Terrible experience. The headlights did not work, and the engine noise was as loud as a tractor. By the third day after picking up the car, it became unbearable. I called to request a replacement vehicle but couldn't get in touch with BUDGET. Even using a local phone to contact roadside assistance, no one answered. I have no idea how this company got a 9.2 rating. When I returned the car at 4:30 pm, which is still within working hours, no staff were around. Budget was extremely disappointing.
The store was easy to locate. They tried to upsell a lot of extras like roadside assistance, but these could be declined. Vehicle maintenance was poor—after driving less than 200 kilometers, the AD Blue warning light came on in the diesel car.
There weren't many people renting cars, so I got my car quickly. However, the rental company tried to sell me insurance even though I had already bought full coverage online. They wouldn't stop talking until I called the QEEQ platform, where the customer service handled it for me before I could sign the rental contract and receive the car.
The pick-up process was smooth, but I almost got scammed during the return. Here's a reminder for everyone:
1. During pick-up, you need to get a number and queue up, so it's best to go early. This place shares the same location as Avis; they asked if I wanted to purchase insurance, but I declined since I had already bought it, and they didn't try to upsell further. To get the car, you need to walk to the P3 parking lot. The staff kindly pointed me in the right direction, but I still couldn't figure it out and wandered around for a bit. Eventually, I asked a parking lot employee who directed me to the correct place. Picking up the car was relatively smooth; it wasn't the model I reserved, but I didn't mind as long as I had a car. It was a new vehicle with less than 1,000 km driven. The staff confirmed it was full of fuel, and when I started it, the fuel gauge was full, showing 520 km.
2. Returning the car was where the issue arose. When I picked it up, I took photos and videos of the entire car, including the dashboard. At return, the fuel gauge was full, showing 570 km. However, the first staff member did more than just check this; they accessed the car's smart display and claimed I had driven an additional 60 km after refilling, meaning the tank wasn't full. They said I either needed to go to a nearby station to refuel or pay €35.15 for the missing fuel. This was unacceptable to me. How could 60 km cost that much in fuel? And this process seemed unreasonable—why only use the dashboard to confirm the fuel level at pick-up but then rely on the smart display during return? I immediately called QEEQ customer service to explain the issue, staying on the line for about 20 minutes. QEEQ's team told me to hand the phone to their staff to clarify. The initial employee was busy with other customers, so a second staff member took the call. He seemed unaware of the problem, so I briefly explained and showed him the dashboard photos I took at pickup. After checking the car again, he stated, "I think there's no issue with the fuel; you're good to return it." He inspected the car for damages, found none, accepted the return, signed off, and refunded my deposit immediately! What a surreal experience. Thankfully, I stuck to my position from the start. Everyone, take note: Make sure to take photos of the fuel gauge, and if there's a smart display, ask staff upfront which measure is considered definitive.
We rented a car for three days, but after driving it for just one day, the car broke down on the highway due to a malfunctioning cylinder. We had to wait by the roadside for almost an hour before the rental company arranged a taxi to take us back to the hotel. On the third day, we were told to go to the nearest location that had the necessary replacement vehicle, which was a 50-minute drive away. The rental company arranged a taxi to take us to the Avis branch. After waiting for half an hour, the staff at the branch informed us that our reservation had been canceled the previous day. There was no car available for replacement and we would have to place a new order if we needed a vehicle. They claimed they had no idea why we were sent there and didn’t know who arranged the taxi for us. Essentially, nobody knew anything and nothing could be verified. The service attitude from the rental company depended on the representative; initially, one staff member told me that since our contract was with the branch, we needed to resolve any issues directly with them. But I had paid all the rental fees to the 'rent a car' app! Later, another representative called, claiming to be a customer service specialist, and said they would help coordinate a solution. As of now, aside from the full payment already made for the first car, we also paid entirely out-of-pocket for the second car. The rental period was from July 14th to 17th. To this day, I haven't received any response regarding the issue. Staff at car rental companies in Spain generally don’t speak English, and the 'rent a car' customer service doesn't speak Spanish. If I ever rent a car in Spain again, I would directly book with a major rental company to avoid unnecessary complications and to ensure faster resolution of any issues (since third-party services seem to be of no help).
No upselling, but the car given was too small. I booked a Renault but got a Kia hybrid, not sure what model. With 5 people and 5 suitcases, it couldn't fit anything else. Considered getting a bigger car, but the price doubled, so I decided against it. Spain really requires small cars; navigating old town streets and even regular parking lots is a test of driving skills and judgment. Another issue was that the trunk couldn't lock, not sure why. Remember to send the address when picking up the car; just head to the car rental parking lot. There was a traffic ticket and toll fee from Portugal; not sure how much of the deposit will be refunded.
The return service was acceptable, but the pick-up in Madrid was problematic as we arrived at 12:30 AM and no one was working. The next day, they gave us a hard time and refused to accept a Chinese credit card for the deposit, wasting hours of our time. It was a terrible experience with very rude staff.
I rented a car in Madrid and picked it up in the city center. They neither mentioned in the contract nor told me verbally that the car did not have an A-class environmental badge, which meant it could not be driven in the entire city center. As a result, I unknowingly entered the restricted area and received a penalty fine. The rental company should bear full responsibility for this.
When I arrived at the store, I was informed that I needed two credit cards under my name. Since I only brought one, I was forced to pay an additional 20 euros in rental fees.
In addition to credit and debit cards, you can now pay for online car rentals with cryptocurrency! Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) are accepted. Curious about how long a Bitcoin transaction takes or how to pay with Bitcoin? Read our FAQs for more details.
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can disable cookies at any time within your browser settings.OKRead More
Customer Service
E.SANCHEZ
-
-
-
-
View more >Brook Horace
-
-
-
-
View more >Michelle Vincent
-
-
-
-
View more >Winni Veblen
-
-
-
-
View more >Frederica Anne
-
-
-
-
View more >M.Villeda
-
-
-
-
View more >Brook Horace
-
-
-
-
View more >Winston Doris
-
-
-
-
View more >William Piers
-
-
-
-
View more >Dawn Meredith
-
-
-
-
View more >J.DIAZ PALOMINO
-
-
-
-
View more >Burke Jacob
-
-
-
-
View more >Abner Timothy
-
-
-
-
View more >Lena Bryce
-
-
-
-
View more >Vera Robbins
-
-
-
-
View more >Noah Gus
-
-
-
-
View more >Owen Thorndike
-
-
-
-
View more >Audrey Salome
-
-
-
-
View more >Fanny Nell
-
-
-
-
View more >Byron Bertie
-
-
-
-
View more >Car Rental Brands Ranked In Madrid
Pay for Car Rentals with Crypto