Budget Rent A Car
reviews and complaints

I rented a car from BQN/Aguadilla airport in Puerto Rico. the moment I drove it away the steering wheel was pulling. Every time I parked the car it would get a flat. Vehc. had a leak in the tire. I was staying in Cabo Rojo Puerto Rico which is about an hour ride to he airport. I call Budget they tell me to bring it in for an exchange. I get there and wait over an hour for customer service. Customer service was awful, Rude and disrespectful of my time. They end up giving me a vehc. that smells like cigarettes, has cigarette burns and lots or lots of stains in the car and on the seats. I don't feel its fair to pay for a vehc. in that conditions. I have proof of pictures to send you if needed.

Eagerly waiting for a response. my number is [protected].

I found my Budget rental car experience very unimpressive. The check out desk staff seemed knowledgeable. And the representative who helped me pick my car was very helpful. All was good until then. Leaving the parking facility, the staff was very sharp and unhelpful when I asked about documenting the imperfections and dings on the car. Nor could they help with what type of fuel it ran on. I felt they could care less about anything. After getting use to the vehicle, I stopped to refuel and noticed how poor the tires were with little tread and cords showing in different places within the tread. This totally effected my driving as it was raining and concerns about hydroplaning made me uneasy. The 3rd day of my week rental, the instrument panel displayed a "maintenance required" message that stayed on for the remainder of my rental period. Trying to call Budgets Customer Service about it was a joke as I was hung up on, representatives had terrible English, and I couldn't reach anyone who could answer my question. I finally stopped at a Budget Car Rental Center, and the attendant told me not to worry about it and offered no assistance. Don't worry about a "maintenance required" alert, really? I was glad to be done with the whole experience.

Rented a compact SUV from Budget a DCA airport. Prepaid and provided my flight information as they suggested in case of issues. The flight was originally supposed to land at 10:06pm, but changed to 10:42. Unbeknownst to me, the office closes at 11pm (off airport location). When I called at about 11:15 to see where the fan was, I was put on a series of holds only to learn I had no car and stranded. By this time it was midnight and I got an Uber to my hotel 40 miles south (another $100) and tried to get customer service to move my reservation to a different location so I could pick it up in the morning. THEY WANTED $1,100 MORE. Dollars on top of the $560 or so I already paid. I was told the only way they would honor the price is if I returned to the DCA location when they open in the morning.

I was in a huge time crunch, so after about 2 hours of sleep, I ride shared back to DCA. There they told me that since I “didn’t show up” the night before, it would cost me $400 more, even though the customer service line says that by putting in my flight info they would honor a reservation for 24 hours. When I asked why I am not getting this service I was told that it was because my reservation was prepaid!

So now I have two choices- rent somewhere else and walk away from my $560 prepaid reservation (likely for $1000+) or pay the extra and take my chances fighting for a refund. I HAD to have the car.

They should

We rented a car from you through AMAC to be picked up in Portland, Or. on April 18th 2023. We purchased rental car insurance through AMAC which happened to be Carrental8 . When we got to Portland the lady at the Budget dest told us that our insurance was not good and pressured us to take out rental insurance through Budget. We are in our 70's and this lady really scared us and she made us feel that we really had no choice but to take the insurance. She did not tell us how much it was going to cost nor did she give us a receipt. We expected it to be about the same cost as the policy from the other company. I called them at the airport and they said they would email a receipt to me. Well when we got home from Oregon and I checked the email no receipt. When I opened our charge bill we were shocked that the charge was $460.00 I called again, talked to a customer service person and he said that he could take off $143.04 and he would email a receipt. It did not come. I called again the next day, same story but got a case # [protected]. Called again the next day still no receipt. I'm so tired and so upset. Is this the way Budget does it's customer's ?

I was put on do not rent list because the people who worked there was bias they no longer work for the company no more due to complaints how they treated African Americans at the downtown location in Milwaukee Wi. bill and bailey put a do not rent on my name. I have been a loyal customer for years with no complaints up until they were getting let go from the company.

I rented a truck from Budget at Jacksonville International in April and today (5/31) I get notice that they are planning on charging me an extra $125 to clean up excessive sand/dirt and that they have pictures. When I rent, I take my car from the airport to the hotel and then use it between hotel and office before returning it to the airport. I know that this claim from them is 100% fabricated. If they have pictures of excessive dirt in that truck then it was there when I picked it up because it did NOT come from me.

When I Called to discuss this, I could not understand the operator at all because of a very heavy accent, I requested transfer to another operator after explaining that I am very hearing impaired but he insisted that he would try to speak more plainly. I literally had to hang up on him and start over.

Is this how Budget treats their FastBreak members? I have had rental cars for at least 30 days this year and spend a lot of money there.

The second operator I got ahold of promised that the pending charge would be cancelled. Now for the wait. I will keep an eye on my credit card web site.

I just want you to know you have lost my service and trust as far as car rentals because of the company's inflexibility and greed.

I reserved and paid up front for a vehicle for June 1, 2023, from Springfield, VA to Charleston, SC and was to pick the vehicle up in Springfield at 12:00 noon.

I found out my family event in Charleston was starting earlier than anticipated, so we wanted to get an earlier start for leaving town.

I asked about moving the time from 12:00 noon to 8 am and was told the cost would be double the price. I then asked to cancel and was told there is a $50 cancellation fee.

Luckily another company was more flexible and frankly, cheaper, so I cancelled Budget and went with the other company.

Will never look Buget's way again for car rental.

I rented a car from the Indianapolis International airport and paid $11.99 for the easy pass on all tolls inn the Chicago are. The device in the car did NOT work and I paid the following tolls $6.60, $1.40, and $3.50 total: $11.50. I want a refund for the $11.99 plus the $11.50 I had to pay unnecessarily. The woman at the toll booth told me most of the passes rental car companies offer do NOT work in the Chicago metro area. Please respond to me within 24 hours,

Philip Sowders

p.[protected]@juno.com

RA#[protected]

car number 5148263

I had an accident while visiting Germany causing damage to their car. I had/have insurance to cover the repairs. The insurance company is requesting a detailed invoice for the repairs. Budget removed over $1,500 from my checking account without notifying me. I have been calling and emailing weekly since February 2023 to obtain the bill with no luck.

We had a rental for May 4th with a rate of 599.99. At the Orlando international airport. We arrived at the rental counter and the car was not ready, we had to wait for it to be cleaned and oil changed. The total was $1200 after it was all said and done, not the 599.99 that was on my reservation. I find this unacceptable. They were no help at the counter about this, so I am now trying to dispute this.

On 4/28/23 I reserved a Tesla Y (res# [protected])for my trip to SF from Kauai HI. I have a debit card and they would not let me rent this vehicle because I didn’t have a major credit card which is fine but a few months prior I had no issue getting this vehicle from the SF International Airport Budget rental in which I used a debit card. I travel every month to SF and rent from budget and have never had an issue always bringing cars back in mint condition and on time. The manager on duty Nicole Nelson was rude and dismissive on my issue spending a whole 30 seconds listening to me. If I was able to rent a Tesla Y before with a debit card, I know it’s possible to push thru the system and with my loyalty and perfect track record with budget I feel my experience should’ve gone differently

I reserved a Kia Soul or similar car. When I got to the airport to pick it up they did not have one there. I was given the choice of a van or a truck. I decided on the truck and was charged the full amount of renting it. I am asking that the full amount for the truck rental be returned because I had paid for the car in full with the deposit. Therefore, I feel as though I should only pay for the car which was reserved and not for the truck. My conformation number is 27973972US5.

I hope to hear from you as soon as possible on this matter.

Thank you for your time.

Hello,

You overcharged me by 1 month and 2 days and sent me to vking collections for $1,500 late fees in addition.

I rented an economy car in tampa when I went there to help in hurricane relief. I had the agent sign me up for extended contract) which he had to do by hand at the rental place in tampa. He said it would be best and that the contract would automatically be extended if I kept the car more than a month and then I would not have to get another 30 day contract.

I returned to tampa airport early and returned the car on october 26th in order to fly back to seatlle. The kiosk computers were down at the airport and the lady took all my information and said she would input it and email a confirmation of the return after the computers were back on line.

Don’t you scan the car at the time of return? I

I was charged on my credit card all of the first month charges, then the next 30 days…. All on my credit card…. Then you turned me over to viking client services for $1,535.06 for late charges until you found the car in your inventory on december 12th.

This is not acceptable. I travel a lot and have never had problems with budget, but this is more than a oversite. You are asking me to pay almost $6,000 for 225 days of using an economy car?

*reservation #...[protected]-us-8

*viking claim #: $1,535.06 #[protected]

Already charged on my credit card:

1. U935644566 ; billing charge $2208.08

10/1/22, 18:23 - 10/31/22, 18:23

2. *u473227532 ; billing charge $2087.71

10/31/22, 18:23 - 11/30/22, 18:23

3. U473227543; billing charge $1535.06 (late charge)? 11/30/22, 6:23 p.M. - 12/13/22, 8:00 a.M.

I need something sent to me to verify the return on! 0/26/2022 of a credit for future usage with budget rental? B of a will not talk to me without a return verification document.

I do not wish to have to escalate this, so please respond asap.

Ps…I already called customer service and was told this was taken care of and that they affirmed I was correct in the returning of the vehicle on october 26, w2022.

Thank you;

Bill mays

my Reference number is :

Pick up:

Sun Mar 26, 2023 at 04:30 AM

Drop off:

Sat Apr 01, 2023 at 02:00 PM

Your Confirmation Number:

25856959US2

Modify/Cancel/Refund This Reservation

Your Car

Toyota Camry or similar

Mileage: Unlimited free miles

Automatic Transmission

Estimated Total: $480.62

Amount Prepaid: USD$480.62

Base Rate: $365.39

Rental Options: $0.00

Protections/Coverages: $0.00

Surcharges/Fees: $85.90

Concession Recovery Fee (10%): $37.53

Customer Facility Fee 3.50/day: $24.50

Energy Recovery Fee .60/day: $4.20

Florida Surcharge 2.00/day: $14.00

Vehicle License Fee .80/day: $5.60

Waste Tire/battery Fee .01/day: $0.07

Taxes: $ 29.30

And know I was charges an additional $ 121.20- I returned the rental with a full tank of gas and it was returned in the condition I rented it in...so why the additional charge- I feel like this is fraudulent and I want it investigated.

Had to book a car for my wife(emergency) trip. Booked the car but told the person on the phone that I might not need it for the whole time. Said ok just show return ticket and would be refunded because couldn't be changed in the system. Which sounded suspect to me so I called at least 3 more times to record them. Fine. Just turn the car in when you leave and you will be refunded Turned the car in 3 days early so told my wife to ask told her yes if not refunded in a few days to call. Well got charged extra. So not only did you lie to me on 3 occasions you kept my extra 3 day money and then decide to charge extra. Never again. I'll rather pay more for integrity bad enough had to spend half the day to get it because they put my wife's name in wrong main reason for calling so many times

ON March 24, 2023 I arrived at Tampa, FL counter around 9:30-10 PM. My flight from DFW had been delayed multiple times. I explained to your desk agent that I'd lost my TX driver's license, however, I'd applied for a new one. I had a paper copy of my CURRENT Driver's license AND a current passport.

Your rude agent called a colleague to the counter and they both were at a loss. I even proposed to transfer the reservation to my sister who was with me with a driver's license and matching credit card. HE REFUSED to allow the funds paid to be transferred. I've attached the cancellation and I didn't get a refund. Of course, I lost my driver's license AFTER I'd made and paid for this reservation.

Ultimately, we went to a difference car rental company and had to spend more money. We needed a car, I was attending a medical meeting.