutely contrary to what the local Budget rental owner told me.

I want to keep it short. We are getting charged for something that we did not do. Please do a thorough check of the vehicle before you leave the lot. We tried to tell our side of the story but we got run around in circles. Our Vacation was wasted! I am not scared to put this review out since our experience with this company was horrible.

Would Not use. The vehicle (box truck) I used leaked on the interior and all over my belongings. I contacted them and it took them weeks to respond after our first conversation several messages spoke to supervisor and was never called back. After three months of unanswered text emails and calls they said I did not respond fast enough to get compensation lol

I rented a car from the Akron, Ohio location on west market street. I was given a Telluride and the horn did not work. The way I found out was because a car was pulling out the driveway as I was passing and I tried to blow my horn and it didn’t work. I was traveling out of town and had to turn around to return the car. The guy at the front desk wanted me to drive the car to another location (Although it illegal to drive a car without a working horn) because of that I asked to speak to a manager. He never let me speak to the manager and called someone on his personal cell phone and stated I needed to fill up the vehicle. I asked again to speak to a manger, which he then states that he the person on his cell said to add the gas to my rental agreement and put me into a van. When I told him a car almost hit me he laughed like it was funny!!

I waited over an hour in line at DTW with no updates or accountability from your staff. This caused a major delay to my travel plans. The service was unacceptable, and I want this escalated and documented. I expect a refund or credit applied to my account…. Which you credited me, but then because they were having a hell of a time with reservations, I had to rebook right there and once I did, it had me return time at 8:30…. Two hours away which wth. I asked for it to be fixed and I was looked at like I had three heads.

I've been at Avis preferred member and I had to use Budget rent a car and the customer service with Avis and budget or hand by hand that sets the stage you have an employee by the name of John that navigates you and makes you feel welcome and appreciate it and helps you understand the logistics of budget and Avis. As a preferred member I have to say you have a shining star.

Renter beware! I rented a worn out car with burn holes in the driver’s seat yesterday from Budget’s location at the Orlando/Sanford airport in Sanford Florida. The original rental agreement was to pick it up in Sanford and then drive it to Ohio by Sunday the 21st of September 2025 and drop it off at the John Glenn airport in Columbus, OH. The reason I was doing this was due to picking someone up in Florida because the person did not have a “Real ID” or a passport. Today (9/18/2025) I was informed that this person would be unable to travel now and would not be able to until October. So, I made a return plane reservation leaving tomorrow (9/19/2025). I then called Budget and informed them of my need to amend my rental agreement and was told that I would be charged for the additional two days and charge me an additional $12.00 to drop the car off at the very same location I picked it up at. Never again. Budget, bad business on your part.

I wanted to cancel my reservation more than 10 days out and they charged me $50 to cancel. I called customer service to discuss and was on the phone 20 minutes and they hung up on me. I could understand a fee to cancel within 24 hours, but not 10+ days out. No other rental agency I've dealt with does that. Bottom line - don't rent a car from Budget!

After renting a vehicle from Budget, I found out days later that I had an additional charge on my credit card. They charged me for an additional day because I picked up the car at 9:18 A.M. instead of 10:00 A.M. An additional charge of 80.17 was charged. Hours of operation for that Scranton/Wilkes-Barre started at 10:00 A.M. I will no longer be using Budget in the future. Stay away from this company!!

I will never use Budget car rental or Thrifty because they booked you for one fee, you get to the pickup counter, there’s another fee, in my case $96 and to top it off, I received a charge of $111 for toll fee when I only cross Whitestone Bridge going to JFK only once. This is crazy.

We rented and paid for a car in Panama City Beach so that we could drive our rv down. When we got here we was told that we didn't qualify. We should have been told that online so we could have brought our car. It's not right for you to get somewhere thinking you have a car and don't. You should be told on the website where you pay for it that you don't qualify not when you get there. That is totally not right. We are trying to have a great vacation but this is not starting it off great. Now we have to wait 3 to 5 days to get our money back. This company should do better on letting people know 100% sure they have their car completely rented when they get here to get it.

Misleading business practices. Overcharging. Hidden Fees. My $396 rental quote turned into a $621 charge once my credit card bill arrived. The amount quoted at the counter was not honored. I will NEVER rent from Budget again.

When I arrived in Portland, Maine, I wondered why I was the only person in the Budget line. I generally use Enterprise, but budget had a better rate this particular time. It wasn’t until I was paying my credit card bill that I saw that I was charged nearly twice the original estimate. Taxes and fees were included in the original they were added to the final. I was charged a one-way fee that was never discussed and when I made the reservation, it was a one-way reservation. I will be talking to Budget, the Better Business Bureau and the FTC. This just reeks of unfair business practice others have complained about it and it continues. Even if I can get this cleared up, it is not worth my time and frustration.

Terrible experience. We rented a car in Las Vegas and declined all add-ons, clearly stating we would use our own insurance. Upon returning the vehicle, Budget charged us over $150 in unexpected fees. Most frustratingly, although we had filled up the gas tank before returning the car—and our receipt confirmed it was full—they still charged us for 6 gallons of fuel. We called twice. The first time, they assured us the charge would be refunded. But after a few days, the charge remained. When we called again, a representative told us they would not issue a refund. Absolutely ridiculous. Very disappointing experience with Budget.

We reserved a car in Columbus, OH. The car reeked of smoke, we did not have time to go back to rental desk to request a new car. We started the car and a warning light “service soon” came on. It took us 20 minutes jumping thru hoops to get the app to work for exiting the parking lot! We now realize why they are called ‘Budget”. Never use them again!

Total disaster at the LAX location, not enough reps for the amount of customers standing in line. We’ve been waiting for more than 30 minutes and the line is going to be at least 30 more! Budget should not exceed their capacity, this is an abuse!

We can confirm that the customer was charged for the missing vehicle documents identified during the standard vehicle inspection after the rental period. Please find attached all relevant documents. No can tell me what these documents are. Just charged me.

Rented a car and had to wait in a long line because they only had one person working the counter. Was asked about insurance and declined and pushed to sign and hurry up so she could get to the next person in line. Did not give me any printout so I could check and just rushed me to leave. When I got to my destination I called to ask if I was charged and was assured I was not but when I got back my credit card was overcharged. Called to ask why. They said it was the insurance. Told the guy I refused it and he stated, "Yes you did. We will refund you as you did not sign for it," and then waited and never got my refund. Called back and they said the request was refused because I did sign but have refused to provide me a copy of my signature. Do not ever rent from them. I still do not have a receipt nor any signature proof. Will be seeking legal.