Budget - If I pick up two hours late, can rate skyrocket?

I noticed that when I put in a pickup of 2:45pm sunday at ABQ the rate is 15.99. If I put in any time after 3pm, then the rate triples. So If I reserve for 245pm and show an hour late do I risk getting burned. This seems like something the average joe could easily get tripped up on.

I never ever pick up at my scheduled time. I never saw a rate change.. HOWEVER things can get QUITE ugly on RETURNS it DOES matter when you return..

check your return time. that must be causing the issue.
sometimes the rates are hugely discounted for 4 days + 1 hour rentals

Yes, your rate CAN change. Most car rental companies offer super low weekend rates. However, to receive this rate, you need to pick up by a certain time on Sunday. (When I worked at Hertz it was noon.) Sometimes the counter rep could over-ride the rate change, depending on his/her mood.

It works the same way when the weekend rate starts on Thursday. We started our weekend rates at noon. The reason is that is when the business renters started returning and our availability loosened up. However, customers caught on to this, would reserve at noon and be in line at 8 AM screaming for their discounted rate.

My suggestion is to be very kind, apologetic, and sincere and you will probably get the cheaper rate.

I had a friend show up one time 1 hour 10 minutes later than his scheduled pick up time. Since the rental company was out of cars, they said since he was more than 1 hour late, they didn't have an obligation to give him a car. I don't recall where that was (somewhere on the east coast) or which company. But that could also be a possibility.

I had a friend show up one time 1 hour 10 minutes later than his scheduled pick up time. Since the rental company was out of cars, they said since he was more than 1 hour late, they didn't have an obligation to give him a car. I don't recall where that was (somewhere on the east coast) or which company. But that could also be a possibility.

And when that happened, my corporation would have cancelled its corporate contract with Budget and that clerk would be fired.

I was running an hour late on the metro on my way to BWI two months ago so I called Budget corporate CS and asked the same question. I was told that the reservation will be kept in place for something like 12 hours or maybe until midnight the same day.... don't remember exactly, but it was a really really long time. Long enough to make me stop worrying and even forget about it, haha.
So you should be fine.


I noticed that when I put in a pickup of 2:45pm sunday at ABQ the rate is 15.99. If I put in any time after 3pm, then the rate triples. So If I reserve for 245pm and show an hour late do I risk getting burned. This seems like something the average joe could easily get tripped up on.

I had a friend show up one time 1 hour 10 minutes later than his scheduled pick up time. Since the rental company was out of cars, they said since he was more than 1 hour late, they didn't have an obligation to give him a car. I don't recall where that was (somewhere on the east coast) or which company. But that could also be a possibility.
This happens all the time when rental car companies run out of car even when you have a valid reservation let alone show up late. Tough luck we are out of cars...you can wait an hour or two or move along. Unfortunately, it is not like booking an airline ticket or something but then again you are not oblidged to pick up the car either. I am not saying this is right I am just saying this is normal. Elites usually have priority for the available cars as was the case one time with Avis. The non-elites were SOL and left without a car.