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.
3.8
Good
37 reviews
Luka M.
18 Mar 2026
The medina is truly not driveable — leave the car at the riad and walk. But for day trips to the Atlas Mountains, having a rental was essential. Budget delivered.
Thomas L.
9 Mar 2026
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.
Top T.
5 Mar 2026
Staff gave crocodile safety tips and recommended routes. The Mitsubishi ASX was perfect for Litchfield day trips.
Svetlana Popova
6 Feb 2026
Central location near Republic Square. Budget picked up and returned painlessly. Much cheaper than airport rates for the same car class.
Thomas L.
27 Jan 2026
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.
Stefan M.
20 Jan 2026
Collection was slow, the Toyota Agya had obvious holiday-wear scratches, and local driving advice amounted to a shrug plus a reminder to keep the fuel receipt.
Priya S.
2 Jan 2026
We booked an automatic, received a manual Altis after 55 minutes, and spent another ten minutes declining cover packages that nearly doubled the bill.
Thomas L.
21 Dec 2025
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.
Chris Andersen
20 Dec 2025
Rates were sharp and the car decent, though the contract wording around prepaid fuel versus full-to-full needed clarifying at the desk before keys changed hands.
Dave W.
15 Dec 2025
Heading to McLaren Vale and the team at Budget Adelaide knew exactly what we needed. Compact car that handled the winding roads well and honest advice about parking in Glenelg.
Sandra Nilsson
9 Dec 2025
The arrivals hall was mayhem, but Budget's counter was calm and organised. Clear damage documentation and no upsell pressure. Car had 40,000km but ran perfectly.
Mike R.
3 Dec 2025
Changi is a miracle of organisation and Budget matched it. Collected in under 15 minutes, car was pristine, and the ERP toll card explanation was clear. Return at Terminal 3 was seamless.
Istanbul S.
22 Nov 2025
Central location near the Blue Mosque. Staff warned about Istanbul traffic patterns. Compact was essential for narrow streets.
Philippines D.
20 Nov 2025
Basic but functional. Staff explained which roads to avoid. The Honda City ran well for Tagaytay day trips.
Thomas L.
19 Nov 2025
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.
Brisbane L.
15 Nov 2025
City pickup saved airport time. The Mazda 3 was perfect for Gold Coast day trips. Parking apps recommended.
Phuket B.
12 Nov 2025
Cheapest option we found. The Honda City was older but ran fine. Document every scratch — return was smooth.
Maui S.
10 Nov 2025
The compact SUV handled the winding Hana Highway better than expected. Budget staff gave us the waterfall route highlights without needing to buy a map. Solid island rental.
Poland T.
25 Oct 2025
Cheaper than expected. The Fiat was basic but reliable for Warsaw to Gdańsk. Honest deposit policy.
Swiss R.
25 Oct 2025
Switzerland isn't cheap, and the deposit reflected that. But the process was clean, the Opel Astra was well-maintained, and return near the train station was convenient.
Ancient R.
22 Oct 2025
Picked up near the Acropolis. Staff warned about ZTL zones and parking. The Peugeot handled Athenian traffic fine.
Hawaii D.
20 Oct 2025
Budget was the best value we found at HNL. The Toyota Corolla had island miles but ran fine for our Oahu circle island trip. Staff were genuinely friendly, not just customer-service friendly.
Dubai M.
18 Oct 2025
Picked up from Marina Mall. The Nissan Patrol was perfect for desert drives. Salik toll card included.
Jake T.
17 Oct 2025
Picking up for a Canterbury road trip. Basic Toyota Corolla but it handled the scenic routes without complaint. Staff were honest about the fuel policy and return timing.
Marcus M.
14 Oct 2025
Allow an hour between landing and driving away. The AirTrain-to-shuttle-to-lot dance is exhausting, but the Nissan Altima was clean and the highway on-ramp directions were spot-on.
Baltic F.
8 Oct 2025
Compact for city driving and ferry parking. Staff warned about Stockholm centre fees. Honest terms.
Sarah K.
3 Oct 2025
Collection from the domestic terminal side was seamless, but the return deadline was stricter than we expected and the after-hours key drop process wasn't clearly explained.
Genting T.
30 Sept 2025
Budget option for highland trips. The Proton handled hills well. Staff gave real advice about KL parking.
Lena R.
27 Sept 2025
Compact car was essential for Amsterdam parking and they delivered. Staff warned about bike lanes and tram rules, which prevented at least one near-miss. Appreciated the local knowledge.
Verona R.
25 Sept 2025
Cheaper than expected. Staff explained the water taxi logistics clearly. Car was clean and the A4 was smooth.
Toronto T.
23 Sept 2025
Airport pickup was straightforward, but the real win was the staff explaining the UP Express versus driving downtown. We parked at the suburban lot and took transit in.
Lisa T.
8 Sept 2025
If you're staying in Kardamena, this pickup location saves the airport transfer. Car was a basic Hyundai but ideal for island exploring. Full-to-full fuel, no surprises.
Thomas L.
26 Aug 2025
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.
Thomas L.
15 Aug 2025
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.
Thomas L.
9 Aug 2025
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.
Glacier D.
5 Aug 2025
Cheaper than Hertz but still reliable. The 4x4 handled snow and ice. Insurance explained thoroughly for Icelandic conditions.
Split F.
5 Aug 2025
Picked up near the ferry terminal for Brač and Hvar trips. The Fiat was ideal for Croatian coastal roads.