No. 4 of 5 at CRL

Budget

Name: Budget at Brussels South Charleroi Airport: Counterwise rating
Item: Budget (Brussels South Charleroi Airport)
Rating: 4.6
Author: Counterwise

at Brussels South Charleroi Airport

Short walk

High consensus Check prices ↓

At a glance

Budget at Brussels South Charleroi Airport is ranked No. 4 of 5 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 4.6/10 (Poor).
The Budget desk is in a nearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal at Charleroi 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: Mon–Fri 08:00–23:30, Sat 10:00–18:00, Sun 15:00–23:30; key drop.
Main red flag from travellers: Many recent reviews report damage charges applied only after the car was returned, for example scratches, windscreen chips or bumper marks, often without a joint inspection and with unclear or poor-quality photo evidence; amounts reported range from about 350 to 1,000 euros..

Based on 159 reviews analysed · Last updated 11 November 2026 · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 159 Google reviews after excluding 3 (roughly 36 of them stars only), the counter is quick and cars are usually clean, but the evidence on charges and bookings is poor. Recent reviews frequently report disputed damage charges, unexplained debits after return, hard-to-reach customer service, and a desk that closed on travellers with delayed flights. Web evidence is thin, mostly undated and from aggregator sites, so it adds little on its own.

AI-assisted summary of 159 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)

Poor2.0/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 40 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor4.5/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 12 reports · medium confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor3.0/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 25 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Great8.5/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 18 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Mixed7.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 27 reports · medium confidence.

How this score was built

AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 4.4 · counts 70%
Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 4.8 · counts 30%
3 of 162 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise). How we clean reviews
Pulled 14% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (92 after weighting by age).

High consensusOur independent signals (AI review analysis, web reports and star ratings) point the same way.

What travellers flag

Red flags (5)

Many recent reviews report damage charges applied only after the car was returned, for example scratches, windscreen chips or bumper marks, often without a joint inspection and with unclear or poor-quality photo evidence; amounts reported range from about 350 to 1,000 euros.trustpilot.com
The desk is repeatedly reported closed when travellers on delayed flights arrived, including at 23:26 and shortly after 18:00 on Saturdays, leaving them without the car they had paid for and no pick-up instructions.
Unexplained extra debits after return, including fuel, airport or admin fees, and repeated card charges, are reported by about 9 recent reviewers, several saying no invoice or explanation was given.
Customer service after the rental is described as hard to reach: long phone waits, emails left unanswered and calls ended, so billing disputes are hard to resolve.
Several reviewers say extra insurance or options appeared in the contract despite prepaid or declined cover, and that the contract is signed on a small screen where the terms are not visible.

Green flags (4)

Many reviewers report a fast handover at the counter, often keys in about 5-10 minutes, helped by online check-in.
Numerous reviews describe clean, recent-model cars, and some mention free upgrades or a larger car than booked.
Counter staff are frequently described as friendly, clear and multilingual.
A minority of reviewers report no surprise charges at return, including a deposit refunded in full within about three days and being able to decline extra cover without pressure.

Practical facts

Location	Nearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal (minutes not confirmed yet)source
Opening hours	Mon–Fri 08:00–23:30, Sat 10:00–18:00, Sun 15:00–23:30; key dropsource
Credit card required	Not confirmed yet
Typical deposit	Not confirmed yet
Fuel policy	Full to fullsource
Shares the desk with	Avis

“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 159 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

Before you go

Tick these off at the counter. (Nothing is saved; it's just for you.)

Take photos and a short video of the car at pickup, including wheels, windscreen and the fuel gauge.
Check the fuel level matches the contract before you drive off.
Decline duplicate insurance at the desk if you already have excess cover. Bring proof of your policy.
Check before you travel whether this desk accepts debit cards for the deposit (not confirmed yet).
Allow walking time from the terminal, longer with luggage.
Check the closing time (Mon–Fri 08:00–23:30, Sat 10:00–18:00, Sun 15:00–23:30; key drop). If your flight lands late, call the desk: some wait, others close on time.

Budget at other airports and stations

Same brand, different counter. We rate each location on its own.

Budget at Charleroi Airport: questions and answers

Is Budget at Charleroi Airport any good?

Budget at Brussels South Charleroi Airport has a Counterwise Score of 4.6/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 4 of 5 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Many reviewers report a fast handover at the counter, often keys in about 5-10 minutes, helped by online check-in.. Main red flag: Many recent reviews report damage charges applied only after the car was returned, for example scratches, windscreen chips or bumper marks, often without a joint inspection and with unclear or poor-quality photo evidence; amounts reported range from about 350 to 1,000 euros..

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

Not confirmed yet. We have not yet confirmed whether Budget at Brussels South Charleroi Airport accepts debit cards for the deposit. Check the rental terms when you book.

How much is the deposit at Budget at Charleroi Airport?

The deposit amount at Budget at Brussels South Charleroi Airport is not confirmed yet. Check the rental terms when you book. The lowest confirmed starting deposit at this airport is at Avis (€200).

Where is the Budget desk at Charleroi Airport?

The Budget desk is in a nearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal at Charleroi Airport (walking time not confirmed yet). It shares the counter with Avis.

What are the opening hours of Budget at Charleroi Airport?

Budget at Brussels South Charleroi Airport is open Mon–Fri 08:00–23:30, Sat 10:00–18:00, Sun 15:00–23:30; key drop. Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Charleroi Airport

Ranked by Counterwise Score. Compare all 5 desks side by side