Budget Car Rental

---

Name: M******* N*****
Date: 2024-01-31 03:58:11
Rating: 5
Comment: Highly recommend- friendly staff, positive experience! Definitely a reliable place for car rentals.

---

Name: P***** A****
Date: 2024-01-29 19:17:12
Rating: 5
Comment: Extraordinary Service!!!! I followed GPS to the wrong location and ended up on a closed road surrounded by homeless. It was not safe at all.When in arrived at this location, the correct Budget location, the staff was over friendly and extremely helpful. He escorted me to gas station so I wasn’t alone, and switched out my rental car super fast! He gave me a choice of what I wanted so I could be comfortable.All rental cars aren’t perfect, they’ll never be, hundreds of different people drive them. But when the service is exceptional, And staff is smiling, it leaves a lasting impression.Thanks to you all for your hard work. I’ll for sure use you again.

---

Name: K**** G*****
Date: 2024-01-21 19:25:21
Rating: 5
Comment: A lovely experience, great location, and very good selection for a smaller (non-airport) lot. The folks at the counter were very nice and helpful. Were so happy we found them instead of driving all the way out to the airport as originally planned-- we will definitely use them again if ever needing a rental in the area!

---

Name: F**** W***********
Date: 2023-11-07 17:11:48
Rating: 5
Comment: I have rented four cars at this location over the past months and every time the process was exceptionally easy. Its not the busiest branch so things usually move quickly and I never had any problems such as extra fees etc.

---

Name: L** M*******
Date: 2023-06-15 17:22:45
Rating: 1
Comment: They dont vacuum the cars. The car they offered to rent me was absolutely disgusting and I asked if they had a vacuum and he said no. He then proceeded to be very rude and said this is not how we rent cars. You have to just decide. So I am going to Enterprise. Very rude horrible customer service.

---

Name: L***** R***
Date: 2023-04-11 23:15:46
Rating: 1
Comment: I had a bad experience with this car rental branch.On the pro side:- it is located nicely within Berkeley- it has good opening hours.On the contra side:- The manager of the car rental company complained he had no information about my booking details- He gave me the wrong fuel policy and kept more deposit back than agreed in my contract.- When I returned the car, he complained there were dog hair in the car while it was clear there were no (see pictures). He threaten me to deduct 150$ from my deposit and I should call the customer service to complain. Even other customer agreed with me that were no dog hair. According to other reviews it is a common problem at this branch.- The car entertainment system was not working properly (iphone could not connect because the add button did not work)- The roadside assistance should be included according to our booking but the manager said it would not be included- The manager was very unfriendlyOverall, I cannot recommend to rent a car at this car rental agency.

---

Name: M*** L***
Date: 2023-02-27 21:56:40
Rating: 5
Comment: Excellent service at this Budget agency, unlike the one on Gilman Street. Efficient and smiling manager. Impeccable car.

---

Name: T**** P*******
Date: 2023-01-09 03:47:02
Rating: 1
Comment: On January 5, 2023 at around 11am, I had the most shocking and traumatic experience trying to return a vehicle to Budget located at 2000 Kittridge St, Berkeley CA. After noticing a service engine light, I called the Budget corporate customer service line who then advised that I turn the vehicle in to the closest location which was the Budget on Kittridge street. When I entered the facility, I encountered a male employee behind the counter wearing a Budget uniform . He was not wearing a name badge and declined to provide his name. He appeared to be of Indian descent, 50-60 years old, dark hair and speaks with an accent. I explained the situation and how I was instructed to return the vehicle at this location. This male employee appeared annoyed almost immediately and yelled at me stating that this location was independently operated and that I would incur a one way drop off fee and later accused me of not filling up the tank which he soon discovered was not the truth as once he took the time to read the rental agreement. Given that he appeared very volatile and I was alone with him, I felt very uncomfortable and threatened by his language and posture toward me, I tried to diffuse the situation by suggesting that he either read the notes that were provided in the system or to call the corporate office for clarity. This seemed to anger him more and he replied that it was not his responsibility to do so. He then forcibly shoved the keys back across the counter at me and yelled at me to get out!! At this point I am dumb-founded and quite frankly scared as there were no witnesses present. I then ask him to stop talking/yelling at me as I agreed to make the call. He then leaves me unattended and goes to an adjacent room out of view for the next 30 mins as I wait on hold to speak to a manager. Upon speaking with the manager, it was confirmed that everything I told him was the truth. The manager ask to speak to him but he refused to get on the line. I was then advised by the manager to leave the keys and the vehicle and to leave the the office immediately. I happily obliged and will never return. I do not recommend that any person, male or female, subject themselves to type of treatment. It was disgraceful and whomever this unnamed male is, he should be ashamed of himself and should not not be unleashed on the public. Notice that i did not refer to him as a man. If you are management of this location, you should strongly reconsider having this person represent your business. Sent from my iPad

---

Name: C****** F******
Date: 2022-08-27 13:20:50
Rating: 5
Comment: Excellent service

---

Name: K****** B***
Date: 2022-06-29 18:39:20
Rating: 5
Comment: Pleasant staff. Very easy check in and check out. Car was showroom quality.

---

Name: T** L**
Date: 2022-03-10 16:08:35
Rating: 5
Comment: Prompt, professional, courteous. Rented a Nissan Sentra that is clean and drives well.

---

Name: S*** H***
Date: 2021-11-19 18:52:17
Rating: 1
Comment: I prepaid for a car for two weeks including insurance. I get there and of course they dont have my vehicle. They dont offer to upgrade me for free, but say for $140.00 more they can give me a SUV. I agree he gets on the computer and says my credit isnt good enough, nevermind Ive already paid in full. So I ask for a refund and he says no that I have to call this number. Which I did got transferred again and am waiting for a callback.

---

Name: H**** W***
Date: 2021-09-22 16:33:03
Rating: 3
Comment: Pros: Great price was undeniable for a one-way rental with pickup at this location (at least $30 less than competitors through Expedia), and the car got the job done. I appreciated that I wasn’t pressured to add supplemental insurance (I have my own) or gas in the way I usually am.Cons: The the car had a bit of trash inside as well as fingerprints marks and grease all over the displays (during COVID). Perhaps it wasn’t cleaned after the last renter. I tried to pay with a chase sapphire card to take advantage of the included collision coverage, and was told the mag strip didn’t work. I know this isn’t the case, as it worked before and after at different locations. The staff member on duty told me it was probably my card, but that it’s sometimes the reader, and to try to change the payment method at the return center (there was no opportunity to do so). I told him he or I could enter the number, which he said wasn’t possible. I ended up using a different card, but I still find the whole thing absurd. The location needs a new mag reader or to update to a chip or contactless given the hard requirements to pay with a card (a sign up on the wall reads, “no swipe, no rental”).I guess you get what you pay for!

---

Name: A****** S***
Date: 2021-05-08 17:34:25
Rating: 2
Comment: No cars

---

Name: J**** K**
Date: 2021-04-03 18:31:08
Rating: 5
Comment: Very helpful and friendly staff!

---

Name: T**** �************ S******
Date: 2021-01-27 01:58:14
Rating: 4
Comment: Great customer service satisfaction guarantee

---

Name: J***** S*******
Date: 2020-08-16 18:48:38
Rating: 1
Comment: This rental car place charges you for dropping it off with the tiniest amount of sand and dirt on the floor. It’s a $50 fine for returning with “normal wear and tear” dirt from getting in and out, and a small amount of sand. Beware. Male staff person extremely rude.

---

Name: C********** B****
Date: 2020-01-18 01:48:15
Rating: 1
Comment: The only thing shiftier than a rental car is this co-branded Avis/Budget franchisee. Arrived at the 7:30 am opening time to pick up the car I reserved online for $70/weekend. The printed contract stated $130. When asked about the discrepancy the owner said its $60 for the extra 30 minutes beyond three days. Huh? By now its 7:40 am. Turns out the following Monday is a holiday and they dont open until 8 am. Since I cant return (the car) until 8 am, its an extra $60 late fee.OK-Ill wait 20 minutes, rent the car today at 8:00 am and thus stay within the three day window. Too late, he quips, the transaction is complete and your credit cards been charged! When I challenged his lack of a signed rental agreement he countered all I can do now is void your existing reservation and book a new one -at a substantially higher price. No thanks. As I walked out he magically gained the ability to credit my previously unchangeable 7:30 am transaction $60-but only after I returned the car, and (naturally) with nothing confirmed in writing.Righhhht. Read the other reviews for how these shady undocumented future promises have played out. I can only imagine the return damage inspection.Walked across the street, hopped in a Gig-car, drove where I needed to go and conveniently returned it right in front of my own house. No slight-of-contract shenanigans, trumped-up damages or belligerent business owners necessary-and with the fuel included Gig turned out to be cheaper!Hmm. I wonder which business model will prevail.

---

Name: P*** T*******
Date: 2019-05-13 16:59:06
Rating: 5
Comment: Very good service. Amin was very helpful and helped me find an item we had left in the car. Keep up the good work!

---

Name: S******** P***
Date: 2018-12-28 06:08:02
Rating: 5
Comment: Best car rental service around UCB. The renter is very good. I have been upgraded twice with mustang and Ford hybrid for no charges extra. Very friendly and way faster service.

---

Name: S* M****
Date: 2018-08-27 17:51:25
Rating: 1
Comment: Dishonest. Man tried to tell me the gas was not full enough and wanted to charge me $25 to fill it more. I argued with him and presented my gas receipt from 20 minutes ago. He told me he would let me get away with it this time!? Get away with what? The tank is full and I have receipts. There will not be a next time. What a racket. I wish I would have read the reviews before renting here. It sounds like this location has problems.

---

Name: D***** B********
Date: 2018-08-20 15:51:52
Rating: 5
Comment: Third time renting here, never had any problems with the car or with customer service. The two people working there are great.

---

Name: D**** A
Date: 2018-07-01 20:27:30
Rating: 5
Comment: Always good customer service

---

Name: D*** M****
Date: 2018-04-22 17:50:23
Rating: 1
Comment: The worst excercise ever. Went in to rent from this establishment. Proprietor was already suspicious of when I can in the door. He made a comment about me having a debit card and the scolded me about lany strong odors, sand or pet hair in the car. 150 dollar charge. I said I know the policy. I have rented from Budget many times Excellent Customer Service Everytime if not they make it right.I state and repeat I did not smoke in my rental. I returned the car for the Manager to stated that the car hlad some osor, I dont know what, I know you and your friends smoked in here, thats what you do and Im going to charge you a hundred dollars. I stated I didnt smoke Im almost 50 if I did I can own up to it.I knew it was going to be a problem when I left. Subsequent he charged me a 60 dollar miscellaneous fee. Be clear if I broke policy my receipt should reflect that charge. I take pride in being respectful and honest. This establishment is neither. I believe they are biast against people of color. I believe Im not the only person to have had this experience and its a shame. I will never visit this location again. I should have reported his attitude from the beginning.

---

Name: N**** J*******
Date: 2017-08-31 01:46:51
Rating: 5
Comment: Perfect return and location 🙂

---

Name: W****** Y**
Date: 2017-02-19 07:53:43
Rating: 1
Comment: Horrible and life threatening. I wish I was exaggerating but no, they lied to us and gave us a front wheel drive car when we explicitly asked for all wheel drive. They even charged us extra and the key even said all wheel drive. We went up into the snowy mountains of Lake Tahoe under the impression that we would be safe, that is until we started to slide down the hills. We couldnt control the car and we could have seriously gotten hurt or hurt someone else. If we had known it was front wheel drive, we would have never tried to go up a hill, which makes their deceit so dangerous. Its just a lawsuit waiting to happen.Whats worse is after we called in, we were passed around different departments all telling us its not their responsibility to get us out, and we were even told that were on our own unless the car itself was mechanically broken. Thats right, they told us we should just be stuck at the bottom of a snowy hill, stranded in a snow storm, blocking roads and being a hazard to other cars. This is after waiting for 3 hours of being transferred from one department to another. After 6 ridiculous hours of waiting, we were finally towed to safety, and we dont even know if Budget is going to charge us a fortune for the towing, which we only needed due to their horrendous mistake.

---

Name: O**** W****
Date: 2017-02-18 00:59:07
Rating: 1
Comment: We asked for a AWD car. We were told that we had to call the on the morning of the rental to secure one, since they could not reserve it by drivetrain in their system. Inconvenient, but not a big problem.I called that morning, and they said they had one available, but I had to hurry to get to the rental place to claim it before anyone else. Okay so I stressed out and got there as soon as I could. And it was still there, great. I made sure to ask them explicitly that it was in fact an AWD car, since we were driving up to lake tahoe and expected snowfall. They assured me it was.After they wasted half an hour of my time in getting my change of car registered in their system, we were off to the mountains with a $15 a day more expensive car. So far so good.Three days later, today: Disaster.We were driving back, and its snowing, as expected. But as Im trying to drive up a hill, the front wheels just spin, and we cant get up. I think its weird that only the front wheels spin, and look around on the car controls to see if there is a button to activate the AWD. Nothing.There is no owners manual in the car, so we call the rental place to ask about it. After being on hold forever, and being transferred twice, the lady informed us that the car we are driving is in fact a 2 wheel drive car, front wheel drive, the worst for the snow.I have experience driving in snowy conditions, and I was driving this car as if it was a AWD. If I knew it was FWD, I would have been much more careful about understeering. This misinformation was legitimately dangerous.After trying to accelerate from the bottom of the hill and get up with momentum, there is just no point, we cant get up. We cant get home. Were stuck. In an intersection by a slippery hill, in a fairly dangerous spot.So we call the rental place again, and tell them our situation. After two hours of calling and being stuck in this intersection, what we got is: Budget wont let us send you a tow truck, because the car has not mechanically broken down. What!? We are stuck in a dangerous location, theres a snowstorm outside, we cant get home. We were lucky to have plenty of food and water in the car...After more calling and insisting on the fact that we cannot make it home, they finally did send a tow truck. Or at least they said they would. We got stuck at 11:30, and its 5 pm and help has not arrived yet.They said they cannot promise to waive the towing fee, even though they are at fault for this situation. Between the four different people I had to speak to, they all claim its not their responsibility.I hope I get home today...

---

Name: L*** A*****
Date: 2016-12-29 00:34:37
Rating: 5
Comment: We have rented a car from this agency for three months and a half.Because we are not from US, we had to arrange our booking through Expedia, who only allows for one month bookings, therefore we had to return to the agency three times, before finally returning the car.We have been upgraded twice, each time the new car was so much better than the previous that we could hardly believe it. The people at the agency were efficient, courteous and accommodating. It is our best experience ever in car rental. When we return to Berkeley we definitely plan to use it again.

---

Name: B******* L**
Date: 2016-01-23 16:01:53
Rating: 5
Comment: The car is very good