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Counterwise

No. 7 of 21 at ALC

Budget

at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport

Short walk
Counterwise Score 5.3 out of 10, rated Poor.Medium consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Budget at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is ranked No. 7 of 21 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 5.3/10 (Poor).
  • The Budget desk is in a nearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal at Alicante Airport (walking time not confirmed yet).
  • The credit card rule is not confirmed yet; the deposit amount is not confirmed yet.
  • Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: 08:00–23:00 daily (car-park office); outside these hours at the Avis desk in arrivals.
  • Main red flag from travellers: Many reviews, mostly from the last 12 months, report charges of roughly 190-400 EUR for small scratches, rim marks or other damage that customers say were already there or not theirs; several say no before/after photos or repair proof were supplied and that their card was charged anyway..

Based on 257 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on 257 Google reviews after excluding 9 staff-praise reviews (209 with text), most travellers describe quick, friendly pickups and clean, recent cars. However, roughly one in five text reviews report post-rental charges (damage, fuel, location or admin fees) and about 1 in 10 describe insurance pressure at the desk. Web evidence is mostly undated aggregator pages and adds little; the office is reported to be in the car park rather than the terminal.

AI-assisted summary of 257 recent Google reviews and web reports, reviewed by our editor on 12 November 2026. How we do it

Score breakdown

Each sub-score is out of 10. Higher is always better for you. How the weights work

Deposit & damage disputes(30% of score)

Poor3.0/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 60 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor4.0/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 34 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor4.5/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 45 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Mixed7.0/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 34 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Mixed7.5/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 55 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 4.8 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 6.8 · counts 30%
  • 9 of 266 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 9% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (156 after weighting by age).

Medium consensusOur independent signals mostly agree, with some differences.

What travellers flag

Red flags (5)

  • Many reviews, mostly from the last 12 months, report charges of roughly 190-400 EUR for small scratches, rim marks or other damage that customers say were already there or not theirs; several say no before/after photos or repair proof were supplied and that their card was charged anyway.
  • Repeated reports of being charged for a full tank, or fuel at a premium rate, despite returning the car near full or showing a receipt; some also report a prepaid fuel option added to the contract after declining it.
  • About 20 reviews describe strong selling of the desk's own insurance, upgrades or extras, including customers with third-party cover who say they were told the extra cover was needed, with bills rising by hundreds of euros.
  • Extra location, office, administration or traffic-fine handling fees (roughly 30-100 EUR) appeared on final invoices, often unexplained at the counter and sometimes on bookings made via brokers.
  • Some customers were refused a car or had the booking changed at the desk (card or driver rules, digital licence, different driver on the booking), and others received a different or smaller car category than booked.

Green flags (5)

  • Quick pickup and return are reported in a large share of reviews, often only a few minutes at the desk, including late-night and early-morning returns.
  • Cars are frequently described as new or recent, clean and well equipped, with free or low-cost upgrades reported by a number of travellers.
  • Staff are praised for friendliness and clear explanations by many reviewers across several languages, including help with card problems and lost items.
  • Several recent reviews report the deposit hold released the same day or immediately on return.
  • A number of reviewers say there was no pushy insurance selling and that card or fee terms were clear at pickup.

Practical facts

LocationNearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal (minutes not confirmed yet)source
Opening hours08:00–23:00 daily (car-park office); outside these hours at the Avis desk in arrivalssource
Credit card requiredNot confirmed yet
Typical depositNot confirmed yet
Fuel policyFull to fullsource
Shares the desk withNo other brands

“Not confirmed yet” means we have not verified that fact yet. We never guess.

Sources

Web pages behind this rating’s facts and flags, found through search APIs. The review analysis also used 257 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

Before you go

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Budget at other airports and stations

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Budget at Alicante Airport: questions and answers

Is Budget at Alicante Airport any good?

Budget at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport has a Counterwise Score of 5.3/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 7 of 21 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Quick pickup and return are reported in a large share of reviews, often only a few minutes at the desk, including late-night and early-morning returns.. Main red flag: Many reviews, mostly from the last 12 months, report charges of roughly 190-400 EUR for small scratches, rim marks or other damage that customers say were already there or not theirs; several say no before/after photos or repair proof were supplied and that their card was charged anyway..

Do I need a credit card to rent from Budget at Alicante Airport?

Not confirmed yet. We have not yet confirmed whether Budget at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport accepts debit cards for the deposit. Check the rental terms when you book.

How much is the deposit at Budget at Alicante Airport?

The deposit amount at Budget at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is not confirmed yet. Check the rental terms when you book. The lowest confirmed starting deposit at this airport is at Goldcar (€0–€950).

Where is the Budget desk at Alicante Airport?

The Budget desk is in a nearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal at Alicante Airport (walking time not confirmed yet).

What are the opening hours of Budget at Alicante Airport?

Budget at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is open 08:00–23:00 daily (car-park office); outside these hours at the Avis desk in arrivals. Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Alicante Airport

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