When you rent a car, you should’t need a handbook. Why not choose simple, smart and easy on the wallet? Then you can focus on getting there and having fun doing it. Budget Car Rental is one of the world’s best-known car rental brands with approximately 3,350 locations in more than 120 countries. Budget is an industry leader in providing vehicle rental services to value-conscious travelers and also operates the second-largest truck rental business in the United States, through a network of approximately 1,650 locations. Budget is owned by Avis Budget Group, Inc. which operates and licenses the brand throughout the world. For further information, visit www.budget.com/aarp.
Contacting Budget Rent A Car
Have you got a question for Budget Rent A Car? If you do, first check out the helpful “Common Questions” page on Budget website (www.budget.com). You may find that your question has already been answered! If your question has not been addressed, you have several options.
If you prefer to e-mail your question or concern, you can access the “E-mail Assistance” form by clicking on the “Customer Care” tab on the Budget website. If you have a reservation query, you can contact Budget Reservations on (800) 218-7992, twenty-four (24) hours a day. You can also contact Budget Customer Service on (800) 214-6094, between the hours of 7:30am to 7:30pm CST, Monday through Friday.
There is also an Online Reservations System on the Budget Website, available twenty-four (24) a day. Without making a phone call, you can reserve, alter, view or cancel a vehicle rental.
Credit Card “Hold” Policy Details
When you rent a vehicle through Budget, you will be required to provide your credit card details. Budget will then place a “hold” on your credit card. Budget will do this to ensure that, among other things, you can cover the costs of the rental. There are also other risk mitigation reasons for why Budget will place a hold on your credit card.
Typically, Budget will request a hold on your credit card of the total rental amount, plus 25% or $200, whichever is greater. This amount is also subject to change depending upon the individual Budget location you attend.
The extra amount held by Budget will be released when you return the vehicle and pay the rental charges.
Rental Deposit Amount
Budget will require a deposit before you can rent a vehicle. Again, depending upon where you are picking up the vehicle, the deposit details will vary.
Debit Cards
While credit cards are preferable, some Budget locations will accept debit cards. As with credit cards, Budget will still place a hold on your debit card covering the estimated rental charges. You should be aware though that Budget will have the ability to increase this amount based on certainty factors it (or its representatives) deem appropriate.
Select locations will also allow you to pay rental charges using your debit card when you return the vehicle. If you are under the age of twenty-five (25), you cannot use a debit card to pay for your rental.
Are There Any Exceptions?
Yes, there are.
Depending upon the type of rental, there may be different deposit requirements. Individual Budget locations may also have different rules when it comes to the minimum deposit required.
If you are already covered by some form of auto insurance or you have prepaid for your vehicle rental, the minimum amount Budget will hold on your credit or debit card (if accepted) is $100. Depending upon the circumstances, other Budget locations will place a minimum hold of $500 on your credit or debit card.
Budget Review
PROS / The Budget website is well organized and easy to use.
CONS / This rental service does not offer roadside assistance.
VERDICT / With great basic service and all car types, Budget is a solid choice when you need a car quickly and aren’t looking to add on a lot of extra services.
Budget is an accessible car rental service with one of the best websites we’ve seen when it comes to a clean, easy-to-use layout. The service’s website is streamlined and modern looking, not cluttered with ads or pixelated pictures. The homepage gives you the essential information you need. You can just jump in, type in your location and the time you need to pick up and return, and get started with the rental process.
There is also a simple location finder on the site. All you have to do is select your country, state and city, then choose a radius. If you don’t want a list of locations, there is an option to simply see the location in your zip code as well.
Once you find out if there is a Budget in your area, you can begin the rental process with the simple reservation tool. After you enter the date of your rental and the location, you get to choose from a wide selection of vehicles that includes luxury cars, pickups, commercial trucks, vans and convertibles.
Once you’ve selected a car, the service offers such extras as a GPS system and toddler seats. In case you live or are vacationing in an area with mountains, there is a ski rack option. There are also insurance and fuel plans to choose from. This rental service lacks a roadside assistance option, however. The service doesn’t offer such extras as an on-site check-in, satellite radio or a toll prepay. However, you can look for the weekly deals that are updated continually on the website, or browse for used cars on sale through Budget’s dealership online.
While Budget doesn’t offer a slew of customer service options, the ones it offers are nice. There is live chat, which is a convenient, helpful service if you’re on the go or just want immediate answers to questions. It lacks roadside assistance packages. While there is no airport shuttle and pickup information on the site, you can live chat with representatives and find out more about shuttle availability at your location. There is email and phone support and an insurance package option. Before opting for insurance, you will want to check with your insurance company to determine if it is a necessary add-on.
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