Best car rental companies in Austin: find options near you

Outstanding service from start to finish! I had an excellent experience with National Car Rental AUS, thanks to Justin (the Manager) and Connor. Their customer service was top-notch—professional, friendly, and incredibly efficient. Justin went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly, and Connor was equally helpful and attentive. The whole process was seamless, and the execution was absolutely flawless. Highly recommend this location if you’re looking for hassle-free service and a team that truly cares about your experience. Will definitely be back!

Renting with National was the best experience I have ever had with a rental car company. The price was fair, the car was clean and excellent, the process was hassle free and quick! Every employee was so pleasant and nice. 10 out of 10 experience.

I absolutely love this location and National all around! I travel frequently for work and a lot of the locations provide the best customer service, but Austin location? Yeah, they’re 10/10 every single week that I rent! They always have cars ready and so helpful! Justin, Anniston, Lauren, just the entire staff, from walk-in, to leaving out the gate. They know exactly what it means to provide the best customer service! I never rent with anyone else and they’re the reason why! Thank you guys for always providing me with the best cars, care and customer service! You all rock!!! Oh and they don’t just treat well because I’m Executive Elite, they treat all tiers with the same respect! Other rental companies should take notes!!

Reserved a large luxury SUV with budget 3 weeks in advance. But upon arrival told the vehicle was unavailable and had to downsize, but had to pay same price. Refused and walked to National, and within 5 minutes had a large luxury SUV. Great service, courteous staff, great price and overall a stressless experience compared to other provider. I’ll definitely use National going forward for my travel needs.

We love picking any car we want from the Executive Aisle level membership!! I need the power lumbar support for my lower back comfort when traveling, so mentioned this to the attendant. He suggested the Chrysler Pacifica for our needs and said he had one about to come out of the car wash. It fit the bill perfectly! We very much appreciated his expertise and great customer service. And that is why we always rent from National.

Upon arriving to pick up my car, I didn’t have a very good experience with Emerald Aisle. However, when I returned the car, Ricky at the Austin Aiport provided excellent customer service which alleviates any concerns regarding renting from this location again. Special thanks to Ricky for doing everything in his power to make things right. It’s greatly appreciated.

STOLEN PROPERTY!
Left a pair of valuable headphones in a vehicle I returned. Made multiple enquiries. Found my lost item on the Lost & Found page. Followed customer rep’s instructions and created very detailed claim on said page. No reply, no response, no return. I left my attorney’s contact details as I am no longer in Austin. Seems I will need to instruct him to pursue National for stolen property if this is not resolved.

I arrived at the rental car hall at 7 a.m., but there was no one at the counter at that time—several people were just standing there, waiting aimlessly. I noticed an escalator nearby and went upstairs, where I found another rental counter located in the parking garage. A young staff member was there, actively helping customers.

After a brief bit of paperwork, the staff kindly offered me a free upgrade from a standard sedan to an SUV, FORD EDGE, which I accepted. However, while inspecting the vehicle, I noticed that a plastic screw fell out when I opened the fuel cap. To avoid any misunderstandings when returning, I contacted the staff. She apologized sincerely and offered to switch the vehicle to a neighboring Outlander.

Unfortunately, while inspecting the second car, the fuel cap wouldn’t open properly. I contacted the staff again, and once more she apologized and promptly replaced it with another Outlander. This third vehicle had only 74 miles on the odometer—virtually brand new—and passed my inspection with no issues.

When I returned the car, the staff was friendly and professional. It was clear he genuinely enjoyed his job (maybe). I always insist on a thorough inspection when renting a car, and this time, it really paid off. I’m grateful for the staff member’s courteous and efficient service throughout the process.

Always have friendly staff. Cars are always ready and clean. Very modern cars ready for trips without any worries. Love the Genesis line of cars!

The line at this Enterprise rental was short, the folks behind the counter was fast and efficient. We waited no more than 5 minutes and was on our way in 10-12 minutes.

The rental line next to them were 12 people or more deep and it wasn’t moving. Ouch!

Getting the car up on the second floor was fast and easy too. Our SUV was under 800 miles and nice and clean.

The team at this location was awesome. It’s a busy spot but they have it locked down exceptional service and the wait was not long at all. They got me in a nice extremely clean well cared for car. Thank you Perry

Justin and the crew really worked hard to make sure my experience was the best it could be, but that isn’t the end of it! As I headed out to catch my flight I saw him taking a photo for another customer in front of her rental! His (as well as everyone else) endeavor to make the customer experience everything it can be is admirable, and I hope that they are treated to the accolades they clearly have earned. I appreciate it, y’all made my day.

Anderson was the nicest dude ever. Extremely patient and personable. Went above and beyond to make sure things went smoothly for us. Legitimately made my day better. I hope your manager sees this because you’re doin great, dude. Enjoy Lucky Robot!

Audrey was fantastic and very helpful! Showed me all the options and gave me pros and cons of each after I told her I came back from an international trip with almost a dozen pieces of luggage, a stroller, and a car seat. Helped me pick the best option and I was very happy with it.

THIS WAS THE WORST RENTAL EXPERIENCE OF MY ENTIRE LIFE!!! First of all, we were supposed to have a Buick SUV but that provided us with a small Hyundai Kona instead. The exterior was in awful condition with scratches and dents from the previous drivers. Early on, I noticed the alignment was off but assumed that was the only issue. As we went through our trip, I had to keep refilling the air on the front passenger tire as it would be 18 PSI when it should be in the 40 PSI. Later on, the car was shaking violently on the freeway and I had to pull over. When we looked we saw that the front driver tire was COMPLETELY FALLING APART! They failed to inspect and perform maintenance on the vehicle so bad that one tire disintegrated and the other one was bald with a slow leak. I called the office in Austin and they said it was UP TO ME to get the issue fixed. Thankfully my insurance company sent out someone to change the spare and we had to drive 45 MPH the rest of the trip. When we dropped the car off in Salt Lake City they were shocked at the condition. We went through high mountain roads which could have easily resulted in a fatality. If I could give a negative 5 starts I would! This company is seriously negligent on the inspection and maintenance of their vehicles, if you VALUE YOUR LIFE do not rent from them… see the photos below for evidence.

DO NOT RENT HERE. This company runs a serious scam. I was rented a car on June 18th with a cracked windshield and even though I am not at fault for the crack worsening they refuse to refund me even for the days I have not yet had the car. Wouldn’t spend another cent here if my life depended on it, and neither should you.

My experience was ok when I showed up my vehicle wasn’t ready! You see the car was almost on E, was told the road are all tolls sold me that extra fee for something I didn’t need. The one gentleman his customer service was poor, not concerned with my issues. The manager did come out and talk me to explain.overall I might use this company again , each state is different:

Car was cheap. It was supposed to be a Buick SUV, but received a Sedan instead. It was just me, so this wasn’t a major issue, but it could have been. It was also very dirty.

This place IS NOT at the Austin Airport. They run one shuttle and you need to add at least 40 minutes to your timeline on either end.

My car had a badly broken windshield, and only half a tank of gas. I still had to turn it in filled up though, or pay an extra fee.

Stick with more reputable companies.

Firstly, I get there today to collect my rental and it’s no longer available after I called a couple of hours before asking when it will be ready. They told me at 1pm the latest since my time to pick up was 1:30pm. I get there at 2:30pm and they no longer have my vehicle because it’s “out of service.” So now I’m forced to get an upgrade and pay for it when it wasn’t my fault. It should’ve been free. Secondly, I’m now about 2 hours from Odessa. I had a blow out on the front right tire because the vehicle wasn’t checked on properly before being given to me. The alignment is off too. That photo is with the tires straight. The wheel is crooked. Now I have to pay for roadside/tow truck because the worker there failed to mention that when I rejected the liability insurance that it also covered flats, roadside, and glass. He only told me it covers if someone hit me. I called back to ask about the process of driving it back because it’s unsafe to drive the spare tire and they’re now telling me to pay for the tire that blew out, which I will not do. That’s not my responsibility as a paying customer. Just like enterprise or any other rental car, it’s the companies responsibility because it’s their vehicle. When I told him that he said “well we’re not enterprise ma’am.” Yes and you can tell. I work in customer service and they have terrible customer service. I will never recommend this place to anyone.

We had a fantastic experience with Bobby at Easirent Car Rental. From the moment we arrived, Bobby was incredibly hospitable and welcoming. He took the time to ensure we understood all the rental details and answered all our questions with patience and professionalism. The customer service was top-notch, making the entire process smooth and stress-free. We truly appreciated Bobby’s friendly attitude and dedication to providing excellent service. We highly recommend Easirent, and especially Bobby, for anyone in need of reliable and friendly car rental services in Austin!

I had a very frustrating experience with Easirent. I booked a mid-size SUV but was given a Chevy Malibu instead, with no price adjustment even though it was a cheaper car. The bigger issue came when I got a flat tire – the tire shop told me all four tires had dry rot and the car wasn’t safe to drive. When I tried to contact customer service for help, I was repeatedly put on hold for 30 minutes until the line disconnected, three separate times.
The only positive part of my experience was when I went to the rental center in person. Bobby helped me directly, quickly found me a safe replacement car, and treated me with professionalism and kindness. He turned a very stressful situation around and I really appreciated his attitude.

After returning the car, things got even worse. I was charged a toll fee for a car I didn’t even drive on the day in question. I called and was told they would review it and issue a refund, but they never did. The day after I dropped the car off, I even received a call saying the car was “missing” and that they had no record of my return. This was alarming, since I had in fact returned it on time and signed their inspection form – though oddly, they had me sign a blank form, saying they would inspect the vehicle later instead of doing it in front of me. That practice is very unusual and concerning.

Because of these unresolved issues and the overall lack of accountability, I changed my rating from 3 stars to 1 star. The company needs serious improvements in safety standards, customer service, and return procedures. The only reason I’m not giving zero stars is because of Bobby’s professionalism, but Easirent as a company completely failed me.

Best car rental experience I’ve had in the US so far.
They didn’t try to push any unnecessary insurance add-ons, and the Mustang we rented was brand new and in excellent condition. The staff were also very friendly and helpful. Highly recommended!

Returned car after hours, but couldn’t leave key because the lock box was insecure (left open and unlocked). I called road side assistance (customer service closed) and they said not to leave it in the insecure lockbox and call in the morning. At 7:37 a lady from AUS Alamo office informed me I should have left the key in the box because it’s a “secure facility” even though there were vagrants sleeping and loitering feet from the lock box. She informed me I should drive my own vehicle back to the airport to the exit gate of the return and hand the key to them otherwise I would be charged a lost key fee. I drove to the airport and went to the exit booth of the Alamo car rental and the lady informed me I was misinformed and she can not take the key because it’s a “secure facility”. I was then forced to park where I shouldn’t to walk and and return it and run back. I was then charged the lost key fee anyways! When I called to complain they told me to dispute it with my bank which I will. Worst car rental agency ever.

Update 1 week later:
They charged me an additional $30 lost key fee even after I went through hell return it. I opened a complaint 1 week ago and received an email from a manager which I promptly replied to and never received a response even after 1 week.

We had a really good experience renting an economy car from Alamo at the Atlanta airport. They offered us the cheapest option for the week, and helped me to use one of their many automatic check-in kiosks so I didn’t have to wait for an agent at the desk. This process was quite smooth and much quicker than the usual process. We got to pick our own car from a row; exiting the airport was quick and no-nonsense, and the return experience was similarly efficient and friendly. Renting a car at a major airport usually isn’t any fun, but Alamo made it easy.

Helpful staff, answered all my insurance queries, not tricking me to pay more. Gave me brand new bmw, washed and clean inside out. Quick and easy return, right at the airport terminal. You will not find a better deal in terms of price and saving time.

Very friendly and helpful staff (Austin-Bergstrom Airport). Our van smelled like smoke and was not as clean as we expected from Alamo. It took over a week to get rid of the smell. We wiped down the surfaces as soon as possible.
The 7 seater van we rented drove great. We had plenty of room (6 people, 6 suitcases, 6 backpacks).

During our trip to Austin, we ran into some unexpected car issues, and Justin Grossman at Alamo (Austin) went out of his way to help us. From the moment we walked in, he was kind, patient, and attentive, making sure we understood our options and felt taken care of the entire time. His professionalism and friendly attitude turned what could have been a stressful situation into something easy to manage. It’s clear he genuinely cares about the people he’s helping. Thanks to Justin, we left feeling confident in choosing Alamo, and we wouldn’t hesitate to rent from them again in the future.

We took a road trip October 2023 and we asked for a different return in Seattle, WA instead of Houston, TX. We went to Alamo at Austin airport and asked Michael, he immediately checked that out for us. We changed our rental car contract papers for a good price. We are very thankful and we send a big hug to Michael, who made our trip even more enjoyable. We have arrived Seattle safely afterwards and returned the V8 in Seattle ❣️What a great roadrip.

Update June 2025: We came back again and want to say a big THANK YOU to Mats!!

I have been a loyal personal and business customer with Hertz for many years and a presidents circle member, I have never seen any other location with such rude employees that mock you, lack professionalism and overall manners. Their president’s circle lot is filled with nissan altimas random kias and buicks. The vehicle we rented had sticky splatters and stains all over the place which we had to clean ourselves. And yes they have the AI/UVEYE Scanners at this location. We will see how that will turn out in a couple days.

This was my second experience with Hertz. I always rent full-size gold level full size trucks. This truck rental was horrible. Truck was full of scratches and dents and not clean. I could barely see out of the windshield in the sun due to the inside window being so filthy. Airbag light came on constantly during driving triggering an SOS call through the display making it nearly impossible to follow the nav. I’m very dissatisfied

(Edited review and score after resolving the return issue). First, they had no cars in their President’s Circle lot. Had to wait for them to bring cars out one by one with the other President’s Circle members to get a car on first come first served basis. No choice, just take whatever comes out. Upon returning the car, they charged me $40 for gas when I brought the car back with a full tank, topped off at the gas station right at the airport, probably with more gas in it than it had when I picked it up. I only paid $8.35 to fill it up, but anyway, brought it back full. Thanks to the quick response from the owner upon the posting of my initial negative review, I was able to finally get hold of person at Hertz who was able to resolve the issue. The Website is not easy to navigate for such issues, but once I got to a person, I was able to get the issue solved, so I have changed my rating and am only deducting one star for the chaos at the pickup. Thank you for the quick response!

Very easy, quick rental experience. A short 3-5min walk from Terminal and if you’re a Gold Rewards member (free) your name is on the board and you can pick and choose any car from your car fleet with keys inside. Going out the gate was a easy and contactless drop-off was a breeze, too. Can highly recommend.

Extremely Disappointed – Unsafe Vehicles & Insulting Compensation from Hertz

I would strongly advise against renting from Hertz. The vehicle I was given was not roadworthy and did not meet even the most basic safety requirements. During my rental, the car experienced serious mechanical failures that required immediate repairs—repairs I had to pay for out of my own pocket, just to keep the vehicle safe to drive. This is completely unacceptable coming from a company that claims to be a leader in the rental industry.

What’s even more frustrating is how Hertz handled the situation. Instead of properly reimbursing me for the unexpected costs caused by their faulty vehicle, they offered me loyalty points—as if that makes up for the time, stress, and money I lost. Frankly, it felt like an insult.

Renting from Hertz shouldn’t mean putting your safety at risk or being left to deal with expensive, unforeseen repairs. I will never rent from them again, and I urge others to seriously reconsider before doing business with this company.

She was SUPER helpful and courteous! Make sure you have a CREDIT Card or you will NOT be able to get a car. Also look on Expedia for a better deal. Look for dollar rental it’s the same company.

This location was great. We were delayed by many hours due to weather. Young guy at the counter was so friendly and made the whole process feel relaxed. Cant remember his name but Hertz is lucky to have such a great employee as the face of their business. Rental process was seamless and easy to understand. I would recommend this Hertz location.

***UPDATED***
To summarize my experience with Fox Rental Car- they overcharged us, treated us like dirt, and rented us a mechanically unsafe vehicle that they then charged us for.

To start, while we were at the rental counter the woman, Rebecca, overcharged us on purpose because we told her that we were going to Colorado with the rental car and she said we would need to pay an extra 26.99 per day for the out of state package- even though I told her I had called beforehand to confirm that we could take the car to Colorado at no charge, AND that on the contract it even says we can take the car to Colorado- and she even acknowledged while we were at the counter that nowhere does it say that we can’t take the car to Colorado, and that we would be charged for taking it to Colorado. But she still charged us $26.99 per day.

Next up- Our car ended up having several mechanical issues, and even though we had the roadside assistance, Fox threatened to charge us for the tow if “nothing was wrong with the vehicle”, and they told us they wouldn’t get a tow truck to us for at least 8 hours. ON TOP OF THAT, they weren’t about to send us a new car either, they were going to take our car from us to take to a shop and then idk what they wanted us to do next. Have no car? On our way to our wedding.

The guy who worked at roadside services seemed to enjoy inconveniencing us too. He treated us like we were lying about the car’s error codes even after we sent him screenshots. He even told us to keep driving the car even with the car throwing several warning codes, and he said that cars are like computers and sometimes you just have to turn them off and turn them back on again and then they’ll be fine to go even though we told him we would be traveling to a remote part of Colorado that had no cell service and had very dangerous road curves- there was no sympathy. In fact it only seemed to fuel his rudeness towards us as if we were lying to him- which we would not gain anything from. Very confusing.

The car was sputtering several times and wouldn’t go above like 20 miles an hour. Also, it kept saying that something was wrong with the front tire air pressure, so we went ahead and inspected the tire and added air, but the error code stayed the same. And even after sending the road side assistance guy the photos, he still didn’t seem to either believe us or care even though we told him we were driving 30 more hours in this car. Crazy.

This is the worst customer service ever. Worst car rental company ever. I was trying to call the managers who were listed on a piece of paper at the front office at Fox rent a car (I took a photo while we were there because we immediately had problems), and of course none of the managers answered. No one ever called me back.

We ended up dropping the car for them to tow back because it felt extremely unsafe to drive anymore, and we rented from another car company nearby. Who worked with us and was just absolutely fabulous.

After we finally got home from our wedding road trip- I decided to call Fox rental car and try and work with them because they did not refund me, and ended up charging me $65 to refuel the broken down car that we had to leave at Firestone to get towed- and they charged me for 5 days that we did not even have the car. All I asked was they refund me everything except for the 24 hours that we were actually able to use the car. The woman at Fox refused and told me she could offer me a voucher. I asked to speak with a supervisor and she said they will be in touch with me in 24-72 hours.

***original review***
Worst car rental ever. I’ve been renting cars for years and this was by far the worst experience ever. Never again.

Unexpected huge costs. They gave us the worst piece of junk car imaginable. No gps. Feels like the transmission is about to go out.

My $350 rental went all the way up to almost $900, but we were at the counter and couldn’t do anything about it because the counter lady said she couldn’t refund me.

Avoid. Stay away. Cheap does not mean cheaper price, just cheaper quality.

They’ve been holding my $150 deposit since 6/12 and tell me they have no idea when I can expect it back.

We will never be doing business with Fox in Austin or any other U.S location – here to suggest the same to you.

The interior of the vehicle hadn’t been detailed, wiped down, or even vacuumed in WEEKS. We didn’t eat or drink anything in the car so every greasy smudge and every crumb was there marinating already.

Had a similar experience with the San Diego location back in April. Corporate told me they’d make it right with a refund – but now the non-domestic customer service team is telling me all they can do is offer me a voucher.. useless because I have no plans or desires to ever spend another dollar with this company.

DO! NOT! RENT! FROM! FOX!!!
The exorbitant amounts of “fees” is outrageous. My rental car from booking online went from 230$ to somehow an EXTRA 300$ on top of that. So thinking I paid 230$ but the end I’ve paid 600$ (paid for gas and tolls so obviously I expected it to go up some) is absolutely asinine. The car we received wasn’t fully wiped down and cleaned on the inside. The outside was dirty and and had dings and chipped paint. For paying 600$ for a car I’d expect better condition and cleaner. Horrible company.

First time renting a car from Fox. I was a little worried bc of the negative reviews. I took a chance bc I was on a tight budget for my trip to Austin. I booked a car through Expedia. My flight was delayed an hour and I called them and they said it would be no problem. Arrived to pick up my car and was greeted by friendly people. There was no wait! I picked up the car and it was new and clean. This is the best experience I have ever had with car rental companies! They didn’t pressure me or try to scare me about getting insurance (unlike Budget and Hertz!) and their price didn’t change when I got there (again, Budget!). Thanks for a great experience! I have recommended y’all to my friends and hopefully they will have the same experience I did.

I travel a lot for work and my company pays for rental cars. Fox is one of my go to rental places when I need a pick up or drop off after hours in Austin. I also use Fax rental car in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas. I used to use them in Houston before they closed. The people at Fox are awesome! I have been helped by Zak, Alexis, and Jess at the Austin location multiple times and they are always amazing. Zak is top tier and really good at his job! Just treat the staff with kindness and respect and they will do the same.

Now the vehicle it self I encourage everyone to take the inspection part very seriously. When I got there I don’t usually get the insurance so I literally take pictures from bumper to bumper and I especially pay attention to the windshield and I document and chips, cracks or issues. I also point them out to the manager. Then I take a picture of the gas just to make sure I put the gas back at what I got it on.

I drive these cars like they are my own. I take excellent care of them and when I take them back I clean them out.

If I’m renting at night I take a flashlight. I keep a small flash light in my purse but the phone flash light is good too.

I have never had an issue and even though they say the damage is the size of a dollar bill I mark it all and take pictures on the spot so they are time stamped.

Fox has been a Godsend. As much as I rent I don’t want to pay exorbitant rates and the cars are usually clean. I have had a couple instances when the outside wasn’t immaculate because of the rain or the car sitting for a while but as long as the inside is clean I’m good.

If you’re renting locally you will need to put down a $500 deposit. As long as the car is returned in the condition you received it in you get 100% back.

Also try to go directly to their website when renting. The best prices are when you prepay and they are flexible if you communicate with them. When you book direct they offer discounts and rewards so you can end up with Fox bucks and free rentals.

I honestly don’t know why the reviews are so bad. I love Fox! They have been great! I hope these tips help.

The staff was great & the car was solid. Sandra G helped me out and she was literally the best. Whole process was easy – easy check in / check out. It was great service and at a great price. It took a long time for my deposit to get refunded but overall it was a good experience and would rent again.

Car was not cleaned … back seat of the van was never checked. Horrible service – We left two things in the car, went back the same night it was returned and they said they couldn’t look for the things because they were busy. Went back the next morning and again no help made us email. I have emailed twice and called and also went back again a week later and they said the manager wasn’t there to help. Feels like they are doing it on purpose to keep the beats headphones.

Update: Felecia the manager, who also refused to help when we went back the day after because they were too busy, finally responded saying they have the garage opener but no headphones. I knew this was the case. They’ve made up so may excuses, story isn’t adding up. Be sure to look through your rental before dropping it off.

I rented a car here during my recent trip to Austin, and I normally don’t choose Budget but they had the cheapest rates by a lot. I wasn’t disappointed. Everything about my rental process, from reserving to picking up to dropping off was quite easy.

I rented my car through Costco Travel, which is one of the best-kept secrets if you’re a frequent traveler. You can find amazing rates through them if you have a Costco membership, and their system automatically applies the best coupon to your reservation! Use it if you have a membership!

My plane landed in Austin early, and it was no problem getting my car. I took the long walk over to the car rental desk and got my car. It was clean, had very few miles, and was in good condition. Even the tank was legitimately full, which I appreciated.

I had zero issues with the car during my week-long rental period. Drop-off was an absolute breeze too.

Nobody really likes car rental companies and there are very few positive reviews (probably because people don’t bother writing a review unless something goes wrong), but Budget is a-okay in my book! I wouldn’t hesitate to rent from them again when I’m in the Austin area.

My son (24) rented a vehicle 11:30pm. We returned it the following day at midnight. All we wanted to do was pick up my Grandson that we had not seen in a year! Not only did they charge him for 2 days, plus an additional $100 because he’s 24, but they also charged extra for cleaning!! This is how we received the vehicle. Dirty!! Never cleaned before we even got into it!! It also had issues going on with the vehicle. I was nervous the whole way there!! (THAT money came out of my pocket!!) DO NOT EVER rent from this company!!! They are located at the airport and to make matters worse, my son is an airport employee!! I am BIG MAD!!! BUDGET, you should be ashamed of yourself and your customer service agents who automatically assume the young driver is wrong!!! BUDGET shouldn’t even be allowed to do business at the airport if they can’t even treat the airport employees correctly! Once again, DO NOT RENT FROM THIS COMPANY! THEY WILL CHARGE EXTRA & KEEP YOUR MONEY! Yes, I said it!! IG: GodSentRed

We rented a car from this place and of course over the phone we’re told a price but once we went to get the car it was so many more charges so the price was much higher plus we had to give a 200 dollar deposit. We turned the car in on time with a full tank of gas and no problems. We still have no received our 200 dollar deposit back! I would advise you NOT to rent a car from Budget! They aren’t honest or up front. They will rip you off!

Had to wait in line for more than an hour to pick up my rental. Despite a line of 83 people the length of the rental car center, Budget had only one person working the counter at times, sometimes two. We were very late to our destination. I guess you get what you pay for. I inquired at the other car rental agencies to see what they were charging – twice the price for their cars! It shouldn’t be this way! We had this problem at Budget in San Antonio. This will be our last rental with Budget. It’s a hell of a way to start a vacation.

To me budget is trash. I travel the whole country and ALL their employees are just stingy with the cars even when you pay for a bigger vehicle. I will always prefer National car rental because they let you pick whatever you want. Budget is so trashy to me.

NEVER AGAIN! NEVER RENTING FROM BUDGET AGAIN!
(RESOLVED READ REVIEW)
We reserved a Budget rental car through Costco for a one week trip in Austin area during the first week of Jan 2025. The car wasn’t sparkling clean when we received it. There were bugs on the front grill and windows, black interior showed bits of lint, dust, dry grass, but other than that, relatively clean. We had no issues with vehicle during the trip and returned it the following week. Everything went as expected, until 2 weeks later we received an email from Budget stating the vehicle was returned dirty and we were charged an additional $450 for cleaning! At first, thought it was a scam email, but it’s real. Of course, we reached out to Costco to help, but they were very upfront, telling us they probably couldn’t do much since we don’t have any evidence (pictures) from when we returned the car. We asked Costco to get evidence of the damage – type of damage to vehicle. Costco came back with pictures and statement from Budget of “heavy smoke smell” in vehicle! Are you serious? We are LIFE-TIME NON-SMOKERS! There was no one smoking in our vehicle! PICTURES CAN’T show smoke smell – it’s their word vs ours. We lose because we can’t prove otherwise. Costco apologized, but they couldn’t do anything. We didn’t take pictures of the car upon return. I’ve attached the random pictures Budget sent Costco of “the damage.” Really? If heavy smoke smell, why no picture of ashtray? Is that supposed to be ash, lint, or dust on the black interior? In the right light, against a black interior, it could just be lint.
BEWARE OF BUDGET! They found a loophole and are using it to their advantage by charging customers extra fees! Our weekly car rental price doubled due to the added fees!
Expensive lesson learned. TAKE PICTURES AT PICK-UP AND RETURN, GET A SERVICE REP TO SIGN OFF ON CONDITION of vehicle at return, and DON’T EVER RENT FROM BUDGET AGAIN!
*Addendum. Budget social media reached out to us and helped to resolve our issue. Budget sent us this email:
Thank you for contacting Budget Customer Service regarding the cleaning fee charged on your rental.
Charges for cleaning vehicles that are returned in such poor condition that the vehicle must be sent out for detailing, will be charged in proportion to the level of cleaning that is needed. This includes, but is not limited to, vehicles returned with food stains on the seats, dog (or animal) hair that cannot be removed through normal vacuuming of the car, excessive odor, smoke odor, and cigarette burns.
We apologize that you were assessed a smoke cleaning fee when neither you or your spouse smoke. We have processed an adjustment in the amount of $450.00 to your Visa credit card. Please allow three to five business days for processing.
We are actively working to improve our service levels, and appreciate your feedback. At Budget, our goal is to deliver a safe, dependable, hassle-free rental.
This email/letter also came with refund:
Thank you for your recent rental with Budget Rent A Car which you returned on 01/06/2025 .
Per our recent discussion, we are reversing the charges that we made on your credit/debit card for the Cleaning Service to our vehicle.
The amount of reversal is $450.00.
Please allow up to 72 hours for the credit to show on your records.
We apologize for any difficulties you may have experienced during your rental. We hope you continue to choose Budget Car Rental as your rental car company of choice.
If you require additional information, or have any questions, please contact us at 1-866-673-7869. Our dedicated team members will be very happy to assist you.
Thank you again for choosing Budget Car Rental. We appreciate your business and look forward to another opportunity to serve your rental needs.
AFTERTHOUGHT: We probably won’t ever rent from Budget again. There are just too many other options. Even though they attempted to right their wrong, my opinion, Budget is still not a trustworthy company. Regardless of the rental company we use, we will take photos at pick up and return. Lesson learned!

Shame on me for not listening to these reviews. Had a pre-paid rental at AUS. Arrived at 10:30 pm after a stressful day of canceled and delayed flights. Budget desk is closed (so much for Fast break). Sign directs customers to Avis. That line is a mile long. Maybe 1 or 2 agents working and the line is barely moving. After 30 minutes and moving maybe 15-20 feet, I looked at Enterprise. No one in line. I walked over and got an F150 in 10 minutes. I ended up eating the Budget rental fee. And it was worth it! The funny thing; never heard from Budget, something like “we noticed that you did not pick up your rental car” nothing, nada. How does this location stay in business???

Edit: Budget came through with a full refund. Adjusted stars from one to three.

Foi o maior roubo que já sofri de uma empresa na minha vida!
Quando cheguei ao balcão de alugueis, já com uma reserva a partir do aplicativo da Expedia, foi me falado que o seguro que estava contratado não era um bom seguro e seria importante contratar um outro seguro. Recusei de imediato, pois já tinha pago o seguro anteriormente e, ainda, tinha o seguro do meu cartão de créditos. Contudo, a pessoa do balcão, de alguma forma, lançou o tal seguro e só percebi no fechamento da conta. Porém, esse não foi o grande roubo, pois o mesmo começa após a viagem.
Aluguei um carro elétrico (Polestar 2) e em Waco em uma parada para carregamento, o carro deu uma pane e simplesmente apagou tudo. Entramos em contato com a Thrifty e solicitamos ajuda (era a 9 hrs da noite não fazia nem 10 graus célsius). A resposta foi que iriam enviar um novo carro e um mecânico para nos atender em até 30 min. Passados os 30 min, entramos em contato novamente e a resposta era que as lojas da região estavam fechadas e o mecânico estava indo de Austin com o carro, sendo necessário esperarmos mais 1 hr devido à distância.
Após 1 horas, entramos em contato novamente e foi informado que estava chegando o mecânico em até 30 min. O mecânico chegou, contudo sem o carro para troca. O mecânico mexeu no carro, olhou e constatou uma pane elétrica e que não era possível religar o carro, sendo a solução guinchá-lo.
Entramos em contato novamente com a Thrifty e nos informaram que o guincho teria que sair de Austin, pois a loja de Dallas e Waco estavam fechadas e só poderiam nos enviar para Austin. Argumentamos por vários minutos que não fazia sentido, pois estávamos no meio do caminho e que nosso destino era Dallas. Sem sucesso! Falaram que em 30 min o guincho chegaria e iriamos para Austin.
Passaram mais 2 hrs e nada do guincho chegar, o frio era tremendo e minha esposa grávida no meio do nada sem qualquer condição de ficar ali. Ligamos novamente e informaram que o guincho estava chegando com outro carro para nós levar a Austin para pegarmos outro veículo.
O guincho chegou, mas claro, sem o outro carro! Nos informou que iriamos com ele no caminhão para Austin e o comando que receberá era esse. Questionamos se poderia ir para Dallas, que era nosso destino. O motorista super simpático nos informou que por ele não tinha qualquer problema, desde que a empresa autorizasse. Então ele ligou até a Thrifty e argumentou. Sem sucesso! Não autorizaram e tivemos que ir para Austin.
Chegamos em Austin as 3 da manhã no aeroporto e a loja estava fechada! Ligamos novamente na Thrifty e a solução veio: “A loja está fechada e não podemos fazer nada! Se virem e aguarde até as 7:30 da manhã para ela abrir e vocês poderem pegar outro carro!”. Argumentamos que estávamos no aeroporto conforme solicitaram e que minha esposa estava grávida e não podia ficar naquela condição. A resposta: “Não podemos fazer nada, procure um hotel e entre em contato amanhã com a empresa para solicitar reembolso!”.
Tentei uma reserva em um hotel, contudo, como eram 3 da manhã, não existe reserva retroativa, ou seja, perdi o dinheiro da reserva e não pude entrar no quarto. Ficamos no aeroporto dormindo até as 7:30 da manhã.
As 7:30 da manhã apareceu um funcionário e começamos fazer o processo de troca de carros. Para nossa surpresa ainda maior, a empresa colocou que foi nós que solicitamos o reboque e teríamos que pagar 500 dólares por isso. De maneira incompreensiva ficamos atônitos e questionamos que estávamos dormindo no aeroporto por culpa da empresa e que tinha nos dado um carro sem condições de viagem. O funcionário apenas repetiu que era para entrarmos em contato com a empresa e solicitar o reembolso.
Cansei de lutar, pegamos outro carro e fomos embora para Dallas. Chegando em Dallas, perdemos a reserva paga com antecedência do hotel e do Jardim Botânico acumulando mais prejuízo ainda. Após contabilizar todos os danos, excluindo os danos morais pela situação, contabilizamos $960.32 dólares de prejuízo para uma reserva de 360 dólares.
Tentamos por 3 dias entrar em contato com a Thrifty, mas sem sucesso!

I booked through expedia and completed my check in online so I could go right to my car when I arrived there was a sign closed see hertz. I paid for all of the insurances. They now want 2 photo id’s who has 2 photo id’s on them I only had my real ID on me. Had to get a manager. So much for going straight to my car. I was almost stranded at the airport but the manager approved. That’s was the only good thing about this rental car. They then held an additional 500.00 of my money. I had paid everything up front rental car and insurances were paid in full . When I got to the car the left tire was low on air. Dark outside and nowhere to get air I don’t know the area. What a nightmare. when I returned the car they found a ding on it I believe a rock hit while driving. They charged me an additional 285.00 . Since I booked through expedia I had to file a claim to be reimbursed . can you imagine if I had an accident alot of stress and anxiety over renting this car. I won’t ever use them again. I have until oct 10, 2025 to pay this amount with the insurance. They have continuously charged my account for this sum without my approval to the point they overdrafted my account as I do not get paid until the 1st of the month. I have had to cancel this card and have another card issued. These people are the worst!

The rental process itself went smoothly, and the car we got was in good condition (aside from being a little bit dirty on the exterior); however, the girl at the front desk and the person at the booth at the end of the garage were both really rude for no reason and lacked customer service and interpersonal skills. I’ve worked in customer service before and would never talk to customers the way I was talked to. I was polite and respectful and do not understand why I was being talked to so rudely. Definitely will not be renting from Thrifty again. There were two people I interacted with in the parking garage who were very friendly and helpful, but they worked for Hertz.

do not rent from these guys.
over $2000 to rent a premium suv and they gave us a wreck.
tried to palm me off with a mini van but I had reserved a ford expedition or similar. 9 months earlier.

after a 20 min wait my car turned up,dents,scratches and still wet from the wash.
obviously this was the last “premium” suv left on the lot as I was again offered a mini van.

after 15 mins of driving the change oil service light came on and a further 90 mins the windscreen washer fluid light came on.

after several attempts to ring,no answer. my email was answered full of apologies telling me to see the manager at drop off.
I did and was met with a “so what attitude”.

I’ve tried contacting the same customer service rep but no reply so opened a new complaint to get another so what reply.

to top it off. I’ve been back a week and still waiting for my $291 deposit and fuel refund back.

LISTEN TO THE REVIEWS Do not rent from here if you are not okay with your deposit being held for over 10 days! My deposit was held for 10 days and counting. I can’t get ahold of an actual person to speak to. I’ve put in request for help on the thrifty site and reached out to multiple locations but no luck. No one knows why it’s being held so long and NO ITS NOT THE BANK. Goldman Sachs always clears the payment within 24hrs of It being Released. First and last time I will be renting with Thrifty.

MEH.

We got to the Austin TX airport and went directly to thrifty car rental counter; they were sold out. They said they wouldn’t have anything until next day, so I asked them if they would shuttle or drive us to the hotel airport we were staying at .5 miles away, and they said they dont do that, so then I asked if they would cover an uber to get us there and they told me no, so we had to spend $10 on an uber to get to our hotel and then $10 to get back to thrifty the next day. $20 that didn’t need to be spent. They also pushed me to purchase the toll package which was almost $80.

Their insurance options were also astronomical costing me $700 for insurance alone for the week; not too Thrifty. Not to mention we had to push them to get us in the SUV that we ordered months in advance because they were trying to stick us in a Chevy Malibu; we had to wait for an SUV to be returned because they would not upgrade the vehicle to a larger SUV.

I’ll probably be sticking with Enterprise Car Rental from now on.

Absolutely filthy interior. Was going to head back to the rental desk to see about getting it cleaned but thought to look inside the Thrifty cars next to mine. They also were filthy. So I didn’t bother because that let me know that my filthy care wasn’t an oversight. Food and what I’m guessing was a coke spilled on the dashboard and down the side of my door. Food crumbs in the center panel. Not vacuumed. I wiped everything off with napkins and the water I had with me (but took photos just in case, although they don’t fully capture how dirty it all was). I visit ATX regularly and will not use Thrifty again. Really awful experience.

Another needed vicarious post: My daughter and her husband had an extremely disappointing experience with this Hertz location. After her husband was rear-ended, they rented a Tesla while their car was being repaired. When the vehicle was returned, Hertz failed to properly check it in. Despite the fact that the car was dropped off on time, the credit card on file was later charged for six additional days.

The credit card company immediately corrected the issue, but Hertz has continued to harass my daughter for this false balance. She has spoken with management at least six times. In one instance, an employee even admitted that the paperwork sat on their desk for six days because they were unclear on proper check-in procedures. That mistake should never become the customer’s burden.

A simple review of surveillance footage would confirm the actual return date and resolve this matter. Instead, Hertz has chosen to repeatedly contact and pressure a customer who was already in a stressful situation. This is not accountability—it is negligence and harassment.

As someone with nearly 4 million views on my Google account, I feel obligated to warn other consumers. If Hertz cannot take responsibility for its own employee errors, then they should not be trusted to handle customers fairly.

Urgent Complaint Regarding Vehicle Condition and Customer Service**

Dear Hertz Customer Service,
I am writing to formally express my dissatisfaction with my recent rental experience at your West Anderson location at 911 West Anderson Ln., Suite 101, Austin, TX.
Upon entering the car, I immediately noticed that the gas level was at 1/4 + of a tank and that there were several large stains on the driver and passenger seats, as well as multiple dents and overall poor cleanliness both inside and out. As a loyal Gold Member who has rented over four vehicles in the last 60 days, I found this vehicle unacceptable, particularly since I was picking up my elderly mother and her guests.
I approached “JACK,” the employee discussed the issues and requested a cleaner vehicle. Despite my polite request, he informed me that he was aware of the condition and that there were no other cars available. However, I counted over seven vehicles in the lot, including a Dodge Ram truck, for which I asked if a deal could be arranged. The employee stated it would incur an additional $50 per day charge.
I found the employee unhelpful and not accommodating, which was disappointing. When I contacted Customer Service and filled out a comment form, it was already 11:58 AM, and the store was closing.
The situation worsened when my mother and her friends got into the vehicle. They immediately commented on a musty, stale smoke smell, which embarrassed me, especially since I do not smoke. In fact, they chose to take an Uber instead of riding in the unpleasant vehicle. Additionally, I noticed that the vehicle shakes when braking, adding to my concerns.
It is currently Sunday, and the car is due back tomorrow. I urgently need a different vehicle today, even if that means going to the airport. Please let me know how this can be resolved.
Lastly, I would like to note that the employee I interacted with was a gentleman with glasses, approximately 5’7″, who I believe is the manager. I regret not remembering his name, but I felt his service was severely lacking.
I apologize for the numerous complaints, but I believe it’s important for you to be aware of the caliber of customer service provided.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.

When I left the parking lot, the air pressure in the rear tires was low. I turned around to have them address the issue and it took them an hour to fill up the tires. Throughout my rental the tires would not maintain the pressure and I had to refill the tires myself (I figured that was easier than having Hertz try to fix the problem while I was on the road). When I returned the car, I complained about them renting me a defective vehicle. They said sorry, but that they could did not have time to address my complaint. The wait time for the Hertz customer service number is more time than I am willing to waste and their online customer service website is down. Hertz rented me an unsafe vehicle and I was still charged full price for the rental.

I may never attempt to rent from Hertz again. I made a reservation, received confirmation. Checked in on line successfully. Received a text that my reservation was canceled. Called the location to see why I was receiving conflicting correspondence. The associate was well mannered. However, their response was not acceptable. What I was told is that my reservation was canceled because they were now over booked and my rental (2 days) was not long enough, so they gave my car to someone with a longer rental.
What a poor way for a company to do business and what a horrible position to put their employees in. To basically say we don’t care that you had a confirmed reservation, we want to make more money so we don’t care about you or what hardship we put you in. Absolutely disgraceful.

Now they have posted a canned response. That’s insulting. Do better Hertz.

i got a rental through here through insurance i returned the car clean and full tank like i always do. Even the guy who checked my car thanked me for having car clean and full tank of gas. then on Saturday i saw a charge of $54.90 i called the manager mr. muawa answered and he left me on hold for an hour and never came back. I called again and then i was given and 800 number to call cz my info was no longer in there system.. The worst customer service EVER.!!! I personally will never use Hertz..

I can’t say enough great things about Shelton and the outstanding customer service he consistently provides. Every time I rent a car, Shelton goes above and beyond in every aspect of the process. He takes the time to find the best vehicle suited to my needs, drawing on his deep knowledge of the cars available. He’s incredibly well-versed in the features of each vehicle and always ensures I feel confident and informed before driving off the lot.

One time, I accidentally booked an electric car without realizing it — and I had never driven one before. Shelton not only gave me the option to switch vehicles, but also patiently walked me through how to navigate the electric car, explaining everything clearly and with care. Because of his guidance, I felt completely comfortable and actually enjoyed the experience. That level of attentiveness and support is rare and deeply appreciated.

Shelton is also incredibly thoughtful when it comes to optional add-ons, offering helpful suggestions based on my specific needs rather than trying to upsell. He always has the customer’s best interest in mind.

Most recently, I had a hiccup returning a rental late after hours and ended up being charged excessive fees at another location. Shelton not only empathized with the situation but also guided me to the right person to help resolve the issue — and thanks to him, I was able to get the charges corrected fairly.

Shelton is the definition of excellent customer service. He’s knowledgeable, compassionate, and consistently goes the extra mile. I truly trust and value every interaction with him — he makes the rental experience smooth, personalized, and stress-free.

Do not go to this place. They gave me a car the wasn’t even cleaned. Then when I dropped it off there was a line that I had to wait which then made the drop off time past the return time they then charged me an entire hour late fee. Pathetic customer service.

I was charged $250 to replace a tire that became flat during my trip. I did not buy LDW but never thought a flat tire would fall under requirements for LDW need. Because of issue with tire, I returned car without filling up. I was charged $10.99 per gallon when gas in Texas was $2.59 per gallon. Thank God it was almost full. A $180 rental turned into $580 for 4 days

Don’t let the low prices fool you! The bottom line may be budget, but quality of the vehicles and the level of service are top notch. Excellent service, vehicles, and pricing.

When I went to pick up my vehicle there were at least 15 people waiting in line and only 1 person working the counter. I waited for over 30 min and had to leave because the line hadn’t seemed to move. I came back hours later to a line that was still at least 10 persons long. After waiting in line for 45 min. I was assigned a Standard size SUV. (My Rental) I went out to get my vehicle and saw that it was already taken. I went back inside and was assigned a Small Subaru which was all they had available. Worst rental experience of my life thus far.

Extremely disappointed, charging me an extra day of rental – $100 when I paid $39/day. Manager didn’t even bother to come talk to me personally.

I submitted my case for review and got a refund. Thank you so much for listening to your customers. It’s refreshing to feel our voices being heard.

Horrible! Do not rent a bicycle from Dollar car rental. Rented a car for the weekend from the New Orleans airport to attend a graduation in Gonzales. Rental car had tares in the back seat, phone charging ports weren’t compatible for an iPhone 15 so had to purchase a component all which was fine just needed to get from A to B. No issues with the car but when returned, on time, I received the receipt which was correct with the agreed upon rental amount. Land back in Austin and surprised to see another bill with a $400 cleaning fee for a smoking smell. I was livid as I’ve never smoked in my life and no one who does smoke was around me or the rental. Tried calling multiple times, can’t get a person, completed the online request form and still haven’t been contacted. It’s now Friday and I’ve been waiting since Monday.

Posting because there’s a lot of negative reviews and don’t want people to be deterred from a good deal. Hertz is the parent company of Dollar and I must say, my whole experience in Austin was effortless from start to finish. Great customer service (those from Hertz came down to our line to take customers when they weren’t busy), fine car, easiest drop off. Recommend.

If I could leave a 0 star review I would! This location is awful! I talked to 3 different representatives, three different managers, had a reservation and still couldn’t get my rental car. They tried to upcharge me everytime they changed my reservation. They are awful! I would never go there again.