For our recent trip to Destin, Florida, we went through Costco to rent a car, and wound up with Budget. Getting your car at the Destin Airport is simple - you check in at the counter at baggage claim, get your keys, and walk about 1,000 steps to your car. The car was clean and fully fueled. We had no issues with it at all. It was comfortable. The only issue, something we hadn't noticed before we left, was the seats were worn in the back. We were a little concerned we would be blamed for it, but fortunately, that didn't happen. We purchased our fuel through Budget in advance - the gas prices near the airport were very high so I'm glad we did. We used about 3/4 of the tank so it saved us some money. Aside from the minor wear, it was a good experience. We'd rent from Budget if we go to Destin again. read more

Checkin was okay, nothing spectacular. Offered all the upgrades that we declined. Told us which parking spot our rental was in and we walked to the end of the lot. Quick and easy exit of the parking lot! The car has dings and low windshield washer fluid. The airport was small so it was easy to find the car rental areas. read more

Budget Car Rental - Avis & Budget! - Car Rental Near Me - Eglin AFB, Florida

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The only reason there's 4 stars instead of 3 is there's a king wait to get to the front of the line with only 2 people working the desk. Once we checked in we were quickly on our way. The lady who helped us was very nice. The car was clean and well maintained. Absolutely no complaints! read more

Literally the worst car rental place I've ever been to .. wanted a lux suburban or equivalent.... and this is what they gave us.... seen the damages but the bumper was still on..... said fk it and went to the condo we rented literally as soon as we hit the highway bumper was flapping in the wind like a damn bird... called them and said we are bringing this pos back thats insane As soon as we get back we are greeted by an insanely rude man who blames the damages on us saying we wrecked the car. Proceed to show him before pictures and he keeps saying idk pretty sure you'll have to pay for that... Go inside to complain and return the pos and get met by smirking shit employees. Ask for the toll road money back we had to drive through and an upgrade for the inconvenience... and are laughed at... will never do bis with this place again. read more

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I will never rent from Budget again. There's no integrity with their employees. I upgraded my vehicle and paid for their insurance at a certain rate which they lied about. When I went to sign for the bill I noticed it was higher than the rates she had explained to me. She responded that it's because they put a $250 hold on the card and so the price I'm seeing is with the hold which would drop off after the return of the vehicle. Come to find out that there was never that $250 hold on the card and she charged me a different price on the insurance than she had told me. read more

Budget/Avis is trying to scam us out of the cost to repair a broken windshield. We do not leave the car with a broken windshield. The image of the allegedly windshield shows a large crack. Wouldn't we have seen the crack? Sadly, we did not take a video upon exit. Customer service is impossible to reach and the only recourse is to try to get a copy of the date/time stamp on the alleged image. However, in order to get the image you have to call the airport where you left the car and TRY to get a human being on the phone who will help you. The amount of their claim is almost $1000. It is a revenue grab. The company is terrible matched only by their terrible customer service. Enterprise for me only.....ever. read more

One star is too good! Seriously?!? What a clown show. 50 people in line. It's like they didn't know they were coming. I know I put the pick-up time on my reservation. They had two people working the counter. The company made the reservation. That's the only reason I'm here. This place is awful. read more

Budget Car Rental - Car Rental Near Me - Eglin AFB, Florida

I also rented with Budget in Fort Walton Beach, FL through Costco, but I had a much different experience. Beware of Budget as they try to pin damages fees on people who aren't responsible. I rented in late May, turned my car in with no damages, and ten days later received a letter that they were charging $300 to my credit card for windshield damage. No way this happened during my rental. They provided undated pictures, and the pictures could have been for any car. Later, they told me the pictures were taken on the 30th, which was 5 days after I turned the car in, and the next rental was on the 29th, so doesn't sound possible. There was no way this windshield damage happened during my rental. I disputed and they would do nothing and charged my credit card one week after receiving a letter. Costco should drop them in my opinion, they have a good scam going and the consumer has absolutely no recourse. Buyer beware with this rental company in Fort Walton Beach, they are ripping people off. Make sure you take your own pictures when you turn your car in. read more

Firstly, I requested/reserved a Rav4 7 Seater. I needed a 7 seater car to begin with, which is what we told the clerk when she hands us a key for a Hyundai Santa Fe. She then proceeds to tell us, "You can't actually reserve a specific car only a car class. Also, your reservation is for 7:30 so they haven't touched the car, and santa fe is actually a bigger /upgraded car I gave you of no extra charge" 1. it was 7:28, and you haven't even touched the car? what's the point of reserving a time if it wouldn't have even been ready by 7:30 PICK UP 2. Which was it, they didn't have the Rav 4 that was on my RESERVATION itinerary or that I can't reserve a specific car? She had two conflicting statements. 3. Because it wasn't a 7 seater like I had SPECIFICALLY asked my party ended up having to pay an additional $50 on an uber. To top it all off when we got in the car, it smelled of dogs and cigarettes and the car was missing two tire caps. To me there was no upgrade, no customer service, and for a place called "Budget" We spent a huge amount of money. read more

Budget Car Rental - Uber receipt - Car Rental Near Me - Eglin AFB, Florida

Beware when returning your car. We returned hassle free and got a receipt from an employee saying the car was good. One week later we get a letter saying the car had a smoke smell and we were being charged a 250 dollar cleaning fee!!! We dont smoke. I did a little googling and seems this is a new rental car scam to increase their income. Best to claim a smoke smell as soon as you get the car,regardless if it has a smoke smell or not . That way it's on record to prevent being scammed read more

I am an attorney. Avoid at all costs. First car here in September there were so many bugs in the car that bit us and my granddaughter that we needed to get her Benadryl and fumigate the car. Nothing worked to get rid of the biting bugs. We also put the car seat in the shower and doused it with shampoo and hot hot water to kill the bugs. It did not work. A few weeks later upon our return to the area we tried again and picked up a Budget rental. It got a flat tire on a super busy highway. We had to uber for a few days until we could get out of meetings and a busy schedule. We used our own triple A to get roadside assistance and replace with the spare. We drove the vehicle back to the airport for an exchange with another company. We must enjoy rental car abuse because we returned in January to Budget. I asked for the Mercedes and a guarantee that the car was sound. Soon, warning lites started flashing. (See pictures). The instrument cluster is inoperable therefore I cannot see how much gas I have. The service lite says: "Service overdue by 13,300 miles." I asked- due to a four day meeting starting tomorrow from 9am-3pm if someone could come get this car in exchange for a safe car. The customer service department said no. Again tomorrow I have to drive back to the airport approx 2 hours round trip and pick up another vehicle but there is no guarantee one will be there. It is Spring break in Destin. Budget cannot guarantee a car. As an attorney this is such negligence. Consumers beware. Budget does not properly service their vehicles (at least the ones I keep getting) and must be doing a risk assessment on the probability of accidents vs throwing these poorly serviced vehicles in the stream of commerce and putting their customers in unsafe situations for their bottom line $$$. They need to read the Ford Pinto case again! I would advise consumers to make FTC consumer complaints online...I will do the same. read more

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I waited about 2 hours in line to pick up my vehicle at the desk. Then, upon return, they tried to falsely charge me for refueling on return. Make sure you take pictures of the fuel gauge and gas receipt when returning the rental, and check your rental receipt!!!! I had to dispute the charges, and I'm glad I had the proof. Multiple other reviewers have said it's common practice here. read more

Horrible service, unhelpful and not kind. Waited for well over 15 minutes and she failed to give me car seats needed for my two small children. Choose anyone but Budget. read more

Would give zero stars if I could. Customer service is deplorable. Pay extra for Enterprise or similar.

HORRIBLE START TO VACATION! I started to rent a car from them and they quoted me one price. AFTER charging my card at quadruple what they quoted me they said sorry we gave you an incorrect quote. I said nevermind I will take an Uber the agent said they needed to cancel the reservation. Instead of canceling the reservation he booked it again and charged me! Start of vacation, I am out $3400 until they release the hold....which maybe be a couple of days! The manager gave me her card to call her and doesn't answer and her voicemail is full!! HORRIBLE! Will NEVER use them! read more

I rented a 12 passenger van, check in was not bad, vehicle was ready. When asked about FUEL OPTION - she said it was cheaper for them to fill it up than for me - $2.60 there, $2.70 in town, so why not, she convinced me! Drove the van a total of 90 miles, and I got charged $93.69 for the fuel. When I called, they told me that I was buying the entire tank of gas - not to just fill it up. Why would anyone take this option - the gas station is right down the street. So even if the van got 10 miles/gallon - that is 9 gallons for $90 = $10/gallon, vs. 9 gallons at $2.70 = $24.30 total. Stay away from the FUEL OPTION unless you are going to return the vehicle completely empty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Due to the brutal weather in Dallas our flights were cancelled . We called Budget to see if we could extend our rental by 1 day . They said the contract was over and it would cost us 600$ !! Which is what we paid for a week . I will never use Budget Rental again ! read more

Worst experience ever, if I could give them less than one star I would. My husband and I waited 2 hours in line to pick up our economy sized car. They ran out of ALL CARS 2 people before us in line. The only vehicle they would give us, along with the other 2, was a 12 passenger van. All of us had booked in advance and were not given any other option but to take the 12 passenger vans (no refund, discount, finding us a car from another company, or anything). Meanwhile, we watched people walk in and turn in their keys for a Jeep Wrangler and a smaller SUV. When asked about the cars being returned, the woman said that these cars were "reserved" and could not be rented out. My mind was blown. I will never ever rent from this company again, and I would urge you not to. The 2 of us now have to travel around in this 12 passenger bus for an entire week. read more

The line for Budget was horrible. It took over an hour to get our rental car. Get your crap together Budget.

I booked a car on a Sunday to be used the following Wednesday so I could take my grandson to Disney, not even 36 hrs later my teen son starts showing classic symptoms of Covid, canceled flight and Disney stay but Budget will not even do a credit for a future date, they just want my $570. Nope!!! Not happening Budget! Thank God for MasterCard who will reverse the charges! I will never ever use Budget, not people friendly. Don't ever book in advance, buyer beware!!!! Booking the insurance doesn't help either, SCAM! read more

Around 11pm Rented a car. The vehicle did not match the info given on paper, and didn't notice that the vehicle was close to empty. Drove 45 min into the cut and the gas warning light displayed. Drove by 5 gas station all of them closed. Barely found a gas station that was empty. I take accountability for not looking at the gas gauge but I have rented many times without this type of issue. Orlando Airport! read more

Horrible, horrible customer service. Slow as pond water. Not easy to deal with. I wish I had seen the other reviews before reserving (and paying) for my vehicle. These people are clowns. I was ninth in line and it took just under 2 hours to get to my spot at the counter. I don't know if they are using stone tablets and chisels instead of computers or something, but this was an awful experience. Yelp doesn't give the option for zero stars but that would be appropriate. I am not probe to hyperbole, so believe me when I say that this is the single worst rental experience of my life. My flight from Dallas was quicker than the amount of time I spent in this ridiculous line. Again, not hyperbole. My flight here was one hour and 37 minutes. Clowns. read more

Incredibly slow service. Booked a car 2-3 weeks in advance. They had us wait in line 45 min while their workers moved in slow motion and had zero sense of urgency. Then informed us there were 3 cars in front of us to be washed so it would be another 30 min wait. read more

WORST CAR RENTAL!! Don't come here! They will charge you too much. I reserved a car for august 27-28. I picked it up on August 27 and was supposed to return on August 28 @ 7pm. Staff : Martin told me "Return it on August 29 anytime so you could only be charge for 2 days for $215" . I returned the car on August 29 @5pm, Talked to staff : KIM. I asked her how much I need to pay just making sure it's still $215. She said "I need to run your card first so I can see how much you need to pay" . In my surprise, she run my card and ended up paying $466!!!!! . I asked her why? She said they charged you $99 per hour cause you are late for 2 hours!!! . Wow!!!!! I even told her that Martin told us to return it anytime on August 29. I even asked her I'd rather return it tomorrow (August 30) if you are charging me extra, it doesn't make sense returning it today and paying you $466. She said "Oh I can't cause I already checked you out, just call the customer service. I can't do anything about it" . Yup called customer service and its useless!! Don't come here!!! read more

Worst experience ever. The representative Catalina was beyond rude to the customers in front of me as well as extremely rude to myself. She argued with me regarding what credit card I used, and when I told her she was being very rude she stated "If you don't like it, you can go somewhere else." She then cancelled my reservation and refused service to myself and the customers before me. Topping it all, she does not allow the other representative to help us and calls security...... which happen to be a Police Officer and Sheriff. No one else had a vehicle available so I ended up having to take a $70 Uber to my destination and be without a vehicle the entire trip. I will never use Budget on future trips because of this customer service experience. read more

BUYER BEWARE. I reserved an economy car. I'm not cheap. But just didn't see the value in anything more since it's just to get my wife and I to the hotel and back for the most part. So the lady, I think her name is Kim, says... 'Oh, it's just the two of you? I'll get you into a mustang convertible!'. With all this enthusiasm and wide open eyes, she continues 'How would you like that?' She caught me off guard and I responded with 'Oh wow, that's so nice of you'. Obviously I thought it was a free upgrade. I've had that happen before where all the lower tier cars were rented and I received a free upgrade. So after she spends 10 minutes looking for the keys and changing the info in the computer, it dawned on me that I should clarify things. So she's almost done when I ask 'is there a charge for this?' Sure enough ' oh yes, it's an extra $47 per day'. ERRRRR. Cancel that. Anyway... the way she acted, it was a free upgrade. I guess she thinks or is trained that if you can take the order far enough, the customer will just go with it. After I declined, she was VERY PUSHY while trying to nickel and dime me for extra insurance, prepaid tank of gas etc. So buyer beware. I don't know if these sales tactics are common but don't get caught up in it. read more

I originally booked a 7 passenger car thru Airportrentals.com for $344 back in February. I got notified my flight time changed and instead of just showing up for my reservation at that time I notified the car rental company / airport rentals . They assured me there was no fees or extra charges for flight changes . This was done in June . I arrive to Destin to pick up my rental and get told my total was $1100 . Even though I had paper work and tried explain situation they told they could not honor it do anything for me because I changed my car pick up time and that cancelled my reservation in which I was not told originally. They failed to honor the price I booked it for and refused to do anything to help me . I was stuck in the airport now trying to figure out my next move . Thanks to Dollar rent a car they did help me .Budget will never get my business again. read more

I have rented many cars from many companies, this was my first time with the Budget in Ft Walton airport (VPS) Absolutely the most ridiculous event I have ever been a part of. BEWARE DO NOT RENT from this place!!!! I rented a Jeep four door, pre- paid in full, prepaid (don't ever do that). 1st, I was charged twice, should have been 1300 but charged 2600. Took a month to refund. I called the local number half a dozen times, attempting to talk to someone at the airport to make sure vehicle was really going to be available. I became a fastbreak member (means absolutely nothing at this budget, same line no quick access). I called the local number to find out what I needed to do, and I actually verified 3 different occasions, 3 different people on the national line, because no one answers at the local number so they transfer you to the national number. I was told to have my ID only and the DEBIT card I used to pay with. When I arrived one of the rudest encounters I have ever had with a representative of a rental company, with a middle aged woman at the sales counter. She literally yelled at me that there was no way she could rent the jeep, that I had already paid for and I had already confirmed three times, without a CREDIT card. Never, not once, not even a hint, was this mentioned to me at any time, in writing or verbally when I confirmed 3 times, before hand. She then insisted, actually gave me no other choices, but said I had to take a Ford edge, and that this was the equivalent price of the 4 door jeep Wrangler (which it is definitely not), so I would get no money back. And I could rent this heap of crap vehicle (sorry if you have one I just had a need for the jeep) without a credit card!!! What? Why? Definitely a scam, I looked around the rental car lot and there was not even a 4 door jeep anywhere on the lot. She literally yelled at me for several minutes she-splaining why I could not rent this jeep. (By the way I don't use credit cards, I don't need to borrow money I have plenty in my bank.) I will never rent from any budget again, but even more importantly, never from this ridiculous location for sure. Idiots, or at least she was! read more

Horrible customer service. Left something in vehicle and called hour later and they claimed they were closed and didn't have keys. Then I called the next day and they claimed they didn't have vehicle anymore without even asking my name. read more

Was wrongfully charged an additional 90 dollars on my credit card. Customer service had no logical explanation of this charge. Absolutely asensine. Save yourself a headache and time and rent elsewhere. read more

I have rented cars at multiple locations around the world over the years, but never received a bill after I turned in a car. I had an early flight so decided to rent a car to get to the airport. Rented a Ford Mustang and paid for the rental before I left the counter. I drove the car a total of 81 miles according to the paperwork they sent me. They also added a refueling charge of $35.96, plus airport concession fee and more taxes. The needle on the gas gauge was still on full. At most it might have taken 2 gallons of gas. Even in Destin, I don't think the cost of gas is $18 a gallon. I will never rent from Budget again. Too many rental choices to deal with this hassle. Every review on this site is 1-star, wish I had checked it before renting. read more

Great counter staff . Car was dirty on outside. Upon return I mentioned after the transaction was complete and the counter staff refunded $25 per day. Unexpected and very generous . Easy pick up and drop off considering it is a self service lot. read more

Charged an additional 40% without knowledge. Desk agent Cathy did not inform me if upcharge. List mead customer!

Bear with me, this is long. I reserved a car through Priceline for Budget and pre paid. At no point in the paying for the car did it give me the option to add a car seat. So when I finished making the reservation I called Priceline and asked to add it. They told me they could not and to call Budget. So I call the Budget in Destin only to be directed to a foreign country. The person whom I spoke to told me he would add it. When I asked for a confirmation he assured me it was added but that he would send a confirmation email. I got the email and it was my same reservation with no changes. Since I had about 2 months until my trip I waited a bit before I called back. A few weeks before my trip I again called the Budget in Florida only to be redirected to the national line in some foreign country where you can hardly understand them. I spoke with a female this time and she told me that no, I did NOT have a car seat on my reservation after all (shocking right?) and that she could NOT add one since I had pre paid. I asked for a supervisor and was refused. She would not help me and told me to go to my local Budget in Arkansas and see if they could help me. So off I go on a 30 minute drive after work to go to my local budget. I get there and tell my story to the desk clerk and she tells me she cannot add one either SINCE I PRE PAID. So basically because I already gave them my money, they didn't care. She assured me that they would have "plenty" of car seats there in Florida and she even called them to check. She magically got a hold of someone in Florida and said they indeed had "plenty" of car seats at all times and it would be "no problem." You know where I'm going with this right?? So I fly to Florida with an 18 month old. She's tired, hungry and cranky when we get to the Budget desk. AND GUESS WHAT FOLKS??? They don't have any car seats. You just can't make this stuff up. So after I had a mini meltdown that I'm ashamed of slightly, the girl at the desk went and borrowed one from another rental next door. She was very apologetic and really seemed to care and was the only bright light in this whole ordeal. I think she could see the crazy in my tired-mom eyes and she just wanted me out there. She made it right but it should have never happened in the first place. I will NEVER rent from Budget again. My husbands work uses Enterprise and he's never had issues so that's what I'll be using from now on. Wish I had listened and done that in the first place instead of trying to go the cheap way. Never never never again. Thank you if you made it this far!!!! read more

ZERO Stars - Budget/Avis rental cars at VPS (valparaiso airport/ft Walton beach) To say it was a - is an ongoing - horrible experience is an understatement !! Picked vehicle up on Thursday morning, counter was easy to find (the only plus). It should have been a clue that it was also the only one without a line of customers, as it was not a sign of efficiency but a sign of the future horrible service/treatment I was to experience. 1. Extreme HARD sell - sell insurance 3x diff kinds - wouldn't let it go A. HARD Sell - about up grading only she didn't use that language. She kept talking about a Volvo SUV and all the nice features it had side air bags, leather seats, sun roof, gps, etc... Kept repeating herself, then she said is that ok with me? Ummm I reserved a SUV w/gps - I am not picky does it have 4 wheels, an engine, and fit one adult and two small kids, I ask then it sounds like what I pre-payed and asked for, I say. Then she pops ok so at $15 more a day it will only add $100 more to ur total. Wait what I say??? I didn't ask for an upgrade I want what I already paid for and reserved. I don't want to pay anything above that, don't want it don't need it. Then she starts with well if u will be traveling long distance this vehicle will be more comfortable and luxurious. Umm again NO I don't want to pay anymore above what I already have. B. Then she launches into the fuel programs add ons. Three different programs I can choose from. Again NO what part of NO is difficult to understand. I don't want it don't need it. I am capable of buying gas and returning it with a full tank. She keeps going about how easy it will be for me to return if they do the gas, as she doesn't want to charge me a $100 penalty fee for not putting gas in tank. Again NO I don't want it. You would think I would have gotten a clue at this point that more bad things are to come but no I let her keep going. 2. She then retrieves a gps mounted device - yup that's right for all the money I am paying $500 for 1 wk rental - the vehicle is apparently not new enough or updated enough to have a built in device. Sounds like it shouldn't be a big deal except that I am a tourist in a tourist town which means that every time I leave the car I am going to have to find a place to stash out sight. It didn't fit in the center console, or glove box, or in the door pocket. Oh and as an extra touch it has never been updated - so it couldn't even find Eglin AFB or Ft Pickens Nat'l Park or a Mcdonalds but it did find the walmart too bad I already knew where that was as it was down the street from where I was staying. 3. Then night before I need to return the SUV I go pull into the gas station with two hungry - hangry - kids - only to open the gas door lid to find a large sticker saying E-85 gas ONLY! Needless to say the gas station didn't have that. Then I do a quick search the closest station is 53 miles away!!!! One way!!! At no time did the rental agent tell me it would need the special gas or that the station was a billion miles away. It was not in the rental agreement or on any sign/sticker/note in the car. Then I return home call the rental company at the number listed on the agreement not the brochure corporate number, only to land in automated hell!!! Finally get to talk to a person only for her to tell me she can't help and she will transfer me to the local agent - ONLy to really be sent back to automated hell again. Then get two guys who don't know anything they say there is nothing they can do - and oh BTW just put regular gas in ignore the sign saying E-85 only - no they will not send anything via email to say they told me it was ok. So i am supposed to be confident and trust that regular gas won't destroy the car and that budget won't charge me for a replacement engine or heavens knows what outrageous fee they will come up with. I asked to talk with someone else but ended up in automated voice hell again, so finally hung up. I am returning the car tomorrow and gearing up for battle by showing up early and bearing for a fight. I will not pay more then I already have. I will make sure to post an update to yelp, twitter, yahoo reviews, FB and anywhere else that I can warn my fellow military customers and tourists to not rent from budget the hassle is not worth the headaches, difficulties, and crap service. Budget/Avis u Stink!!! read more