Budget review

Who is Budget?

The low-cost arm of big brand Avis, Budget offers rentals at locations across the globe.

Which? verdict 

Budget has decent-quality cars and a transparent fuel policy, but there’s room for improvement, especially with queues and additional charges.

Visit budget.co.uk

Budget customer ratings

If you want to see how Budget measures up against its rivals, read our best and worst car hire companies page.

What’s Budget like?

Given its name, you'd have thought Budget's prices would be some of the lowest. They're not.

Customers awarded it an average three stars out of five for value for money. This might be down to the cost of its additional insurance. One customer reported that excess insurance fees ended up doubling the original hire cost quoted. Another summed this up: 'The system is based on low prices to get you in, then extortionate add-on charges.' Find out more about car hire insurance.

Budget's customer service is a bit hit and miss depending on which office you visit. One customer recalled that staff were 'very helpful' and 'trustworthy'. But overall it only received an average three out of five stars for customer service.

Should I book with Budget?

While it's not at the very bottom of the pile, Budget is far from a star performer in our survey. Its extra costs irk customers, which is a shame as its name projects a different story. For the lowest prices, we'd recommend booking a trusted local provider via Zest Car Rental instead.

Find out how to get cheaper car hire.