Cancellation Process
- Visit budget.com to cancel your reservation.
- You must have the renter’s last name and reservation confirmation number to cancel your booking.
- Go to the “View, Change or Cancel an Existing Reservation” page on Budget’s website.
- On this page, enter the renter’s last name and the confirmation number you received when you made the reservation. This allows you to access your reservation and choose to cancel it.
Note: You get the confirmation number after you book online. It is an 8-digit number followed by two letters and one more number (11 characters). In case you do not have a confirmation number, you can contact Budget for help.
Pre-Paid Cancellation
If you paid for your rental when you booked it and need to cancel, you can do so online and get a refund in about seven business days. If you cancel at least 24 hours before pickup, there’s a $50 fee. If you cancel within 24 hours of pickup, the fee is $150. If you don’t cancel and don’t show up, you won’t get any money back. Also, if you return the car early, you won’t get a refund for the days you didn’t use.
Credit Card Cancellation
If you have provided your credit card details for your car rental reservation, but the rental company has not yet taken any money from your card, you can cancel for free if you do it at least 48 hours before you pick up the car. If you cancel less than 48 hours before pickup, you will have to pay a $75 fee. If you do not give your credit card information, make sure to cancel your reservation as soon as you can before the pickup time.
Travel Agent or Online Booking Agent Cancellation
If you booked your rental car through a travel agent or an online booking site, you need to follow their rules for canceling. They manage your reservation, so their cancellation policies are the ones you need to follow.
Cancellation Before Pickup Refund
If you want to cancel your reservation before the pick-up time, you need to cancel and request a refund online. After you cancel, it usually takes about seven business days to get your money back, which will go back to the same card you used to pay.
Prepaid Cancellation
If you cancel a prepaid reservation within 24 hours of the pick-up time, you have to pay a $150 processing fee, and you will not get the full prepaid amount back.
No-Show Up Cancellation
If you do not cancel before the pick-up time and do not pick up the car, you will not get any refund for the prepaid amount. Also, if you return the car early, you will not get any money back for the unused rental days.
Credit Card Holds
When you rent a car with a credit card, Budget will put a hold on your card for the estimated rental cost plus 25% or $200, whichever is more. This means the money will be reserved and not available for you to use until after you return the car.
Debit Card Holds
If you use a debit card to rent a car, Budget will put a hold on the calculated rental cost, as well as possibly some extra money. This money will not be available for you to use until after you return the car. For some rentals, like insurance or prepaid ones, the minimum hold is $100. But in the Northeast and North Central areas, the minimum hold is $500.
Deposit Varies by Location
The deposit you need to pay and the payment method when renting a car can be different depending on the location where you rent it.
Check Specific Rules
To find out the exact deposit rules for where you are renting, look at your reservation confirmation. It will show the specific deposit details. You can also go to Budget’s website, find your rental location, and click on "additional information" to see the terms and conditions.
Canadian Rentals Deposit
When you use a credit card, Budget will hold $300 CAD for the first day of your rental and $75 CAD for each extra day. Make sure you check the terms and conditions on your reservation or location information page to see the specific rules for your rental.
How Deposit Works When Extend Your Rental
If you want to keep the car longer, first call Budget at 800-527-7000 before you are supposed to return it. There might be a $10 fee, and Budget might put extra holds on your card for the additional days. When you return the car, Budget will charge you the final rental cost and release the holds. Your bank might take up to two weeks to remove these holds, and Budget is not responsible if there are problems with your bank due to this delay.
If you return the car before the planned return date, you will not get a refund for the unused days. The cost of renting a car is based on how long you plan to keep it. If you return the car earlier than planned, the daily rate might be higher because longer rentals usually have a lower daily rate. Prices can also change depending on where you rented the car and when you made your reservation.
More Information About Returning Car Rentals
- Return Times: You have 24 hours from when you pick up the car to return it. For example, if you pick up the car at 10 AM, you need to return it by 10 AM the next day.
- After-Hours Returns: Some Budget locations let you return the car after they close. You can call the rental location where you got the car and ask if this facility is available.
- Sunday Returns: Not all Budget locations are open on Sundays. To find out if the one you rented from is open, call them and ask about their Sunday hours.
- Grace Period: Budget offers you 29 extra minutes beyond the 24-hour rental period to return the car without any extra charges. If you return the car after 30 minutes, you will have to pay an extra fee for each additional hour.
The Budget’s car rental rules can help you have a trouble-free rental experience. Understand things like how to cancel, get refunds, pay deposits, and return the car early from this article in an easy way. Remember to read the rental terms carefully and ask questions if you are not sure about anything.
