Payless Car Rental Reviews

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About Payless Car Rental

This profile has not been claimed by the company. See reviews below to learn more or submit your own review.

Payless Car Rental offers car rental services. Operating in the United States and select international markets, Payless provides a range of vehicles from economy to full-size models.

Pros
  • Good vehicle quality
Cons
  • Unexpected charges and fees

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Payless Car Rental Reviews

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    Page 1 Reviews 0 - 10
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    Customer ServicePunctuality & Speed

    Reviewed March 4, 2026

    Please stay far away from this rental company I have requested a receipt for reimbursement ELEVEN times and I am still waiting despite them saying no problem we will send it. Horrible customer service, 3 different ways to get a receipt but none of them work. Just a horrible, all around inept company. I never write reviews but if I can save someone the aggravating experience of dealing with these people, I will.

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    Customer ServicePriceBillingResolution

    Reviewed Jan. 30, 2026

    I rented a car from them. After I returned the car they charged my credit card 2 times. I tried to resolve it with the manager, sent him email and left him messages but no respond. Finally I had to put a dispute on those charges.

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      Customer ServiceContract & TermsCoverageSales & MarketingPriceStaffRatesHonesty & Transparency

      Reviewed Jan. 28, 2026

      This franchise location is a complete scam. After talking with Payless corporate, their insurance is optional. We have our normal Allstate coverage and purchased more travel insurance to be safe. After arriving, we were intentionally deceived by the sales rep stating they wouldn't accept either insurance coverage and then threatened us to be stuck there with no vehicle unless I purchased their insurance. I reluctantly agreed so my wife and I wouldn't be stranded. The sales rep again lied stating the lowest insurance costs us $151.99, which was 3x the original price we originally paid. I only learned of this scam after I got back stateside and had the ability to further investigate their claims.

      I just received an email from the manager Alma ** stating he has audio and video recording of what transpired. Convenient how he pointed out me signing the rental agreement without the context of my ignorance in assuming they were acting on good faith in their business practice. They were intentionally deceitful in upselling me unneeded coverage (again, we were already twice insured) at a higher coverage costs in, which the rep told me that was the cheapest coverage available. Basically, if you like to waste money, be lied to, and have no accountability on who you do business with, they're great. But should you want an honest service, avoid this franchise scam.

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      Customer Service

      Reviewed Jan. 25, 2026

      Never use them. Cabo San Lucas Mexico airport. First they said they didn't have my reservation. I called US customer service, who confirmed the reservation, then refused to call the local office, and when I insisted hung up on me. Payless then tried to send me to Budget (owned by the same parent company) to rent MY RESERVED CAR for 4 times as much.

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      Customer ServicePricePunctuality & SpeedRefunds & Payouts

      Reviewed Dec. 5, 2025

      Absolutely awful. Charged $445.54 with them saying I returned the car 2 days late, when in fact I returned it a day early. Had to just through hoops, sending my hotel, airline and check bag fees. They kept hanging up me and saying they were getting disconnected? Then they when into a litany of off the wall questions that had nothing to do with the actual return of the car? I answered all of them and the they said they couldn't open the PDF files of the receipts I sent. The gas door wouldn't open on the car and I had to have a mechanic open if with an emergency release string located inside the car. Tried to tell the attendant when I checked in the car and they could have careless. So, some poor slob is going to through the same issues I had.

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      Customer ServiceCoverageTechSales & MarketingPunctuality & SpeedOnline & AppRefunds & PayoutsStaffBillingHonesty & Transparency

      Reviewed Nov. 27, 2025

      I recently had the worst experience I have ever had with a car rental company. We reserved a car for pickup at the Guadalajara Airport and paid for insurance through the app where the reservation was made. Upon arrival, we waited an hour and a half before an agent assisted us. When we explained that we had already purchased insurance, the agent insisted that Payless Rent a Car only accepts their own insurance and refused to honor the coverage we had paid for. This made no sense, as the reservation platform clearly offered that insurance option. Her response was “that is your problem not ours.”

      The agent told us we would need to either purchase Payless’s insurance or leave a $5,000 dollars deposit. When I asked to speak with the manager, she came out with a very unprofessional attitude. While I was frustrated, I did not disrespect anyone. My husband, who does not speak Spanish, was with me, so I asked if the manager could speak English so he could be part of the conversation. She responded, “I don’t speak English in this moment,” confirming that she could speak it but refused to. She then accused me of being rude and told us to leave—all because we declined to purchase their insurance. We left and went to Hertz instead. Within 40 minutes, we had a car with no issues. Hertz only asked for $600 refundable deposit, and our credit card covers damages, so no additional insurance was required. This experience with Payless was unacceptable, unprofessional, and misleading.

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      Customer ServiceCoveragePricePunctuality & SpeedStaffRates

      Reviewed Nov. 9, 2025

      Extremely disappointing experience with Payless at Los Angeles Airport. I rented a Tesla Model 3 that was dirty, poorly maintained, and had a completely damaged steering wheel. The car was also missing the charging adapter, which made it impossible to charge at my hotels – even though my route and accommodations were planned around that.

      I immediately reported everything at pickup and later by email (with photos). For over two weeks, I received only apologies and generic replies from five different agents. No real solution, no urgency. Eventually, they offered me USD 100 compensation, which doesn’t even cover the extra Tesla Supercharger costs, let alone the time and frustration. If this is how Payless defines customer service, I strongly recommend renting elsewhere. Cheap rates mean nothing if the car is in bad condition and support doesn’t take responsibility.

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      Price

      Reviewed Nov. 5, 2025

      Horrible. I just got charged $219.80 for going on multiple toll roads for a state that I didn't even go to. On the reports it states that I was driving different "class" vehicles every time. I am trying to fight it right now but they keep saying there is nothing they can do.

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      Sales & MarketingPunctuality & SpeedRefunds & Payouts

      Reviewed Oct. 23, 2025

      Oh my gosh. This is the absolutely worst car rental. 1 yes 1 person working and a line out the door at the Phoenix airport counter. Slow slow and I waited in like for 2 HOURS and no lines anywhere else, BUT they won't refund if you cancel. What a SCAM!!!! Don't go here, really.

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      Customer ServicePunctuality & SpeedRefunds & PayoutsTimelinessHonesty & Transparency

      Reviewed Sept. 23, 2025

      I reserved a minivan 3 months ago for my family and I to travel to Hoosier National Forest. We were scheduled to pick the van up and the Indianapolis International Airport on 9.18 and 7 pm. Upon arriving, I was told by a gentleman at the desk that all of the cars had been recalled and they did not have a vehicle for me. He asked if I received a text, phone call, or email. I had not.

      My questions to him where:
      Why wasn't a car/van found at another location and brought here for us to rent?
      Why wasn't I called, text, or emailed?
      Why didn't you reserve a car for us at another company in the airport and then send an email, text, or call?

      He had no response for any of these answers.

      When I called Payless customer service and asked these same questions, they first asked me to verify my rental by my email address- I gave it to them. They let me know they sent an email earlier in the day, letting me know that my rental was cancelled. I told them I never received the email in which they replied, "that's because we don't have your email address." Okay- so you just asked for my email address to verify my rental, but now you don't have it.

      The CSR said they would hold a car for me for the following day, and we could get a hotel at the airport, to which I asked, Where they planning to provide vouchers and/or pay for the hotel? The answer was no. I asked them how they planned to make it right and the response was they weren't going to. We ended up paying $250.00 for an Uber to our location. I WOULD NEVER RENT FROM THEM AGAIN - terrible customer service, dishonest, zero problem resolution. Steer clear.

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      Payless Car Rental author review by Lauren Fix

      As an Avis subsidiary, Payless Car Rental operates more than 120 retail locations under a combined corporate and franchise model.

      • One-way rentals: Travelers can expand their reach and make work travel more convenient by picking up a vehicle at one location and dropping it off at another. Renter also have a choice of 15 different vehicles including economy cars, minivans, SUVs and 12 passenger vans.

      • Loyalty program: The Perks Club provides a streamlined reservation and check-in process.

      • Last-minute pricing: When booking ahead, renters usually get the lowest pricing, but Payless Car Rental also accommodates last-minute bookings with specials based on the pickup location.

      • Discounts: Partner organizations get discounts, like the five percent discount offered to all AARP members. Save 10 percent on monthly rentals or when you book more than 30 days in advance. Sign up for the newsletter for additional discounts.

      • Early-pay discounts: When renters book at least one day in advance and pay at the time of booking, they can save up to 20 percent. Cancellation fees apply to this type of booking.

      by Lauren Fix Auto & Finance Advisor

      Lauren Fix, The Car Coach®, is a nationally recognized automotive expert, sector analyst, journalist, author, keynote speaker and television host. A trusted car expert, Lauren provides an insider’s perspective on a wide range of automotive topics and aspects, energy, industry, consumer news and safety issues. Her analysis is honest and straightforward. Lauren is the CEO of Automotive Aspects and the Editor-in-Chief of Car Coach Reports, a global automotive news outlet. She is an automotive contributor to national and local television news shows including Fox News, Fox Business, CNN International, The Weather Channel, Inside Edition, Local Now News, NewsMax, The Daily Flash show and more.

      Payless Car Rental Company Information

      Company Name:
      Payless Car Rental
      Year Founded:
      1971
      Address:
      P.O. Box 699000
      City:
      Tulsa
      State/Province:
      OK
      Postal Code:
      74169-9000
      Website:
      www.paylesscar.com