Budget Car Rental at DFW Airport: Your Gateway to North Texas and Beyond

Budget Car Rental Photos

Budget Car Rental Introduce

For Texans, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) serves as a critical hub, connecting our vast state to the nation and the world. Whether you're flying in for a business trip in Dallas, visiting family in Fort Worth, or embarking on a Texas road trip, securing reliable ground transportation upon arrival is often the first step. Budget Car Rental, located directly at DFW Airport, aims to be a convenient solution for these needs. This article offers a comprehensive overview of the Budget Car Rental branch at 2424 E 38th St, Dallas, TX 75261, providing local users with essential information to help them make an informed decision for their car rental needs right from the airport.

Budget is a globally recognized name in the car rental industry, known for offering a range of vehicles at competitive prices. Its presence at a major international airport like DFW signifies its role in facilitating travel for a high volume of customers. We will delve into the specifics of this DFW Airport location, examining its accessibility within the airport complex, the diverse services it offers, and key features that define the rental experience. We aim to deliver factual information, drawing from public data and insights from real customer feedback, to provide a balanced perspective.

Choosing a car rental service at an airport involves considerations unique to that environment, such as shuttle services, queue times, and the quick turnaround often expected by travelers. We will explore how this Budget location addresses these factors, offering details on everything from vehicle selection to loyalty programs like Fastbreak. Our goal is to empower you, as a local Texan, with the knowledge needed to navigate your car rental experience at DFW Airport efficiently and effectively.

The convenience of picking up a rental car directly at DFW allows Texans to seamlessly transition from air travel to exploring the expansive Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and beyond. Whether your journey takes you to the vibrant arts scene in Dallas, the historic stockyards in Fort Worth, or any of the countless attractions our state has to offer, a reliable rental car from Budget can be your key to unlocking the freedom of the open road. This guide is crafted to help you understand if this Budget location is the right fit for your travel plans.

Location and Accessibility

Budget Car Rental at DFW Airport is centrally located within the airport's consolidated Rental Car Center, specifically at 2424 E 38th St, Dallas, TX 75261, USA. This dedicated facility houses multiple rental car agencies, streamlining the pick-up and drop-off process for travelers. The location is easily accessible from all DFW Airport terminals.

For airline passengers, accessing the Rental Car Center is made convenient by a dedicated shuttle bus service. After collecting baggage, travelers should follow the rental car signs to the designated pick-up area on the lower level of their terminal. From there, common shuttle buses depart approximately every five minutes and transport passengers directly to the Rental Car Center, typically reaching it in about 10 minutes. This integrated system aims to provide a smooth transition from your flight to your rental vehicle.

The DFW Airport Budget location operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays, offering unparalleled flexibility for travelers arriving or departing at any time. This continuous operation is a significant advantage for Texans with early morning flights or late-night arrivals. For returns, customers typically follow airport signs for "Rental Car Return" to the consolidated facility, then utilize the 24-hour shuttle service back to their respective terminals. The integrated nature of the DFW Rental Car Center aims to provide efficiency, though specific experiences can vary.

Services Offered

Extensive Vehicle Fleet: Budget at DFW Airport offers a comprehensive range of vehicles to suit various travel needs and budgets. This includes economy cars for cost-effective travel, compact cars, intermediate/midsize sedans (e.g., Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra), full-size sedans (e.g., Toyota Camry), a wide selection of SUVs (e.g., intermediate, standard, premium, full-size like Toyota RAV4, Ford Edge, Chevrolet Suburban), minivans (e.g., Chrysler Pacifica), passenger vans (e.g., Ford Transit 12-passenger), and occasionally luxury or specialty vehicles.
Flexible Rental Periods: Customers can choose from daily, weekly, and monthly rental options, catering to both short layovers and extended stays in Texas.
Budget Fastbreak Program: This loyalty program is designed to expedite the rental process. Members can typically bypass the regular counter lines, flash their valid license, pick up keys, and proceed directly to their vehicle for a faster exit. Fastbreak Choice, available at select major airports, even allows members to select their vehicle from a mobile device.
Optional Add-ons and Protections: To enhance the rental experience, Budget offers various additional services and products, including GPS navigation systems, child safety seats, roadside assistance protection (RAP), supplemental liability protection (SLP), and refueling options (prepay fuel, Budget refills, or customer refills).
One-Way Rentals: Budget facilitates one-way rentals, allowing customers to pick up a vehicle at DFW Airport and return it to a different Budget location across Texas or the U.S., ideal for road trips or varied itineraries.
24/7 Operations: As a major airport location, this Budget branch operates around the clock, accommodating flights and travel plans at any hour of the day or night.

Features / Highlights

Convenient Airport Location: Being situated within the DFW Airport Rental Car Center means direct access via airport shuttles, eliminating the need for off-site transportation for travelers.
24/7 Availability: The continuous operation ensures that customers can pick up or return vehicles at any time, aligning with diverse flight schedules.
Fastbreak Program: For enrolled members, the Fastbreak program aims to provide a significantly expedited rental experience, allowing them to bypass traditional counter lines and quickly get on their way.
Wide Selection of Vehicles: The extensive fleet caters to a broad spectrum of customer needs, from economy travel to larger family vehicles and SUVs.

Contact Information

Address: DFW Airport, 2424 E 38th St, Dallas, TX 75261, USA

Phone: (972) 615-4400

Mobile Phone: +1 972-615-4400

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

For Texans traveling through Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Budget Car Rental at 2424 E 38th St offers a highly convenient and generally accessible option for their car rental needs. Its location within the DFW Airport Rental Car Center, serviced by a frequent 24-hour shuttle, provides a seamless transition from your flight to your rental vehicle. This is particularly beneficial for locals returning home or starting a journey from DFW, as it eliminates the hassle of navigating off-airport rental facilities. The 24/7 operation ensures that no matter when your flight lands or departs, you can pick up or drop off your vehicle with ease, a critical advantage in a state like Texas where travel often occurs at all hours.

However, it is vital for local users to set their expectations based on the provided customer reviews. While Budget, as a national brand, aims to offer efficiency and a diverse fleet, the feedback for this specific DFW location highlights significant concerns. Issues such as unkempt, dirty vehicles with strong odors, mechanical problems (e.g., broken windshield wipers, potential prior accident damage), and long wait times even for Fastbreak members are recurring themes. The concept of "Fastbreak" promising quick service appears to be a point of frustration for some customers at this location, where they still experienced considerable delays. Similarly, reports of being given Avis cars despite booking with Budget, and encountering rude staff, indicate inconsistencies in service delivery and vehicle quality.

For Texans who are frequent travelers or value speed and cleanliness, these points of feedback are crucial to consider. While the convenience of an airport location is undeniable, the potential for a less-than-ideal vehicle condition or a delayed pickup experience might outweigh the benefits for some. It is advisable for customers to meticulously inspect their assigned vehicle before leaving the lot, document any existing damage or cleanliness issues, and be prepared for potential wait times. Directly communicating with staff about any concerns upon pick-up is essential.

In conclusion, Budget Car Rental at DFW Airport offers the fundamental convenience of an on-site, 24/7 car rental service with a broad vehicle selection. For Texans prioritizing direct airport access and round-the-clock availability, it remains a functional choice. However, prospective renters should be highly vigilant about vehicle condition and prepared for potential customer service challenges based on reported experiences, ensuring they proactively address any issues to mitigate disappointment and make their journey across Texas as smooth as possible.

Budget Car Rental Details

Service options
Onsite services

Highlights
Active military discounts

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Budget Car Rental Location

Budget Car Rental

Texas Tarrant County Dallas East 38th Street

DFW Airport, 2424 E 38th St, Dallas, TX 75261, USA

Budget Car Rental Reviews

An average rating of ★2.6 from 3158 user reviews.

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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

I will never use Budget again. The ONLY reason I tried them again was because they gave me a discounted rate from my first bad experience. The first rental was in Virginia. The car was nasty and strongly smelled like smoke/cigarettes, even tho they were supposed to have a no-smoking policy. That was Virginia and here I am in another state on the other side of the United States and experience the SAME EXACT THING!! It's obvious they don't detail their cars upon return. Just give it to the next person! I tried to go exchange vehicles but again, the desk was already closed!AND...I signed up for Fastbreak. Entered all my info into the app. Received the text message and proceeded to the outside only for them to tell me I had to wait in the regular line which took about 30 minutes. Where is the "fast break" concept?!! Horrible!
Jun 03, 2025 · Jamye Davis
Check in wasn’t the worst, but they weren’t exactly speedy. Eventually, I got to my car after being sent into the garage with no explanation that I was actually picking up an Avis car. The garage scanner woman was rude and unfriendly. I had picked up my car in the late evening so I didn’t notice how absolutely dirty and disgusting it actually was until the next morning. I chose Budget over other more budget friendly options and I regret it. I paid a higher cost for a car that was scratched up, and had possibly been in a prior accident, with a dirty interior and broken windshield wipers. I’m absolutely disappointed. I travel at least monthly and this was by far the worst car I have ever rented.
Apr 06, 2025 · Miranda Crotts
I have always used Enterprise or Avis. Unfortunately, I ended up needing an SUV and had to go with Budget as it was the only available option for the weekend. To start things off, they are understaffed and quite slow in their operations. Took me more than an hour to get to the counter and we were only 10 people in the line. I was given a 2024 Santa Fe with 48k miles on it that looked all nice until I drove it out of the airport. The cruise control wouldn't turn on and kept giving me "forward safety system disabled", "radar blocked", "smart cruise control disabled" warnings. I drove back to the airport and stood at the rental exchange counter. After 30 minutes one employee shouts from the other end of the desk saying, "that counter is closed. You need to get into the actual line to be seen." There was no "counter closed" board at all. Then she asked me to drive to a different location to drop the car, come back with the slip they provide, and then stand in the same line again to get a different rental.I haven't experienced this level of poor customer service in my past 8 years of renting all across the US. If you have the option of choosing a different car rental company, do so. If not, check the car completely and take lots of pictures/videos as proof.
Feb 10, 2025 · Prasad Narasimhan
Use Hertz, Avis, or enterprise. If I could cancel without being charged and rebook Lord knows I would. Budget is God awful! The line is everlasting. I’ve been here 20 minutes and haven’t moved once in a line of at least 50 people no exaggeration.I’ll be way past my reservation time by the time I get through this line. You know they aren’t giving out any partial refunds either.Update: currently stuck on the side of the road with no spare tire. Roadside assistance will be a hour and a half. Never againUpdate: car had to be towed. They don’t know where the car is. Currently hear waiting to make sure I don’t get charged a bunch of bs feesUpdate: They tried to charge me $260 for a tire once they finally went back to the location to locate the manager and the car to confirm that It was received. I refused to pay and now Viking debt collector just called me.STAY AWAY!!!!
Jan 07, 2025 · Daniel
DO NOT MAKE A RESERVATION AND RENT HERE. I am writing to formally express my extreme dissatisfaction with the service I received at your location today.I had a reservation for an ELITE SUV at 8:00 PM. Upon arrival at the BUDGET front desk, there were only five people ahead of us, but due to the limited number of staff, we had to wait over 30 minutes, which was frustrating, but still manageable.However, what followed was completely unacceptable.A female employee named Joan (approximately in her 60s) and a Black male employee in his 40s–50s (not even wearing a name tag) handled my reservation. Their customer service was shockingly poor.Despite my confirmed reservation, I was told that no ELITE SUV was available, and they offered a minivan instead. I made it clear that I do not like minivans — that’s exactly why I reserved an ELITE SUV. The offer was not an upgrade or compensation — it was a downgrade that did not match my needs or preferences.When I declined the offer, the employees’ attitude changed completely. They responded with a dismissive tone, essentially saying, “We offered you a good option, and if you don’t take it, it’s your responsibility to wait.” This is an unacceptable way to speak to a paying customer.Let me be very clear:1. If the reserved vehicle is unavailable, the first step should be an apology, not an argument. Neither employee said “sorry” during the entire 20-minute interaction. Both my wife and I can confirm this.2. Suggesting a minivan as a better option than an ELITE SUV is tone-deaf and unprofessional. That offer might work for some, but not for me — and there was no effort to understand that.3. Just because I rejected the minivan does not mean the delay was my fault. Shifting the blame to the customer for a vehicle unavailability caused by your company is both unfair and insulting.4. The staff consistently interrupted me, never listened to what I was saying, and rushed the interaction. It felt like they just wanted to end the conversation rather than solve the problem.5. When I finally decided to cancel the reservation, the male employee started processing something without telling us what was happening. We stood there silently for about three minutes, unsure whether the cancellation was complete. When I asked him if the cancellation was done, he acted as if we were at fault for not understanding. There was zero communication.This experience has left my wife and me deeply disappointed and angry — not only as customers, but as human beings who expected to be treated with basic respect. Instead, we were met with arrogance, indifference, and total lack of service mindset.As long as employees like this are representing your company, I genuinely believe your brand will never be considered first-class. This was one of the worst customer service experiences I have ever had.I expect this complaint to be taken seriously. Please let me know how you plan to address this.
Jun 21, 2025 · JS Shack