Budget Car Rental Essex, MD: A Local Option for Marylanders?

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Budget Car Rental Introduce

For residents across Maryland, the need for a rental car can arise for a multitude of reasons – from essential transportation during vehicle repairs to weekend getaways. When choosing a car rental service, locals often seek a combination of convenience, reliability, and good customer service. This article aims to provide a factual and informative overview of Budget Car Rental located at 632 Eastern Blvd in Essex, Maryland, drawing on publicly available information and real customer feedback to help Marylanders make an informed decision.

Budget Car Rental is a globally recognized brand, typically known for offering a wide range of vehicles at various price points. However, the experience at individual branches can sometimes vary. For Marylanders in the Essex area, understanding the specific operations and customer experiences at this particular location is crucial. While the brand generally promises accessible car rental solutions, local user feedback provides a more granular picture of what to expect on the ground.

The demand for car rentals in Maryland is consistent, with residents needing vehicles for diverse purposes – from navigating daily commutes to exploring the state's attractions. A local rental agency plays a vital role in fulfilling these needs, especially for those who prefer to avoid the complexities often associated with airport rental counters. This overview will shed light on the Essex Budget Car Rental branch, helping local users determine if it aligns with their expectations for a hassle-free and reliable car rental experience.

Budget Car Rental at 632 Eastern Blvd, Essex, MD 21221, USA, is situated in a prominent area of Essex, a community in eastern Baltimore County. Eastern Boulevard is a key arterial road, making the location relatively straightforward to access for residents living in Essex, Middle River, Dundalk, and other nearby eastern Baltimore County communities. Its presence on a main road means it's often visible and reachable without navigating complex routes.

For locals, the convenience of a neighborhood car rental branch is often a significant factor. Being located directly on Eastern Boulevard positions it as a practical option for those who live or work in the immediate vicinity, reducing the need for extensive travel to larger rental hubs. The proximity to residential areas and other local businesses suggests it aims to serve the everyday car rental needs of the community.

According to information available, the Budget Car Rental at 632 Eastern Blvd, Essex, MD 21221 typically operates during standard business hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and Sundays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. It is always advisable to call ahead to confirm current operating hours, especially around holidays, as these can sometimes vary. The location also states that a free pick-up service may be available by calling the branch directly at least 24 hours prior to pick-up, though specific policies on pick-up distance can vary.

As a branch of the wider Budget Car Rental network, this location generally offers a range of services consistent with the brand's global offerings. These typically include:

Diverse Vehicle Selection: Budget usually provides a variety of vehicle categories to meet different needs and budgets. This includes economy cars for fuel efficiency, compact and mid-size sedans for general travel, full-size cars for more comfort, and larger vehicles like SUVs, minivans, and potentially cargo vans or pickup trucks for groups or specific hauling needs.
Flexible Rental Durations: Customers can typically choose from daily, weekly, or monthly rental periods, offering flexibility for short trips, extended vacations, or long-term needs like insurance replacement vehicles.
One-Way Rentals: For travelers needing to pick up a car in Essex and drop it off at a different Budget location, one-way rental options are usually available, though they may incur additional fees.
Optional Add-ons: Standard optional features like GPS navigation systems, child safety seats, roadside assistance plans, and fuel service options are generally available to enhance the rental experience, though these come with additional charges.
Loyalty Programs: Budget often promotes its "Fastbreak" loyalty program for frequent renters, designed to expedite the pick-up process and offer member-exclusive benefits.

Based on the provided customer reviews, it's important to present a balanced view of the features and highlights, acknowledging both strengths (typical of the Budget brand) and specific concerns related to this Essex location.

Brand Accessibility: As part of the Budget network, the Essex location benefits from the brand's broad recognition and the ease of online booking through the main Budget website. This provides a familiar entry point for many Marylanders accustomed to using national car rental services.
Variety of Vehicles (Standard Offerings): Consistent with Budget's overall fleet, this location would typically offer a range of vehicles, from economy to full-size, as well as SUVs and vans, theoretically providing options for different travel needs and group sizes.
Potential for Savings: Budget often runs promotions and discounts, allowing customers to save on rentals, particularly for longer durations or through online booking. This can be a key attractive feature for budget-conscious locals.
Free Pick-Up Service (Brand Standard): Budget's general policy includes a free pick-up service from nearby locations. While it requires calling the branch directly and confirming availability, this can be a convenience for those who need transportation to the rental office.
Significant Customer Service and Availability Concerns: Multiple, highly critical reviews specifically for this Essex location highlight severe and consistent issues. The recurring complaint is the "nonexistent" and "unprofessional" customer service, with patrons feeling staff "don't want to be there."
Consistent Vehicle Unavailability: A major and "totally unacceptable" recurring problem is that reserved vehicles are often not available upon pick-up, even after customers call to confirm days in advance. This has led to "frustration" and disruption of travel plans.
Facility Condition: Reviews describe the location as "dark/dirty" and a "plain eye sore," suggesting issues with the physical environment of the branch.
Management and Operational Issues: Customers explicitly state that "management and ownership does not see the importance of running this location like a legitimate business," pointing to deeper systemic problems rather than isolated incidents.

For direct communication with Budget Car Rental at 632 Eastern Blvd in Essex, Maryland, you can use the following contact information:

Address: 632 Eastern Blvd, Essex, MD 21221, USA

Phone: (443) 231-1002

Mobile Phone: +1 443-231-1002

As noted, it is highly advisable to call this specific location directly to confirm vehicle availability for your reservation, especially given the consistent feedback regarding this issue.

Based on the overwhelmingly consistent and negative customer feedback, it is challenging to recommend Budget Car Rental at 632 Eastern Blvd, Essex, MD, as a suitable option for Maryland locals. While the Budget brand generally strives for accessibility and offers a range of vehicles and services, this particular branch appears to be an outlier.

The recurring issues of non-existent customer service, unprofessional staff, and most critically, the frequent unavailability of reserved vehicles, are significant drawbacks. For Maryland residents who rely on timely and reliable transportation, a reservation that doesn't guarantee a car is a major inconvenience and a source of considerable stress, particularly when needing to coordinate with personal vehicle repairs or travel plans. The descriptions of the facility as "dark/dirty" further detract from a professional experience.

Despite the convenience of its location on Eastern Boulevard for residents in Essex and surrounding communities, the severe operational and customer service deficiencies highlighted in multiple reviews suggest that this branch may not consistently provide the dependable service that locals expect and deserve. For a hassle-free experience where a reservation truly means a vehicle will be waiting, customers may need to consider alternative rental providers on the same street, as explicitly suggested by one reviewer. Ultimately, reliability and customer satisfaction are paramount in car rental, and based on public feedback, this Budget location currently falls short of these expectations for local Marylanders.

Budget Car Rental Details

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards

Budget Car Rental Location

Budget Car Rental

Maryland Baltimore County Essex Eastern Boulevard

632 Eastern Blvd, Essex, MD 21221, USA

Budget Car Rental Reviews

An average rating of ★1 from 6 user reviews.

desk

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

This place sucks and I don’t see them being in business much longer. The customer service is nonexistent. They are very unprofessional!I have tried to rent from this location on three separate occasions each time when I went to pick the vehicle up the car was not available at the location. The third and final time I tried to rent I actually called the location three days in a row to make sure the vehicle would be there as reserved and still when I got there the vehicle was not there. Totally unacceptable! It’s very clear that management and ownership does not see the importance of running this location like a legitimate business. Do yourself a favor and go to ENTERPRISE(2) on the same street, customer service is excellent and a reservation actually means the car will be waiting for you when you get there! BUDGET IS OPERATING ON A BUDGET & IT SHOWS…THIS LOCATION IS DARK/DIRTY JUS A PLAIN EYE SORE. LADY AT FRONT DESK IS SIMPLY A USELESS PLACE HOLDER WHO SEEMS TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT COMMON SENSE CUSTOMER SERVICE!!RUN AWAY FROM THIS PLACEBUDGET…DO THE NEIGHBORHOOD A FAV & CLOSE THIS LOCATION IMMEDIATELY!WE ALL KNOW ITS LOSING $$$ 😂😂😂NEGATIVE -5 ROACHES !!!
Jun 17, 2025 · Travis Dugas
This place sucks and I don’t see them being in business much longer. The customer service is nonexistent. They are very unprofessional!I have tried to rent from this location on three separate occasions each time when I went to pick the vehicle up the car was not available at the location. The third and final time I tried to rent I actually called the location three days in a row to make sure the vehicle would be there as reserved and still when I got there the vehicle was not there. Totally unacceptable! It’s very clear that management and ownership does not see the importance of running this location like a legitimate business. Do yourself a favor and go to ENTERPRISE(2) on the same street, customer service is excellent and a reservation actually means the car will be waiting for you when you get there! BUDGET IS OPERATING ON A BUDGET & IT SHOWS…THIS LOCATION IS DARK/DIRTY JUS A PLAIN EYE SORE. LADY AT FRONT DESK IS SIMPLY A USELESS PLACE HOLDER WHO SEEMS TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT COMMON SENSE CUSTOMER SERVICE!!RUN AWAY FROM THIS PLACEBUDGET…DO THE NEIGHBORHOOD A FAV & CLOSE THIS LOCATION IMMEDIATELY!WE ALL KNOW ITS LOSING $$$ 😂😂😂NEGATIVE -5 ROACHES !!!
Jun 17, 2025 · Travis Dugas
This was the worst customer service experience I have ever had. I made the worst mistake by going to Budget Car Rental 632 Eastern Boulevard, Essex Maryland 21221 on Saturday 2/1/25. The man behind the counter who was supposed to be helping and serving customers was extremely rude and disrespectful to everyone. He cussed out a customer, kept shaking his head and saying unintelligible things under his breath. He was terrible. Very disgusting. Very shameful. I will never rent a car from here again.
Feb 03, 2025 · Nas
I’ve been to this location numerous times. There’s only 1 person staffed there, and each transaction takes about 30 minutes. If there’s a line, take a seat and bring a book to read. It’ll be forever.
Apr 28, 2025 · Will Davis
I’ve been to this location numerous times. There’s only 1 person staffed there, and each transaction takes about 30 minutes. If there’s a line, take a seat and bring a book to read. It’ll be forever.
Apr 28, 2025 · Will Davis
Absolutely terrible customer service, the woman working there is racist and has very bad attitude. This place must be a front for a drug ring. They do not care if any cars are rented.
Apr 10, 2025 · Robert Lynch
Absolutely terrible customer service, the woman working there is racist and has very bad attitude. This place must be a front for a drug ring. They do not care if any cars are rented.
Apr 10, 2025 · Robert Lynch
If I could rate this DISGUSTING business a ZERO I would. Let's ignore the fact that their customer service is the absolute worst. Their call center (every agent I spoke to) doesn't know anything and they all say something different. The manager refused to come out of the office at the BWI location. So we ended up at this location.. and no manager. The girl at the front desk clearly didn't want to be there and she had no idea about the policies for the company she is working for. THE REAL PROBLEM WAS HOW MUCH THEY STOLE FROM US! They charged us THREE TIMES FOR THE FULL WEEK OF THE RENTAL UPFRONT. WE WERE PROMISED THE OTHER 2 CHARGES WOULD DROP OFF OR BE REFUNDED WITHIN 10 BUSINESS DAYS. ONLY 1 CHARGE WAS EVER REFUNDED! THEY STOLE $650, FIRST CHARGE THEY STOLE AND SCAMMED US OUT OF. NEXT CHARGE WAS WHEN WE CAME TO TURN THE RENTAL BACK IN, WE GOT STUCK IN A SHELTER IN NORTH CAROLINA BECAUSE OF THE HORRIBLE HURRICANE IN THE END OF SEPTEMBER! WE TRIED TO EXTEND THE RENTAL ONLINE AND OVER THE PHONE AND ASK IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO AS FAR AS THE CHARGES BECAUSE WE ARE STUCK IN A SHELTER DUE TO A HURRICANE.. A SEVERE HURRICANE! SOMETHING WE HAD NO CONTROL OVER. THEY SAID NO. EVEN THOUGH I HAD DOCUMENTED PROOF AND THEY COULD CALL THE DIRECTOR OF THE SHELTER. PLUS THEY HAD AN ERROR TOO TRYING TO EXTEND THE RENTAL. THEY THEN SAID WELL JUST GET THE RENTAL BACK ASAP AND EXPLAIN THIS SITUATION TO THE LOCATION AND THEY CAN HELP YOU. FALSE! WHEN WE WENT TO THE LOCATION TO TURN THE RENTAL IN, THEY WOULDNT HELP US, INFACT THEY SCAMMED US AND ROBBED US. WE EXPLAINED THEY STILL OWED US A $650 CHARGE AND THAT WAS LIKE OH WELL. THEN THEY HIT US WITH THOUSANDS IN CHARGES FOR THE EXTRA 6 DAYS RENTAL BECAUSE THEY HAD AN ERROR EXTENDING THE RENTAL, AND WHILE WE ARE IN A EMERGENCY SHELTER DURING A HORRIBLE HURRICANE WITH ROADS SHUT DOWN, THEY ACTED LIKE IT WAS PUR FAULT AND LITERALLY MADE US PAY $3800 FOR 6 DAYS! PLUS THEY STILL GOT US FOR THE ONE CHARGE OF $650. TODAY 3 MONTHS LATER, WITHOUT ANY EMAILS, CALLS, LETTERS.. THEY CHARGED OUR CARD OVER $2000!!!!!! AND THEY WONT ANSWER THE PHONE. $8000 FOR ABOUT A 2 WEEK RENTAL! WHERE DOES THIS MAKE SENSE?! WE HAD 100% DAMAGES COVERED WITH PAYING ANY EXTRA $50 A DAY FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE THROUGH THEM AND THE CAR WAS RETURNED IN PRISTINE CONDITION.. SO PLEASE TELL ME HOW THE HECK 3 MONTHS LATER CAN THEY DECIDE TO CHARGE ANOTHER OVER $2000?! I will be contacting anyone and everyone I can. The media, BBB, The attorney general. LITERALLY ANYONE I CAN! They owe us A BOATLOAD OF MONEY AND I WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO GET IT ALL BACK.
Dec 14, 2024 · Marta Misotti
If I could rate this DISGUSTING business a ZERO I would. Let's ignore the fact that their customer service is the absolute worst. Their call center (every agent I spoke to) doesn't know anything and they all say something different. The manager refused to come out of the office at the BWI location. So we ended up at this location.. and no manager. The girl at the front desk clearly didn't want to be there and she had no idea about the policies for the company she is working for. THE REAL PROBLEM WAS HOW MUCH THEY STOLE FROM US! They charged us THREE TIMES FOR THE FULL WEEK OF THE RENTAL UPFRONT. WE WERE PROMISED THE OTHER 2 CHARGES WOULD DROP OFF OR BE REFUNDED WITHIN 10 BUSINESS DAYS. ONLY 1 CHARGE WAS EVER REFUNDED! THEY STOLE $650, FIRST CHARGE THEY STOLE AND SCAMMED US OUT OF. NEXT CHARGE WAS WHEN WE CAME TO TURN THE RENTAL BACK IN, WE GOT STUCK IN A SHELTER IN NORTH CAROLINA BECAUSE OF THE HORRIBLE HURRICANE IN THE END OF SEPTEMBER! WE TRIED TO EXTEND THE RENTAL ONLINE AND OVER THE PHONE AND ASK IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO AS FAR AS THE CHARGES BECAUSE WE ARE STUCK IN A SHELTER DUE TO A HURRICANE.. A SEVERE HURRICANE! SOMETHING WE HAD NO CONTROL OVER. THEY SAID NO. EVEN THOUGH I HAD DOCUMENTED PROOF AND THEY COULD CALL THE DIRECTOR OF THE SHELTER. PLUS THEY HAD AN ERROR TOO TRYING TO EXTEND THE RENTAL. THEY THEN SAID WELL JUST GET THE RENTAL BACK ASAP AND EXPLAIN THIS SITUATION TO THE LOCATION AND THEY CAN HELP YOU. FALSE! WHEN WE WENT TO THE LOCATION TO TURN THE RENTAL IN, THEY WOULDNT HELP US, INFACT THEY SCAMMED US AND ROBBED US. WE EXPLAINED THEY STILL OWED US A $650 CHARGE AND THAT WAS LIKE OH WELL. THEN THEY HIT US WITH THOUSANDS IN CHARGES FOR THE EXTRA 6 DAYS RENTAL BECAUSE THEY HAD AN ERROR EXTENDING THE RENTAL, AND WHILE WE ARE IN A EMERGENCY SHELTER DURING A HORRIBLE HURRICANE WITH ROADS SHUT DOWN, THEY ACTED LIKE IT WAS PUR FAULT AND LITERALLY MADE US PAY $3800 FOR 6 DAYS! PLUS THEY STILL GOT US FOR THE ONE CHARGE OF $650. TODAY 3 MONTHS LATER, WITHOUT ANY EMAILS, CALLS, LETTERS.. THEY CHARGED OUR CARD OVER $2000!!!!!! AND THEY WONT ANSWER THE PHONE. $8000 FOR ABOUT A 2 WEEK RENTAL! WHERE DOES THIS MAKE SENSE?! WE HAD 100% DAMAGES COVERED WITH PAYING ANY EXTRA $50 A DAY FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE THROUGH THEM AND THE CAR WAS RETURNED IN PRISTINE CONDITION.. SO PLEASE TELL ME HOW THE HECK 3 MONTHS LATER CAN THEY DECIDE TO CHARGE ANOTHER OVER $2000?! I will be contacting anyone and everyone I can. The media, BBB, The attorney general. LITERALLY ANYONE I CAN! They owe us A BOATLOAD OF MONEY AND I WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO GET IT ALL BACK.
Dec 14, 2024 · Marta Misotti