Budget Car Rental Reviews 5,633

Unclassifiable service. Unprepared and arrogant operators.

My husband and I bought a car from Budget Car in Tifton Georgia. Everything was great. The staff were friendly and help us maneuver Everything that we needed smoothly.

We rented an intermediate car and we were given a small compact car. When I called and complained the agent said he would refund us $50.00. He never did, so when I called in to request the refund I spoke to a gentleman who didn't speak very good English and had me repeat my reservation number a few times. After being on the call for 1/2 hour I was told that I would not receive a refund so I asked to speak to a supervisor who really didn't care about customer service. I will never rent from them again.

If I could assign them a negative rating, I would. Given their already poor 1.2-star rating, it appears that they are not inclined to rectify this issue.
I reserved a 12-passenger passenger van to transport a group of 10 youth lacrosse players to Columbus for the Ohio State lacrosse game.
Upon arriving at CAK airport, I proceeded to the counter. Greeting the attendant, I inquired about the availability of transportation. The attendant, DL, responded with a curt “Name… DL… that’s it! No good morning sir, how may I help you today?”
I presented my DL and insurance card, intending to retrieve my debit card from my wallet. However, the attendant informed me that credit cards were the only accepted form of payment. I clarified that my card was a Visa, which could be processed as a credit card. Despite my explanation, the attendant reiterated that they did not accept Visa cards.
I had only one credit card, which I had designated for emergencies. I expressed my concern about the inconvenience, as I had 10 children waiting for me. The attendant responded with a shrug, seemingly indifferent to my situation.
I then contacted Budget, explaining the situation to the customer service representative. I pointed out that my reservation did not specify the required payment method. The representative responded that I was responsible for locating this information. I questioned why I would need to search for this requirement, as it should have been clearly stated before finalizing the reservation. If this was an equipment rental, it should have been mentioned before the reservation was confirmed.
I requested a manager, who provided the same information and offered no solution. I asked for a transcript of the conversation so that I could file a complaint. I was informed that I could provide information.
I retrieved my credit card from my phone wallet app and returned to the counter. While the attendant was engaged in a conversation with another coworker about his phone, I was finally addressed with just a look. I informed him that I had one card that I could use. I presented it on my phone, but the attendant insisted that they did not accept it. I reminded him that he had previously stated that I needed to use a credit card.
The attendant then clarified that the card must be physical. However, I found no mention of this requirement on the website.
I departed, leaving 12 individuals, including 10 children, without transportation. Over $400 in tickets had been forfeited. Your staff had ruined the children’s opportunity to attend the annual game we attend together. Your response to this situation was nothing more than a shrug. With the economy being the way it is you would think that customer service would be of importance. Not at Budget. They can SHRUG off any loss of sales.

I made my reservation online and picked up the vehicle on March 3, 2026. The vehicle was filthy. Was not vacuumed or a clean interior. Sticky wheel and the vehicle smelled like smoke, even though the window sticker says, "no smoking". No other vehicles were available, so I was stuck with this one. Upon leaving the lot, the attendant said I couldn't take the vehicle as it was sold. I had to unpack my luggage, return back to the counter. The issue was resolved 1/2 hr. later and left with the same vehicle. While using the car, the brakes were squeaking and pulsing as they needed replacement. My return was on March 5, 2026, at 4:45pm. At the counter, no receipt was available, they said I had to wait 24-48 hrs. The following day I called Budget and asked for receipt. I was again told the vehicle was not checked in and the receipt is unavailable. I was told to call the return location to speak with the counter. I tried calling the return location numerous times with the calls being either forwarded to a non-working number or customer service where I was told nothing could be done until the return location checked in the vehicle. The branch and Budget should be ashamed to rent a vehicle in this condition. It shouldn't take 4 days to provide a receipt for a rental.
Once I finally received my receipt, the total charges stated $351.41. My pre-paid amount is $353.38, I should get a credit and that was not displayed on the receipt so now I have to contact customer service AGAIN. The receipt also states that my vehicle being a Volvo with a non-matching license plate number from the Hyundai I was given.
3/9/26 @11:11am called customer service 1-800-527-0700, review the sent receipt which has the wrong rental vehicle information, i.e. Volvo vs Hyundai and license plate number. Customer rep. said they put in a ticket to correct the vehicles, and I should hear back from someone within 24 hours.

This was my first time using Budget and will be the last.

Lots of scams at play at the Dublin Airport branch. Firstly, they quoted a price for insurance and then added it to the rental price and asked me to pay. I noticed it was much more and they apologised and said they quoted an old price and that it was more now. When I returned the car they checked it and all was in order. They explained the would return the full deposit in three days. I asked how much they would return and they gave me the correct figure but then returned £21 less with no explanation. A day after this they took a further £21 from my account with no explanation. They know that when you’re not in the country it’s not worth calling them internationally for this amount to be returned. Scammers. I’ll never use them again

Rented a car with budget. Called to add my loyalty number, so they charged me more. Literally thats it. Didn't change anything else about my reservation. Will never rent with budget again.

We rented a car from Budget Rent a Car at Miami International Airport from December 29, 2025 – January 6, 2026).
At the counter we were offered several add-ons, which we explicitly declined, except for SunPass. The agent assured us that the contract only included our original booking plus SunPass. Trusting this, my husband signed the contract without reviewing every detail.
Later, when we checked the contract online, we discovered that several additional products had been added without our consent, increasing the total charges by $540.83.
It is extremely disappointing to experience a rental agent saying one thing verbally and then adding extra charges to the contract.
If you rent from Budget, read every line of the contract carefully at the counter and do not rely solely on what the agent tells you.

Budget PHX Arizona - Airport.
Not such a great rental experience. Rental car had a flat tire (blowout) within 12 hours of rental. Phone support mediocre, return counter not helpful until I talked to a local manager. Honestly, I am hesitant to use this company again for future rentals.

Absolutely a despicable company Budget Heathrow Airport.
I asked for basic insurance and wack me with Super Damage Waiver which was £400 they added this Super Theft Protection £79.07 never asked for that… some additional products what ever the heck that is £187.04. Location surcharge £174.42.

See they hide the information until the end and then run through the agreement via a computer screen, they scroll through and tell you where to sign, and that’s it before you can double check anything they have you!!
In my case that’s £1072.00 so over £800 in added charges for 11 days of hire.

I only seriously knew this after I’d signed the agreement, when my wife informed me of the cost from Budget Car hire, back in Canada through our banking app.

Yes it’s on the agreement, but they fold it in half so you see your details and car information.
The price of the agreement is at the back page, it’s all very thought through via the salesperson.

When I went to book it through Westjet, the price of the car was £205 (this all includes 20%VAT).

After find out this price I was literally about to drive back 3 hours to the pick up / drop off point to returned the car and cancel the whole thing, try and deduce this horrendous cost, because when I was collecting the car I mentioned about possibly dropping the car off early by a day or two.
The salesman assured me, that you only get charged for the day you use the car!!

Well that’s a complete and utter lie!!

I found this out by actually going through their terms and conditions, if you return early, for any reason they will still charge you for the day not used in the agreement!

So this company is a con!
It’s not a hire company, it’s a sales person looking after their own pocket!!

This salesman was trying very hard to tell me not to fill up at the petrol station before dropping it off and let them do it!!
This also is a huge con, it would have been another extremely expensive add-on £3:03 per litre.
At the petrol / gas station it was £1:35 per litre.

I honestly hope you go out of business Budget!!
I hope everyone avoids you like the plague!!

So for anyone that is reading this I’d beg you to listen and take note…..
DO NOT USE BUDGET CAR HIRE!! EVER!!
Worst company ever!!
You have been warned!!

As for me, this is my promise to you Budget you will never have my business ever again!
None of my family will ever use you so you have lost their business.
I will personally tell everyone that ever asks me about traveling to the UK from Alberta, and trust me that a lot of people in my line of work!! never to use Budget car hire!!

** LAX REVIEW **

** IMPORTANT PLEASE READ BEFORE SIGNING ANYTHING **

When you arrive at the check in desk, please use your phone to record all conversations. Use video also for peace of mind. They will attempt to scam you and add packages that you most likely do not want or need. Then its too late and they will not refund.

Booked a car through BA holidays so all was pre paid.
Was told on pick up to return the car full of fuel.
Returned the car with full fuel and this was confirmed by drop off rep.
Now been charged an extra 145 USD for fuel package.
They also added extended roadside cover, we specifically requested this not to be added.
Both options added without our consent, the rep will just gloss over things and get you to sign in a hurry. They are very likely on commission.
Get a voice / video recording before you sign confirming that no chargeable extras have been added.

Please be careful with this company at LAX as they are scamming customers.

If I could put 0 stars , I would customer service is horrendous along with their billing service, I definitely will stay away from renting with Budget , and would put caution to people. We returned our rental car 2 minutes late and we were charged an extra day when I know for a fact there’s a “GRACE PERIOD” OF 30 minutes to return your car. This is not right!! Please beware of this, don’t let it happen to you!

Absolutely the worst rental car company! They have very long waiting time at SFO. It seems that they have poor logistics management, who oversold midsize SUVs and then let customs wait for cars in the "express" lane for a long time. The agents had no idea how long the wait would be since there were no SUV available. We got a downgrade to a sedan to avoid indefinite wait time. Then the car they gave us had a broken entertainment system, which blacked out or fully whited out several times, so we could not use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay on the car screen half of the time. When we returned the car, we filled it up a couple of miles from the airport, but then they claimed that we used 0.4 gallons and charged us fuel service. I used many rented car companies in the past 30 years in the U.S. and elsewhere and I never had such a poor rental experience! Stay away at all cost!

Updated on 03/02/26:
There was another extremely disappointing turn of event after we returned the car at 8:56pm and received the final bill after the agent inspected the car. Then later at night, we received a damage capture report stating that at 8:59pm the car was damaged at the left rear panel, with extremely fuzzy pictures and wrong rental checkout information. It seems that one of their own drivers backed up the car into a concrete wall and the driver panicked and then tried to blame us for it. This company is a total scam!

This review related to BUDGET CAR RENTAL located at NANTES airport in France.
Their MO seems to be to get you to drop the car back without them being present to avoid any inspection that can be contested there and then. The accused us of damaging the car and not replenishing fuel. Luckily we had photos. These guys are COMPLETE COWBOYS and not worthy of your custom. REPORT them to the authorities- lodge a case with the police- this is criminal activity.

Every business who uses or had customers who use the Kansas Turnpike had to adopt new policies to address the change of DriveKS going all electronic. The toll booths and collection locations no longer existing. Granted it was a challenge for the local and regional people to adopt, but nearly impossible for the occasional or new visitor to the area. Companies had many ways to address the change. Budget elected to make every renter of their vehicles, who planned on traveling on the Kansas Turnpike, to pause their travel in Budget’s parking lot or by the side of the road and fill out a 3-page application on the DriveKS WEB site to register the BUDGET vehicle with the Kansas authorities. Your customer could also pause and call Drive KS to register it. (Regardless if they had a WEB devise or a Phone or not). If you failed to do this or were unaware you were on a turnpike (no sign to that effect until you got to West Lawrence) Budget will charge you for the toll issued to BUDGET and a $50 penalty! They have lost a loyal customer over this issue and my treatment.

I reserved and paid for a car through Priceline. I got to St. Petersburg airport in Florida. I picked up my car. They added $400 in up charges to my existing reservation. I contacted customer service at budget and their response was "sorry". I will never use budget again

I got hung up on 4 times. After 30 or more minutes with one person got cut off. Talked to supervisor,waist of time.
Know other people who rented from budget. They got to airport and took 2 hours to get a car. Long line and only one agent.
Pick a better car rental!!!

Renting my car at Budget LGA for President's day weekend was a disaster. I'm a fastbreak member and my car was not assigned at fastbreak. I had to wait an hour in line with all the other poor people waiting there for hours. What's the point of Fastbreak then??? When I got to the counter, they told me the car class I reserved was not available. FYI, I paid for an oversize SUV because I was taking my family skiing for the week. They offered me a smaller car that I declined because it wasn't big enough. They said that all they can do is refund my money and I then I asked if they were going to refund me for my planned ski trip as well. Completely outrageous and ridiculous. The manager then came and said that I could wait in queue until a vehicle in the class I rented was returned. I asked how long that would take and he said he didn't know. I asked to be put in the queue and then took a walk on their parking lot. Low and behold, there were 2 vehicles in my class on the parking lot. When I asked another employee there about these cars, she told me these were employee cars. So, THE EMPLOYEES GET TO RIDE AROUND IN THESE EXPENSIVE VEHICLES (they were Budget cars, not personal vehicles) while I'm told that my car class isn't available. When the same manager stepped outside, I inquired about these cars and he said he is trying to get me one of the cars but that it had a check engine light which is why it wasn't available in their system. He said that he would have somebody take the car to the shop to see if it was an easy fix. I watched the person take the car, go to the other side of the parking lot, unload his personal belongings into another car and then brought it back to the pick up location at which point I was called into the office and given the necessary paperwork to rent the car. FYI, the car was filthy. Ended up waiting for about 3 hours to get my car. I was lied to and submitted to extra stress because their employees want to drive the fancy cars. THE AUDACITY!!!

I had reserved and paid for a rental and once I got to my rental counter, I was notified that there were no rentals available (mind you I received this information from a customer service rep from another car rental agency) Budget never notified me in any way and left me stranded at the airport. Very unhappy and will NEVER us Budget again!

Budget did not refund my deposit as they indicated they would and then when I advised them of this they are asking for a ridiculous amount of documentation. Just return the money that is mine!