Supplier reviews
Budget has the name of a low-cost supplier, but in practice it often operates as the value-focused sibling in a larger international group rather than a pure bargain-basement operator. That can be good news for travellers who want a broad network and a recognisable process without always paying the full premium-brand rate. Still, Budget is heavily location-dependent, and the gap between a smooth airport handover and a penny-pinching desk culture can be wide. Our verdict: Budget can be very good when the local branch is disciplined and the terms are clear, but you should not assume the cheapest quote is the full story. Read the reviews below for fuel policy strictness, deposit behaviour, and whether Budget feels genuinely good value in the destinations you are considering.
3.1
Average
17 reviews
Emma van der Berg
29 Mar 2026 · Community submission · booking not verified
Base rate looked fine, then airport fee, second driver, cover chat, the usual. Still usable, just ended up pricier than expected. Car drove well though.
Lucas Cole
9 Mar 2026 · Community submission · booking not verified
I usually don't leave negative reviews, but my experience with Budget at Athens airport was genuinely disappointing. We arrived for a weekend break and were greeted by a massive queue. It took over 45 minutes to reach the counter, and the staff member was incredibly rude. He tried to pressure me into buying extra insurance, even though I had full coverage through my credit card. He acted like my policy was invalid just to upsell. When we finally got the car, a Toyota Yaris, it wasn't clean and had a strange burning smell coming from the engine whenever we accelerated. It made driving stressful the entire trip. Returning the vehicle was chaotic too. For a major brand, the service was unacceptable. I definitely won't be using them again in Greece.
Paulo Santos
3 Mar 2026 · Community submission · booking not verified
Not the worst, just too much talking at the counter when we were already exhausted. Cover options, fuel options, more cover options. The car itself was alright.
Freya West
27 Jan 2026 · Community submission · booking not verified
I rented from Budget at Malaga airport for a quick business trip last week. The location is convenient, just a short walk from the terminal, but the service was a bit of a mixed bag. I arrived at the counter around 10 AM on a Tuesday and the queue wasn't too bad, which was a relief. The car itself, a silver Seat Leon, was perfectly clean and drove well for my meetings along the coast. However, the staff member I dealt with was quite pushy. Despite having a prepaid reservation, he insisted on extra insurance for 'tire and glass protection' three separate times, which felt unnecessary and awkward. It made the pickup take much longer than it should have. If you go with them, just be ready to stand your ground on the coverage you already paid for. It did the job, but the hard upsell left a sour impression.
Tom Wilkinson
24 Jan 2026 · Community submission · booking not verified
Main issue was the queue. After a red-eye I just wanted keys and coffee. Car itself was absolutely fine once we got it.
James O'Brien
29 Dec 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
Stood there forever after a morning flight. Then came the insurance pitch, toll package pitch, fuel pitch, all of it. By the time we left I was already over the whole thing.
Tom Wilkinson
28 Dec 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
Main issue was the queue. After a red-eye I just wanted keys and coffee. Car itself was absolutely fine once we got it.
Georgia Hunt
21 Dec 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
We rented from Budget at Kos Airport for a week-long road trip with friends, and honestly, it couldn't have gone smoother. We arrived around noon, and unlike some other counters we saw, there was absolutely no queue. The staff member was professional and didn't try to aggressively upsell us on extra insurance, which was a relief. We were given a Toyota Yaris that was spotless and perfect for navigating the island's coastal roads. The fuel policy was fair, and the deposit explanation was clear. It really set the tone for a stress-free holiday. If you're looking for reliability on Kos, I’d definitely recommend booking here.
Marko Petrović
12 Dec 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
Not terrible, just a bit tired. Car was clean enough but had a few scratches that weren't marked, so I had to flag them before leaving. Staff were okay, just not especially warm.
Emma van der Berg
11 Dec 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
Base rate looked fine, then airport fee, second driver, cover chat, the usual. Still usable, just ended up pricier than expected. Car drove well though.
Paulo Santos
9 Dec 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
Not the worst, just too much talking at the counter when we were already exhausted. Cover options, fuel options, more cover options. The car itself was alright.
Emily Adams
19 Nov 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
We rented from Budget at Prague airport for a four-day road trip with friends. There was a bit of a queue when we arrived around 9 AM, probably about four people ahead of us, but the staff managed to keep things moving efficiently. The agent was friendly and, thankfully, didn't give us a hard upsell on the extra insurance, which I always appreciate. We were given a Skoda Octavia, which was perfect for four adults with luggage and handled the country roads well. The deposit hold was released quickly upon return, and the whole process was surprisingly painless. I’d definitely use them again for a trip around the Czech Republic.
James O'Brien
9 Nov 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
Stood there forever after a morning flight. Then came the insurance pitch, toll package pitch, fuel pitch, all of it. By the time we left I was already over the whole thing.
Marko Petrović
13 Oct 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
Not terrible, just a bit tired. Car was clean enough but had a few scratches that weren't marked, so I had to flag them before leaving. Staff were okay, just not especially warm.
Emily Adams
26 Aug 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
I rented from Budget at Tivat Airport for a quick two-day business trip to the Bay of Kotor. The process was generally very efficient. There was a short queue of about three people when I arrived, but the staff moved things along quickly. I was pleasantly surprised that they didn't aggressively push the extra insurance upsell, which was a relief. I received a Volkswagen Polo which was clean and perfect for the coastal roads. The only minor hiccup was the deposit hold taking a few days to clear after drop-off, but that's standard practice. Overall, a solid experience that I would recommend to colleagues.
Amelia Scott
15 Aug 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
I was a bit nervous about renting a car in Prague after reading horror stories about hidden fees, but my experience with Budget was surprisingly stress-free. We landed on a Friday evening and the pickup process took less than fifteen minutes. There was a short queue, but the staff moved things along quickly. I appreciated that the agent didn't aggressively push the extra insurance coverage when I declined it, which is rare these days. We were given a Skoda Fabia that was spotless inside and out. The tank was full and the return inspection was straightforward. For a short weekend break, you really can't ask for much more. No surprise charges on my credit card afterwards, either. Highly recommended if you need a reliable set of wheels.
Henry Stone
9 Aug 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
I picked up my rental from Budget at Dubrovnik Airport around 11:00 AM. While there wasn't much of a queue, the process felt unnecessarily slow. The staff member I dealt with was quite indifferent and barely looked up from his screen. The main frustration was the hard sell on their 'Super Cover' insurance. I’ve rented cars all over Europe, but this was one of the more pushy attempts to get me to buy extra coverage, repeatedly warning me about potential scratches. On the plus side, the car itself was perfectly clean and reliable for my solo trip along the coast. It’s a decent option if you ignore the pressure at the counter, but be prepared to stand your ground.