04 Jun 2025
I rented a car from Budget at Bologna Airport from 30 May to 1 June 2025 and had an extremely disappointing experience.
The vehicle was handed over in poor condition — it was dirty, had no windshield washer fluid, and was covered in scratches and other visible damage, much of which was not properly documented by your staff. Despite these issues, we accepted the vehicle and took detailed video footage to protect ourselves.
Unfortunately, we had to return the car at around 5:00 AM and, due to the early hour, simply dropped it off and left the keys in the designated location, as instructed.
After the return, I was shocked to receive a charge for a scratch that was clearly present when we collected the car. I have clear video evidence showing the damage at pickup. Budget, however, chose to rely on a blurry, low-quality photo as supposed “evidence” to support the charge. This feels like an attempt to shift blame onto customers by taking advantage of the vehicle’s already poor condition — behavior that borders on fraud.
The (ongoing) process of disputing this charge has wasted my time, caused unnecessary stress, and left me deeply dissatisfied. I strongly urge future renters to exercise extreme caution when dealing with Budget at Bologna Airport: document everything, film the vehicle thoroughly before driving off, or — preferably — book with a more trustworthy provider.