BudgetReviews 155

We rented a car at San Jose airport waited in line for two hours to get to the desk to find more issues, after the trip was said and done we returned the car, a few days later we get charged by the company for another car rental in West Virginia. We don't even live in the states mind you this. So the company used our credit card for someone else. WHAT A JOKE can't even keep your information secure and now we're struggling to get refunded for the charges they put on our card.

I dropped off a car at the DFW airport Budget 2 hours before it was due on August 13,2023. Since nobody from Budget was working there, I locked the rental car and dropped off the keys that said "AVIS/BUDGET CAR RENTAL RETURN KEY DROP OFF." As I am writing this on August 15,2023 (TWO days later), Budget sent me an email on August 15 in the afternoon which stated that my car rental has "not been checked in" (returned), and they "Can't find the keys" and asked to email them back as to where I dropped them off and what date. I have been stressed out as they had also charged me for an "upgrade" that the Budget employee said I could have for free. I asked the employee working on the first floor when I first picked up the car rental twice if this upgrade was free since HE offered it to me, and he said "Yes, no charge for the upgrade." Guess what? They CHARGED ME. Also, they billed me for pre-paid gas which I did not want. I filled up the gas tank full using my own credit card before I returned in. Basically, I paid to fill up gas twice. These people are either sadistic, bored or plain incompetent to mess with customer's heads and LIE about free upgrades. It's like they get off knowing how stressed out customers will be after they add all these extra unauthorized charges. Worst of all, the customer service on the phone is from a 3rd world country and I have been hung up on several times because the phone rep was too lazy or tired to deal with the problem. This was at the DFW Budget Airport. BEWARE! Always take pictures of your full gas tank in the garage as proof. Now I know to take photos of the car rental key return drop off box too in the future!

RENTER BEWARE: iShould have looked at the reviews before renting from these crooks. When going up to the counter they had hand written signs basically demanding you purchase their insurance, so I did purchase the insurance. A few days after dropping off the vehicle I received an email stating there was damage to the vehicle and I owe about $1000. I let them know I had not seen any damage to the vehicle and that I purchased the insurance to cover any damages. Now I just get a new email stating that I was in violation because of not reporting damage within 24 hours. Had there actually been an incident I surely would have reported it. Now they refuse to run it through the insurance that I purchased. Also they refuse to return calls, as I have called several people. They are scammers, the guy told me when I left the garage with the vehicle that 100 percent of any damage was covered so I didn't need to look the car over. BEWARE OF THE LIES THEY

If I could give zero stars I would.
My husband prepaid for my car rental from Friday - Sunday. The desk agent at the Evansville airport told me he needed a card for a "returnable deposit". I only had my debit card (stupid, I know), so he ran that. I returned the car to the same agent on Sunday. He looked to be about 19 years old and was about as friendly as a honey badger wearing Prada and Gucci. On Sunday, I filled the gas tank, handed him the keys, signed a form and boarded my flight home to Texas. Not so bad, right? WRONG!
Three days later I get a text from budget/Avis asking me to return the car because it was overdue. I guess I accidentally put the car in my carry-on bag and took it home. Silly me!
When I called customer service, they claimed to not have a record of me renting the car. When I called them again, they were finally able to locate the rental agreement but still claimed I didn't return the car. When I asked to speak to someone else, I spoke to a woman whom I could barely understand and who told me that the issue was resolved. Ok, not so bad right? WRONG.
Lo and behold, we check our bank and card statements the next day and see that we now have an over $300 charge on our debit card and over $500 charged on our credit card. All for a car I had for three days that was supposed to be less than $300. I called customer service again and they told me no one was available, so I sent a strongly worded email. They responded by telling me they have "escalated the situation" to their resolution team. Suuuuure, I have an TON of faith in that. They informed me that their investigation would take 7-10 business days. Over a week of no explanation of their incompetence and exorbitant charges? No way. I'll call and email everyday until this is resolved. I can't even begin to describe how stressful and frustrating this situation has been. Budget/Avis customer service is its own layer of hell and I wouldn't wish this BS on my worst enemy. I will NEVER rent from them again and strongly suggest you don't either!

DO NOT rent a car from this guys! They will not give you back the deposit you pay with your credit card!
I rented a car last February at Edinburgh Airport, left a 200 EUR deposit and they simply won't give it back.
Have sent lots of emails to them about it... they say my bank has to give permission for them to give the deposit back which makes no sense! So, I contacted by bank and they said they don't need permission for anything... they just need to send the deposit back! SIMPLE!
Now they won't even answer our emails anymore so I lost the deposit... have contacted my lawyer to sue them.
I'm not the only one. This happens a a LOT of people.
My rental details: E******* from EDINBURGH AIRPORT on 2/9/23.

I reserved an SUV on the website with premium insurance at the price of 340 euros, at the presentation at the counter they wanted to offer us a higher SUV for 504 euros full casco and we accepted, but when they saw that we are Romanians, even though we are English-speaking lawyers and well dressed, they asked us for 2 guaranteed credit cards. When I gave them, they were no longer good because they were both Visa, although they were from 2 different banks. Then we requested the reserved car, but surprise... they asked us for 514 euros and tried to convince us that we did not reserve premium insurance, although it was clearly written in the reserved.
We felt discriminated against and treated like thieves!
Be careful that at the counter they do not recognize reservations and ask for additional fees, in addition to being insensitive and lying!

Very worst response with Budget car rental service. I gave very clear details about my missing car seat but their response is very worst. They not even responding properly. I never ever received this kind of worst response from any customer service in my life. It's very simple that they can check camera and find my car seat.
While returing the car at Dougleous international airport forgot to remove the car seat. Rental agreement number is *******. Kindly check and help as its required for my kid.
Category: Carseat / Booster
Description: Toddler / Graco / black with grey fabric / Black /
Add'l Information: Vechicle number is *******.Return date June 2nd 2023Return location Duologues international Airport charlotteReturn Time Around 1230 PM.

Rented a car in April 2023 at DCA. The car was dirty and the windshield was very dirty. Received a letter June 5 2023 that Budget would be billing us $543 for a new windshield. We did not see and damage requiring replacement of a windshield! Called customer service. First person I spoke with was very heavily accented and I couldn't understand her. Called back and the agent sent me a photo of a small ding (less than 1inch). This ding was lily there since since did not drive any thing but city roads...no gravel roads. Bt we did not have "proof". I think it is ludicrous for them to bill replacement for an entire windshield. I am cancelling my next tow reservations with budget and tearing up my fast break card. BEWARE clean the windshield and look for cracks before driving the car off of the lot! Will never use budget again

I booked a car for 1 week and paid up front for it. I arrived at the Calgary airport and to my surprise they informed me they had no car for me because I was 36 hrs late. I told them I had reserved and paid for the car in for a week rental so they better find me a car. Then I asked for the manager, who was not available. After afew minutes of speaking with a budget rep and I started to walk away he told me to F@#& OFF. I turned around and said what did you say to me. To my disbelief he repeated his words. I walked over to another rental car company and could see afew of the employees laughing. Eventually booked another car and had to pay double the price.Extremely disrespectful,I guess in this working environment even an idiot like that gets to keep his job after treating customers that way. Extremely disgusted with the employee and service

They charged me 80 dollars for not taking it back full tank when I just used half a tank … piece of crap

RUN AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!
They know that when you rent a car, you are in hurry to have it so they add hidden extra fees in the contract without telling you face to face and when they invoice them to you, they cover their $#*! by telling you that you agreed for them as the contract was signed => they stole me 350$ for options I was not informed about while I rent a car for > 1000$ with full insurance! This happened in BUDGET LOS ANGELES.

Piity I can't give 0 stars!

I would never rent from Avis/Budget again and would give them zero stars if able. My daughter and I rented a car in Naples, Italy January 17-21,2023. Two months afterwards I noticed there was a charge to my VISA from Avis for $59.56

I did not receive any notification before seeing this charge and called Avis on 3/29. After calling I didn't hear anything back until I received a letter on 4/4 (dated 3/10). I called customer service a second time on 4/4 and was sent an email form to complete. Hearing nothing further, I contacted VISA directly to dispute the charge on 4/20 and ironically I received an email from Avis on 4/21.

I was told that I received some type of motor vehicle fine but never saw a bill. While I'm unsure how I received such a fine, as I paid all the tolls with either cash or credit, I find it unusual that it took over 2 months for AVIS to receive this fine. Furthermore, I do not understand why I was not given an opportunity to either pay or contest the fine directly--instead of being charged an administration fee of $48.80 EUR. They attached a letter in Italian that provided absolutely no information in English on who to contact to contest the fine or when they contacted AVIS.

I had not rented from Budget/AVIS in many years and am sorely disappointed in the way this matter was treated. Beware..."WE TRY HARDER" is just a slogan without any meaning.

I rented a car for 1 day (3 hours) in January. There was a crack on corner of windshield when I rented it, but didn't notice it until I was well down the road. When I returned the car, I explained that I saw crack after I left the airport. The Representative acted like it wasn't a big deal when I returned the car. The representatives didn't go look at car with me when I picked it up at airport or when I returned it. I got a letter in April that my credit card will be billed for $514 extra within 30 days. They didn't have courtesy to call me or see if I have car insurance. Budget is not the best deal when you have to pay $120 to rent for 1 day and $514 for extra charges. Make sure you take the extra insurance to protect yourself. Also video the entire car (before and after driving it). It will be date and time stamped. I am waiting on an email from my insurance company to see if they will pay for it.

Rented a car from clarksville ind store on friday for a trip to florida, had to go in hospital on friday night,wife returned car on saturday, budget offered no compensation. The person in charge knows absolutely nothing about what he is doing, he filled the paper work out on one car when he found out he made a mistake he just gave us another car with the same paper work. I would never rent another car from budget and for sure never from clarksville indiana. I also will tell anyone i know not to deal with them.

Went to Pittsburgh airport and was suppose to have a car rented and they said they couldn't take our debit card they only take credit cards. The two people were very rude about everything and online it says that they do take debt cards

First I want to say overall rating of 115 reviews is 1.18. My beef is 40 days after I returned the car, I get a bill for $477 to replace the windshield. There was road construction and a stone nicked the windshield. We advised them of the nick. They did not note any damage on our receipt...Why are we being charged for a windshield and not a fill to fix the nick. I put this in dispute with my credit card.

The worst experience ever! Budget ruined my Christmas. They left my 82 year old mother and I stranded on the side of the road for 6 plus hours with a rental van that had broken down. I finally got an agent who told me to call 911 and abandon the vehicle. I rented on 12/22 and 3 months later I am still receiving harassing calls from them because their "roadside assistance" can't locate their vehicle. Last night, I received a call at 2:46 am. When I call customer service I wait on the phone for 45 minutes to get hung up on by the first agent that gets my case. My father died last June and all we wanted was to take my mom on a vacation for Christmas to get her mind off of things but instead she sat on the side of a cold highway for hours with nothing but time to think about my father. Their sister company Avis closed the case, so I do not understand why Budget is still harassing me. Budget made this the worst Christmas ever!

I signed a contract to pay 300 Euros at drop off (beacuse I hired the full insurance at the counter staff). When I dropped off the car they charged me 1200 Euros on my credit card without authorisation and now not answering emails or calls.
In addition, they only have 1 person at the counter staff so the queues for pick up and drop off are very long.
It's not the 1st time this company charges money on my credit card that has not been agreed previously. Never use them

Budget Avis at evansville airport is operated by the most uninterested children Ive encountered. I had a reservation and a conformation email and they said we dont have any cars. Call this number for a refund. I called. After 2 hours on hold i gave up. Basically they stole my 684.00. They could care less. Not even an option of when i can pick a car up. This is not a local rental. From indiana to florida. They dont care a bit about waving me stranded.