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Counterwise

No. 30 of 37 at FCO

Budget

at Rome Fiumicino "Leonardo da Vinci" Airport

Short walk
Counterwise Score 3.4 out of 10, rated Poor.High consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Budget at Rome Fiumicino "Leonardo da Vinci" Airport is ranked No. 30 of 37 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 3.4/10 (Poor).
  • The Budget desk is in a nearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal at Rome Fiumicino 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: 07:00–24:00 daily.
  • Main red flag from travellers: About 25 kept reviews, many from the last 3 months, report damage charges for marks the customers say were already on the car or were recorded in the rental contract. Several say charges were applied without a proper return inspection, and some say they won a bank dispute with video evidence. Other sources describe similar charges at this airport..

Based on 265 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 265 usable recent Google reviews after 35 exclusions (roughly 165 with text; star average computed separately), this desk is strongly polarised. A large minority of detailed reviews report disputed damage charges, final bills well above the booked price, insurance pressure and long counter waits, while many shorter reviews praise fast, friendly service and clean cars. Web sources broadly agree with the negative themes, but most are undated or older, so treat them as supporting evidence only.

AI-assisted summary of 265 recent Google reviews and web reports, reviewed by our editor on 13 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 40 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor3.5/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 26 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor2.5/10

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)

Poor3.5/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 42 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Poor5.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 40 reports · medium confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 3.4 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 3.0 · counts 30%
  • 35 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, duplicates, other locations). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 8% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (164 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)

  • About 25 kept reviews, many from the last 3 months, report damage charges for marks the customers say were already on the car or were recorded in the rental contract. Several say charges were applied without a proper return inspection, and some say they won a bank dispute with video evidence. Other sources describe similar charges at this airport.tripadvisor.comtripadvisor.com
  • Around 35 kept reviews say the final bill was far above the booked or prepaid price, often by €300 to €1,000, because of insurance, prepaid fuel, location or airport surcharges or toll devices they say were not clearly explained or accepted. Some say the contract was signed on a tablet or in Italian with little explanation.tripadvisor.comtripadvisor.com
  • Counter waits of 45 minutes to over 2 hours are reported in about 20 kept reviews from the last 6 months, including cases with few people in the line. Several describe a single agent or disorganised handling.
  • Reservations not honoured as booked: about 15 kept reviews report a different or lower-category car, an electric car instead of the one expected, bookings refused over card acceptance, or no car after a late flight when the desk had said it would wait or was closed. Some report a new, much pricier booking being required.
  • Customers report that complaints, refund requests and deposit queries go unanswered for weeks, and that phone lines and roadside assistance were hard to reach. About 14 kept reviews say this, mostly in the last 3 months.

Green flags (4)

  • Many short positive reviews, mostly in Italian, Spanish and English, describe smooth, fast pickup and return and friendly, professional staff. These are concentrated on a few days, so treat the volume with some caution.
  • A group of reviews, including several from the last 6 months, describe clean, well-kept or newer cars that matched the booking, with no extra payment at pickup.
  • Some travellers report that the final price matched the booked amount, that insurance was not pushed aggressively and that drop-off took a few minutes. One review site dated December 2025 also describes clear damage documentation and no upsell pressure.reviewcarhire.com
  • Several kept reviews describe quick or easy returns, including with no long queue, although a few note the return point is hard to find.

Practical facts

LocationNearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal (minutes not confirmed yet)source
Opening hours07:00–24:00 dailysource
Credit card requiredNot confirmed yet
Typical depositNot confirmed yet
Fuel policyFull to fullsource
Shares the desk withAvis

“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 265 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 Rome Fiumicino Airport: questions and answers

Is Budget at Rome Fiumicino Airport any good?

Budget at Rome Fiumicino "Leonardo da Vinci" Airport has a Counterwise Score of 3.4/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 30 of 37 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Many short positive reviews, mostly in Italian, Spanish and English, describe smooth, fast pickup and return and friendly, professional staff. These are concentrated on a few days, so treat the volume with some caution.. Main red flag: About 25 kept reviews, many from the last 3 months, report damage charges for marks the customers say were already on the car or were recorded in the rental contract. Several say charges were applied without a proper return inspection, and some say they won a bank dispute with video evidence. Other sources describe similar charges at this airport..

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

Not confirmed yet. We have not yet confirmed whether Budget at Rome Fiumicino "Leonardo da Vinci" Airport accepts debit cards for the deposit. Check the rental terms when you book.

How much is the deposit at Budget at Rome Fiumicino Airport?

The deposit amount at Budget at Rome Fiumicino "Leonardo da Vinci" Airport is not confirmed yet. Check the rental terms when you book. The lowest confirmed starting deposit at this airport is at Locauto (€100–€500).

Where is the Budget desk at Rome Fiumicino Airport?

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

What are the opening hours of Budget at Rome Fiumicino Airport?

Budget at Rome Fiumicino "Leonardo da Vinci" Airport is open 07:00–24:00 daily. Fuel policy: full to full.

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