Customers Accuse Budget Licensee in B.C. for Overcharging for Damage Claims
The Better Business Bureau had received almost 70 complaints from customers when CBC News’ Go Public investigative news segment published articles highlighting comments from former employees and customers about possible intentional damage claim ‘rip-offs.’
According to CBC News’ Go Public investigative news segment, customers and former employees of Budget Rent a Car in British Columbia, a licensee, have accused the rental car company of overcharging for alleged damage to the vehicles.
In almost 70 cases of recent complaints directed to the Better Business Bureau, customers said they were overcharged for items like windshield chips and small scratches. The BBB currently has the company’s rating set at an “F.”
Former employees then revealed to Go Public that Budget allegedly would not only overcharge for scratches, dents or windshield chips, but the company wouldn’t repair the vehicles until it needed a full replacement.
The licensee location is currently under investigation by the U.S. Budget corporate office. In a response to Auto Rental News, spokesperson for Avis Budget Group Alice Pereira said: “At Avis Budget Group, we hold integrity and responsibility among our core values and we take very seriously any allegations regarding customer service regardless of whether it concerns our corporate locations or, as in this case, an independently owned licensee facility. We can confirm that we are investigating the business practices of our independent licensee in British Columbia, but as we have not completed that investigation we cannot make any further comment about the reported allegations.”
Here are the two articles from CBC News’ Go Public, written by Kathy Tomlinson, in the order they were published:
More Rental Operations

U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%
Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.
Read More →
Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026
Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.
Read More →
In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend
The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.
Read More →How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]
A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.
Read More →
Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise 3.6% in 2026 Before Easing in 2027
Car rental rates are projected to rise less than airfares and hotel rates in 2026, then become the only major travel category forecast to decline in 2027, according to projections from GBTA and ALTOUR.
Read More →
Avis Cuts Fleet as Summer Demand Trails Expectations
Avis Budget Group increased second-quarter earnings despite lower Americas revenue and softer-than-expected summer demand. The company also expanded Avis First and advanced its autonomous fleet operations with Waymo.
Read More →
Why Bookings Are Only the Start of the Rental Day
A reservation captures demand. The operating test is whether the business can keep the customer, vehicle, commercial terms, and next action aligned until the rental is closed.
Read More →
This Is the Oldest Car Rental Advertisement You’ll Ever See
This ad for Saunders Drive it Yourself, believed to be the first car rental company in the U.S., was found in an Omaha phone book from 1926.
Read More →
The Desk Upsell Is Costing Operators More Than it Earns
Counter upsells generate revenue, but they can also slow transactions, erode trust, and cost repeat business. Fully inclusive pricing may offer operators a better path to long-term value.
Read More →
U-Save Expands Indian Ocean Presence with New Master Franchise for Mauritius
The franchise has been acquired by Mauritian travel entrepreneur Umarfarooq Omarjee, an established figure in the island's tourism and mobility sector.
Read More →
