Hoo boy...I just did a dummy reservation to test this, because as the thread I started about the $10 late fee illustrates, I have a dog in this one. And I feel that the following is really buried, discoverable only if you follow the link on the last rental page - "You're done! Your car is rented!" - the one
after the "Rent it" page...**
The following terms and conditions apply for your rental:
additional fees & credit holds:
• To extend a rental from your originally scheduled return time, you must contact a Budget reservation agent at 800-824-6287. A service fee of $10 will apply and your original per-day rental rate may change. If within 7 hours of your originally scheduled return time you don't call to extend your rental, a $10/day late fee will apply.
• Your total rental rate is calculated based on the information provided at time of reservation.
• Vehicles are rented on a daily (24-hour) basis. There is a 29-minute grace period for returns. After 30 minutes late, a 3/4-day late charge + $.01 + taxes apply. After 90 minutes late, full-day late charges + taxes apply. There is no grace period for rental fees, surcharges and optional equipment or protections charges, so full-day late charges will apply for these items.
• If your plans change and you no longer require the rental, you must cancel this reservation before the scheduled pick up time or you will be charged a $75 US fee ($50 US for a pre-paid rental).
I just finished a series of several two-day rentals, keeping the same car, to capitalize on the 2-day/5,000 DL mi. promo. I was one day late returning on one rental, and so a no-show for the following one, that day, anyway. But I "picked up" on a new rental the next day. I thought my worst problem was the $10, but now I think I may be out the $75 no-show fee, as well.
I know, we should read the fine print, but this is a material departure from practice, going back a long time. I think it should be highlighted. Budget is going to make a ton of money on this, and I suggest that this thread is the tip of the iceberg of the response they will receive.
...for how they are handling this change.
** I only put this exerpt here because there's a little more than what
GrizShel pasted.