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5.0

Overall Score

Author: Kaitlyn Short

LAST UPDATED: March 4th, 2022

Top Ranked Companies

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The Good

  • Available in All 50 States
  • Competitive Prices
  • Airport Locations
  • Online Check-In 

Available in All 50 States

Budget is easily available is all 50 states. This gives Budget an advantage over its competition, who typically have locations in 23 states or less. It also offers an advantage to the customer, who can find a Budget location much easier, especially when traveling.

Competitive Prices

Rental prices for both economy and luxury cars are low in the car rental industry. This makes it affordable for more customers when traveling or those who just need a car temporarily.

Airport Locations

The company has rental counters at most major airports throughout North America. Anywhere your plane lands, there is a Budget counter available. This is very convenient for travelers looking to rent a car right from the airport. They also have locations outside of the airports so locals can rent cars without having to go through the airport office.

Online Check-In

Budget does not offer online check-in, but they do offer something called FastBreak that makes checking in faster than standing in line. FastBreak does this by keeping your information-including your signature, digitized when you make your online reservation, making it easy for you to cut right through the counter line during the pickup process.

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The Bad

  • No Instant Return
  • Roadside Assistance
  • No On-Site Fuel Discount

No Instant Return

With Budget, all cars have to be returned in person. You cannot return the car without waiting in line and leaving the keys in the car. This is standard for car rental companies but with Budget's size and length of time in business, instant return is an option they could offer if they wanted to.

Roadside Assistance

Budget offers a roadside assistance service that covers the following:

  • Key Replacement
  • Lockout Service
  • Jump-Start
  • Flat Tire Assistance or Tire Replacement
  • Fuel Delivery

The problem is that there is no flat daily rate available for this service. Budget says the daily service charge is subject to change. Most rental car companies offer a flat additional price for this, such as $5 per day. With Budget, you won't know the price until the last minute which is unpredictable-and maybe unaffordable.

No On-Site Fuel Discount

Budget does not offer an on-site fuel discount, but their four easy fuel service options include options that minimize the amount you pay if they use the pump on-site. With Budget, you will never pay more than $13.99 for the fuel service charge if you return the car less than fuel if you select their EZ Fuel service. Budget is an environmentally conscious rental agency. About half of its fleet has a fuel efficiency rating of 28 miles per gallon or better on highway. This means that renters are not only doing a little good for the environment, but are also saving themselves a little cash in gas expenses.

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The Bottom Line

Budget is one of the most popular rental companies in the industry with locations in all 50 states and major airports. If convenience is a factor, this is a viable option for you, (if you're an AARP or Fastbreak rewards member, they offer many benefits and savings, too). As far as the cheapest option, Budget is lower priced than other car rental companies in the industry. Their additional features are also slightly higher than you might find with other rentals. If you do choose to rent with Budget, proceed with caution, you may find yourself paying for additional features, even if you didn't want them. Make sure to ask clear questions and state your preferences.
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Star Rating

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3.6

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181 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

35%

4 grade

30%

3 grade

13%

2 grade

4%

1 grade

18%

Sentiment Criteria

Value

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Quality

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Service

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Trustworthiness

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Eliza Arvada, CO

We used Budget Car Rental in Charlestown, SC, booking in advance through Costco Travel, and had a very difficult experience with Budget. There was a long line before we got to the desk, and then were told to wait outside, about a block's walk from the airport, where our car was to be delivered shortly. After 25 cold, windy minutes it finally came, with pre-existing damage, so we had to wait again for another 20 minutes, now in the dark, for a replacement. Another line when we returned the car, with only one employee. We will never use Budget Car Rental again.

7 years ago

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Hayley Lambdin Orem, UT

Their prices are great but I do not like their customer service at our closest location in Orem, Utah. They are very slow with long wait times and always seemed frazzled when you are picking up or dropping off. At the airports though, my husband and I have not had a problem.

8 years ago

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Gavin Jones Columbus, OH

Rented with Budget once, but really won't be doing that again. Had slow service and ended up taking about 3 hours in all to get a car. Perhaps not the usual turnaround, but happened to be my first and last time that I'll be renting from budget. As to the rental itself, it was clean and perfect otherwise, just took far too much time to get setup and going.

4 years ago

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Cam McClellan Magna, UT

My experience with the budget was OK although they sold out of the cars they had promised me and so they offered me an upgrade to a car that got significantly worse gas mileage. After I asked him if they had anything else they told me I could also get a 15 passenger van which was even worse for driving and gas mileage. The car I got was fine but I did spend significantly more in gas than I was wanting to.

6 years ago

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J Paul Wright Central, UT

I have used Budget a few times in the past. I have generally been disappointed, especially with their car selection. The price was always good, hence the reason for choosing them, but when I arrived to pick up the cars (multiple occasions) they "upgraded" me to vehicles that got significantly worse fuel economy, making our trip more expensive in the long run. Sometimes you want to car class that you chose.

8 years ago

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Anoushka Ahuja Orlando, FL

There was a very long wait at the Bradley international airport budget rental kiosk. Due to labor shortage they did not have a lot of people to help us so we had to wait over two hours in line which was very frustrating

4 years ago

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Cassidy Gundersen Orem, UT

My husband and I rented a car through Budget when we went to Disneyland. Not a super great experience, but it wasn’t terrible either. There were a bunch of little charges that we could have avoided had we planned better.

8 years ago

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Breanna Jones Salt Lake City, UT

I always appreciate when I get upgraded and get a better rental than the one I booked. That happens with Budget. I think prices are fair and employees have been pleasant to work with.

9 years ago

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Meagan Carter Lehi, UT

Every experience i've had with budget has been pretty decent. One time my car didn't smell the greatest when we got it. We drove away and the car smelt really really bad the whole ride to the hotel. Luckily we went back to exchange the car and they were so helpfully with exchanging the car.

4 years ago

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Mark Troxel Provo, UT

I have used Budget car rental service while traveling. I always shop around and book through mass car rental sites, I have used them when they have had the best deal. I have found their cars to be of good quality and they usually have a large variety of cars.

5 years ago

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Lesa Burgess Pleasant Grove, UT

Budget has good cars to rent at an affordable price. However, their rewards benefits and points aren't very good compared to other competitors. As much as I travel, this is a huge deal for me. I'm all about rewards points and programs and for me to consistently rent from Budget, they need to improve this!

8 years ago

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Tagg Ogden, UT

I have used Budget a few times. Most of the time they are really good, but sometimes they don't have the inventory I requested and they "upgraded" me to a car that gets horrible gas mileage.

6 years ago

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Tom Gourley Pleasant Grove, UT

I have used Budget on occasion and find their service and pricing to be okay. Sometimes their car selection is not great and I have had to wait in line a bit long but they have tried to take care of my needs.

6 years ago

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Don Boren American Fork, UT

This place lives up to it's name. The price is very low, but so is the quality of car and service. I have had cars that aren't very clean upon pick up, and the staff isn't super friendly when you drop off.

7 years ago

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Cassandra Sunnyvale, CA

Budget is cheap and you get what you pay for when you use them. Their customer service is some of the worst I've dealt with when it comes to renting cars, but if you're willing to be patient it's worth it for the cost.

7 years ago

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Spencer Morris (Logan) Riverton, UT

Everytime i use budget it seems like features that come standard on other rentals cost with Budget-- i get the name but come on.

6 years ago

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Tom Pleasant Grove, UT

I do not like budget. Last time I used them they charged me an additional day when I was a little late bringing the car back.

8 years ago

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Ron Durfey Pleasant Grove, UT

I travel a lot for work. I rarely use Budget but when I do I have been fairly happy with their service. Price is competitive and cars tend to be clean.

7 years ago

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Angelina Hamilton Jackson, MS

Booked online and went to pick up and the car wasn’t there. Had to wait for them to figure out what they were going to do.

6 years ago

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Bethany Rockville, MD

Budget is flexible and rents cars to young drivers like 18 years old. However, the rental price is extremely high!

5 years ago

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Jami Lucas Eagle Mountain, UT

We got a good price on a cat, however we had to wait in line for over an hour and were greeted by a grumpy attendant.

6 years ago

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Alyssa Boren American Fork, UT

The car was still dirty and had garbage inside of it when it was given to us which was very off putting.

7 years ago

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Robyn Haight South Jordan, UT

We rented a car while on vacation. They did not have the size vehicle we reserved.

4 years ago

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Kristin G Pleasant Grove, UT

We rented from Budget out of Denver. We were over an hour in line waiting for our rent a car.

8 years ago