Budget Celebrates 50th Anniversary in Canada
The car rental company celebrated the milestone with the ‘Drive Away a Winner Event,’ which awarded customers with reward miles and a free 50-week rental.
Budget Car Rental celebrated its 50th anniversary in Canada with the “Drive Away a Winner Event,” in partnership with the Air Miles Reward Program, according to a Feb. 21 press release.
As the grand finale of the event, one customer won 50,000 Air Miles reward miles. Another winner — to be announced later this year — will receive a 2013 Ford Escape rental for 50 weeks.
Budget began its operations in Canada in 1962 with locations in Calgary and Vancouver. The company added Budget trucks to the fleet in 1963 and expanded to airports in 1966.
Today, Budget is available at airports and metropolitan areas including Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saskatoon, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Victoria.
“Budget has a history of providing renters in Canada with premium products and service, and we are very proud to celebrate this exciting milestone,” said Bill Boxberger, Avis Budget Group VP and general manager in Canada. “One thing that has never changed over the last 50 years is our focus and drive to 'put the customer first,' one of our ongoing strategic growth initiatives.”
More Rental Operations

The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals
Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.
Read More →
The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →
ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers
The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.
Read More →
Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service
Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.
Read More →
Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap
A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.
Read More →
U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana
The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.
Read More →
When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?
As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)
Read More →
European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country
Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.
Read More →Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.
Read More →
Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental
Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)
Read More →
