Good morning. I made a car reservation and paid in advance for $532.81, including all taxes and fees, before starting my trip to Italy. I picked up the car at Malpensa Airport on July 23 and dropped it off on July 31 at the Budget agency located at Fiumicino Airport. This was an early return, as the original drop-off date was scheduled for August 4.
On July 30 (the day before drop-off), I contacted Budget USA to inquire about the location change fee. They couldn’t give me a clear answer, so I visited the Budget office at the airport. A kind staff member in the parking lot noticed the early return and, after scanning the vehicle, was surprised to see a fee of 1,000 euros. He explained that such charges typically apply when a car is returned from another country—not just another city—and recommended I speak with someone inside the office.
Inside, I spoke with an agent who informed me that, per the contract, the location surcharge would be 79 euros plus a 22% tax, not exceeding 120 euros total. I mentioned the 1,000-euro charge shown on the scanner, but he reassured me, saying, “No, it’s impossible to charge that amount. Don’t worry.”
The next day, I returned the car at 5 a.m. The office was closed, and only a security guard was present. I never received an invoice by email. However, I was shocked to see a $2,000 charge on my credit card, along with a pending charge of $1,400. Eventually, the $1,400 was removed, leaving me with the $2,000 charge (converted to 1,748.31 euros).
The car was returned in perfect condition. It was electric, so no fuel charges applied, and there were no tolls or tickets. I’ve rented cars for years, and companies have always been professional and transparent. In the past, any tolls or fines were backed by proper documentation before being charged.
Additionally, on the first day of the rental, I encountered an issue with the electric vehicle and called roadside assistance. No one spoke English, and I had to ask a passerby to help translate. This was very stressful.
After returning home, I contacted Budget customer service in the U.S., but they couldn’t provide any invoice details or even send me the invoice number. They told me the issue would be escalated and that I should wait up to 15 days for a callback—without giving a confirmation number.
This entire experience has been a nightmare. I am calling to my bank to file a fraud investigation required. After several days, I managed to find the invoice using my reservation number. It shows a one-way fee of 1,000 euros—just as the man in the parking lot had warned me—plus other “miscellaneous charges” totaling 230 euros. What are these “miscellaneous” charges? There is no explanation. These hidden fees are not transparent and feel deceptive.
This seems to be a recurring issue, as many customers have reported similar experiences in Google reviews. This is a serious problem, especially for tourists visiting Italy who leave the country with a negative and unresolved situation, far from any local support.
I’ve tried calling the Budget Rome office directly, but international calls disconnect after selecting the English option.
