Ultimate Guide to Saving with Budget

Budget is often one of the easiest brands to book when you care most about price—but it’s also one of the easiest brands to “accidentally overpay” with add-ons, fees, and misapplied discount codes.

This guide focuses on what actually saves money with Budget: how to price-check the right way, how BCD codes vs. coupon codes work, what Fastbreak does (and doesn’t) do, and which fees most commonly surprise people at pickup.

Who Budget is best for (and who it isn’t)

Budget is a strong fit if you:

• Primarily care about the lowest total price (not necessarily the most premium experience)
• Are comfortable doing a bit of comparison shopping across locations and rate types
• Want a simple way to stack savings using BCD + coupon codes (when eligible)

Budget may not be ideal if you:

• Rent weekly and care most about “premium pickup experiences” or consistently newer fleets
• Want the “pick any car” aisle model that can be strong at major airports (in that case, compare our National Car Rental guide)

---

How to save with Budget (quick playbook)

1) Start by comparing airport vs. neighborhood locations

Airport rentals are convenient, but they often come with extra facility fees and taxes. If your schedule allows, compare one nearby off-airport location before you book.

2) Understand the two-code system: BCD vs. coupon code

Budget savings usually come from two different fields at checkout:

• BCD code (Budget Customer Discount): changes the underlying rate
• Coupon code: adds a promo benefit (discount, upgrade, bonus day, etc.)

If you want a curated list with context (and which ones are most commonly used), start with our Budget BCD codes and coupon guide.

3) Treat “Pay Now” like airfare

Prepay can be cheaper, but changes and cancellations are typically stricter. If your plans might shift, paying a little more for pay-later can be the safer choice.

4) Decide on insurance before you reach the counter

This is where Budget (and most rental brands) make a lot of margin. Know what you’re already covered for through your personal auto policy and credit card, then buy only what you truly need.

5) Fuel and tolls: choose your strategy upfront

If you can, return the car full to avoid refueling charges. For toll roads, decide whether you want a toll product or whether you’d rather manage tolls yourself (varies a lot by market).

---

Budget fees & gotchas to watch

Authorization holds can be larger than expected

Most rentals place a temporary authorization hold at pickup. It’s not “an extra charge,” but it can reduce available funds until your bank releases it—especially noticeable with debit cards.

Additional driver fees (and state-by-state exceptions)

Budget commonly charges extra for additional drivers, but there are exceptions by state and by driver relationship. The safest approach is to assume additional drivers cost money unless you verify you’re covered by a specific exception (and then confirm it at pickup).

Under-25 fees add up quickly

If you’re under 25, your “headline price” can jump due to young-renter surcharges and location rules. Always price your rental using your real age and details.

Last-minute extensions can reprice the rental

If demand is high, extending a rental can be expensive. When possible, adjust your reservation earlier rather than waiting until the day-of.

---

Budget Fastbreak: what it does (and how to use it)

Budget’s free membership program is called Fastbreak. It’s primarily about speed:

• Faster pickup at many locations (less counter time)
• Faster returns and emailed receipts
• Access to member-only offers that come and go

The practical setup

• Create your profile and save your license/payment details
• Use the same profile consistently when booking (so your info carries over)
• At pickup, follow the location’s Fastbreak instructions (some locations still require a quick counter check depending on staffing and local rules)

Important: Fastbreak is not a traditional points program like some competitors. The “value” is usually speed plus targeted promos, not guaranteed long-term rewards.

---

Budget Bucks: a promotion, not a full loyalty currency

Budget also runs periodic promotions under Budget Bucks—often tied to Fastbreak membership—with time-limited earning windows and coupon-style rewards toward future rentals.

If you see Budget Bucks promoted during booking, treat it as opportunistic upside rather than the foundation of your savings plan. The eligibility rules and deadlines can change frequently, so always confirm the current terms on Budget’s official promo page.

---

Budget Small Business Program (if you rent for work)

Budget offers a small business program positioned around:

• Up to 25% off base rates (discounts typically apply to time and mileage charges, not taxes/fees/surcharges)
• A program-specific BCD number
• Program terms that can include rental credits (often described as a per-day credit toward future rentals), depending on the program structure

If you’re building a broader small-business savings stack across airlines, hotels, and rental cars, our small business travel programs guide ties the options together.

Budget Promo Codes

Let’s start with some deals, discounts, and promo codes Budget offers. The following are some of the current Budget Promo Codes and Offers:

Deal	Budget Promotion	Promo Code
Budget + Amazon	30% off your rental + 10% back in an Amazon.com Gift Card	Savings auto-applied
Neighborhood	10% off neighborhood rental rates	B112100
Weekly Rental	15% off rentals of 5 days or more	D111800
Monthly Rental	15% off Rentals of 28-59 Days	B141500

A Budget BCD Code is the abbreviation for the “Budget Customer Discount” program. These codes offer discounts that can range from a limited-time offer to a corporate discount, a discount for using a particular credit card, or a discount and bonus offer combined with a Budget Travel Partner.

Frequently Asked Questions