budget Illinois car rental guide

BUDGET is a full-service luxury car rental company with over 1,350 locations in the United States and North America, with pick-up and drop-off points at major airports and key tourist locations. BUDGET serves value-conscious customers for all of their car rental occasions. BUDGET consistently delivers a quality product, friendly service and great value that make customers confident that BUDGET is their best car rental choice.

Save up to 25% OFF base rates at BUDGET. Click here or call 800-455-2848 and use BCD# Z408900 to receive discount.

BUDGET KEY FACTS

BUDGET is a full-service luxury car rental company with over 1,350 locations in the United States and North America, with pick-up and drop-off points at major airports and key tourist locations. BUDGET serves value-conscious customers for all of their car rental occasions. Budget consistently delivers a quality product, friendly service and great value that make customers confident that Budget is their best car rental choice.

BUDGET RESERVATIONS

Click here to book online or call 800-455-2848 to speak to a BUDGET representative. Be sure to provide BCD code: Z408900 when making reservation to ensure best price.

BUDGET US DISCOUNT OFFERS

USE BCD code: Z408900 to save on your reservation. Incremental discount offers such as free weekend day, complimentary upgrades are available.

BUDGET Fastbreak

Want a quick exit from the rental counter? Join Fastbreak. It's smart, simple and fast. Avoid Road blocks at the Counter and earn BUDGET Fastbreak Points for every qualifying dollar you spend. Enjoy expedited service by going straight to your car and driving off at BUDGET Fastbreak locations around the world. Use points for upgrades, rentals and accessories.

BUDGET APP

Making reservations, skipping lines at reservation counter, choosing your car and so much more can all be done with the BUDGET APP. Download today.

BUDGET RENTAL CAR TYPES

Luxury Car Rental: Book a luxury vehicle, including the Chrysler 300 LTD 3.6L or similar with Budget. Vehicle make and model is subject based upon location and availability. Similar make and models include the following: Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKX, Lincoln MKZ, Infiniti Q50, Volvo V60, Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XT5, Volvo XC60, Lincoln MKS, Hyundai Genesis, Infiniti Q70, Cadillac CTS, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and Lincoln MKC.

Economy Car Rental: An economy car is the smallest of all vehicle groups. The name comes from the affordable rental price and excellent fuel economy—most economy car rentals offer a stellar 30 MPG or better. This is a great option for anyone taking a long road trip or wanting to maximize their savings while traveling.

Pick-up track rental: A full-size pickup truck rental is a great way to haul more gear than any other vehicle can carry. The spacious truck bed and added power make tough jobs a lot easier. At Budget, you can expect a dependable truck model. Large truck rental options vary by location.

Premium SUV Rental: Premium SUVs are suitable for different types of terrain and great for all types of travelers and occasions. Book from this vehicle group to enjoy a safe, strong, family-friendly SUV with extra space and premium features.

Van Rental: A 12-seat van is the ultimate way to get around with a group of 8-12 people. You'll have plenty of room to spread out and store everyone's luggage and souvenirs. Whether you're traveling with family, coworkers, or a tour group, you'll be glad to be in a spacious 12-passenger van rental. Budget offers the reliable Ford Transit as our 12-person van model.

BUDGET LONG TERM RENTALS

Get one of your favorite Budget cars for however long you need it.  It's simple and practical.  Every Budget by the Month car comes with:

• Great Rates:  the longer you rent, the more you save
• No long term commitment:  rent up to 11 months at a time
• One-Way Rentals:  book a long-term rental with a one-way option
• Discounted Loss Damage Waiver (LDW):  we offer discounted LDW rates on monthly rentals
• Swap Vehicles:  If you need to change your car for any reason, contact the rental location from where you picked up your car, to schedule a vehicle swap.

BUDGET PARTNERS

Travel a lot? If you're a frequent flyer member with any of our airline partners, renting with Budget can pay off big.

BUDGET Military & Veterans: US Military & Veterans enjoy special discounts.



BUDGET PROTECTIONS & COVERAGES

Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)

Personal Accident and Effects (PAE)

Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI)

Emergency Sickness Plan (ESP)

BUDGET CAR RENTAL TIPS

• USE BCD code: Z408900 for best discount pricing.
• Book Early. Car rental pricing typically follows a supply and demand algorithm. Be quick to book your reservation as rates usually go up closer to pick-up date. Holiday Weekends. These time periods are high demand and have highest rates and frequently sell-out. To secure a vehicle and a good rate it is critical you plan ahead.
Avoid Airport Pick-up Fees - sometimes there are additional fees for airport pick-ups. Compare rates at different locations.
Chose a smaller car class to save money
• Electronic Tolls - be aware there is frequently an additional charge for using EZ Pass et al for tolls.
• Optional Extras - Child Seat, Auto Gas Replacement, GPS, Toll Transponder, Additional Driver and other add-ons will all cost you extra. Avoid unless you really need. You may not need GPS or other add-ons as they will cost you more. You can use your Smartphone for directions/GPS.
• Pre-pay options can deliver extra savings. But, be aware of the cancellation fees. Also, often times you can benefit from flexibility as you may find a better deal last minute. Better to use this option within 12-48 hours of your rental.
• Request an upgrade. When picking up car it doesn't hurt to ask agent if they can offer a complimentary upgrade. Depending on the number of cars they have on lot, they can sometimes oblige.
• Check for Military & Veterans Discounts. Other special groups like Teachers, Students, Employees can utilize special discount codes. See above discounts links for details.
• Are you better off with a taxi or public transportation? Many hotels charge you for overnight valet parking and these fees can be quite high. Similarly, when driving to a restaurant, store etc. you may incur a parking charge. Factor these costs when planning your trip. You may find that renting a car is a more expensive option.

BUDGET CUSTOMER SERVICE

Call BUDGET US Customer Service at 800-455-2848. Be sure to mention BCD code:Z408900 when making new reservation or have applied to existing reservation.

BUDGET HOURS OF OPERATION

BUDGET Reservations are available 24 hours a day at 800-331-1212 or via online booking. Individual locations have varying hours of operations and details can be viewed on BUDGET website.

BUDGET EXTRAS

Products & Services: GPS Navigation, Child Seat. Sirius Satellite

Car Rental Services: One-way rental, Pre-Pay, Fuel Plans, E-Toll

Roadside Assistance: Plan ahead for peace of mind with extended road side…





BUDGET LOST & FOUND

Lose something on your rental? BUDGET is here to help. Call Customer Service at 800-455-2848

BUDGET BEST RATE GUARANTEE

Tired of shopping around for the lowest prices online? Now there's no need to spend hours browsing for savings - because if you find a Budget rate on another website that's lower than the prepay rate on Budget.com, we'll match the rate and give you an additional 10% off your prepaid Budget rental.

Car rental tips & key facts

• For best rates utilize discount codes and stackable coupons. For AVIS, BUDGET & HERTZ you can often stack an additional promo code onto their AWD, BCD & CDP #'s respectively. Be sure to search for these codes via the discount links above. Look for incremental discount codes.
• Book Early. Book Early. Book Early. Car rental pricing typically follows a supply and demand algorithm. Be quick to book your reservation as rates usually go up closer to pick-up date.
• Holiday Weekends. These time periods are high demand and have highest rates and frequently sell-out. To secure a vehicle and a good rate it is critical you plan ahead.
Book online. Some discounts available exclusively online.
• Compare prices. If you have time check rates at competing car rental providers as prices can vary - even for the same itinerary and car type. Also, keep checking back as rates can fluctuate and you can modify your reservation if a lower rate becomes available.
• Avoid Airport Pick-up Fees - sometimes there are additional fees for airport pick-ups. Compare rates at different locations.
• Weekday pricing: The price of a rental car often goes up over the weekend. If any of the rental days are weekdays, be sure to ask about special weekday rates. Check company websites for the best rates.
• Chose a smaller car class to save money. The daily rates are often lower and they typically are more fuel efficient.
• Avoid returning the car with gas tank below FULL. Rates to replenish are higher than you'll find at the pump.
• Check to make sure your car has a full tank of gas. If not, call immediately and alert customer service. Take a picture of gas level on dashboard as proof.
• Electronic Tolls - be aware there is frequently an additional charge for using EZ Pass et al for tolls. You are often times better served declining this option.
• Avoid Optional Extras - Child Seat, Auto Gas Replacement, GPS, Toll Transponder, Additional Driver and other add-ons will all cost you extra. Avoid unless you really need (note: of course you should utilize a child seat if young children are in the car.). You may not need GPS or other add-ons as they will cost you more. You can use your Smartphone for directions/GPS.
• Drivers under 25 may pay a higher rate and accrue a surcharge. Be aware.
• Pre-pay options can deliver extra savings. But, be aware of the cancellation fees. Also, often times you can benefit from flexibility as you may find a better deal last minute. Better to use this option within 12-48 hours of your rental.
• When picking-up vehicle, inspect closely for damage - particularly scratches and dings - before you leave the lot. Alert a representative if you find any not already noted. Take a picture with your phone as back-up proof.
• Don't Return Car Late. Most companies operate on a 24-hour cycle and some have a 15 minute to ½ hour grace period. But if you miss the drop off deadline you will be charged for an additional full day and possibly at a higher rate.
• Credit Cards. Most companies require a credit card for rental. Some providers allow debit card, but check ahead of time to confirm.
• Request an upgrade. When picking up car it doesn't hurt to ask agent if they can offer a complimentary upgrade. Sometimes they oblige depending on availability.
• Avoid renting in major cities. Rates in big cities like New York can be extremely high. If you have flexibility, pick up car outside city limits.
• Consider if you are better off with a taxi or public transportation? Many hotels charge you for overnight valet parking and these fees can be quite high. Similarly, when driving to a restaurant, store etc. you may incur a parking charge. Factor these costs when planning your trip. You may find that renting a car is a more expensive option.
• Take advantage of long-term rental pricing. Rentals of a week or longer and a month or longer (Mini-lease) can trigger a lower rate structure. When booking, check average daily rate for different lengths and take advantage of special pricing.
• Check for Military & Veterans Discounts. Other special groups like Teachers, Students, Employees can utilize special discount codes. See above discounts links for details.
• Gas Stations close to Airports and car rental drops may have inflated prices. Seek out gas station as far from airport (or major city) as is possible.
• Join Rewards Programs. Loyalty programs are Free are set-up to reward frequent travel. Take advantage of these programs and you may accrue free rental days and receive promotional offers for special deals.