Skip to content
Counterwise

No. 15 of 17 at VLC

Budget

at Valencia Airport

In terminal
Counterwise Score 3.5 out of 10, rated Poor.High consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Budget at Valencia Airport is ranked No. 15 of 17 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 3.5/10 (Poor).
  • The Budget desk is inside the terminal at Valencia Airport.
  • A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the deposit amount is not confirmed yet.
  • Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: Mon–Fri 08:00–23:45; Sat–Sun 08:30–22:15.
  • Main red flag from travellers: Many recent reviews report damage charges after return, often for small scratches, under-bumper marks or wheel marks that customers say were already on the car or documented by their own photos or video. Some say the car was signed off at return and the charge came later..

Based on 201 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 173 informative Google reviews after exclusions (many from the past 12 months, with recent ones weighted more), this desk is polarised. Many travellers praise fast, friendly service and new cars. A large share report post-rental damage and fuel charges, heavy insurance upselling, and rentals refused over card rules or a closed desk. Web evidence is thin and partly undated, so treat the independent confirmation as low.

AI-assisted summary of 201 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 78 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor2.5/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 40 reports · high 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 55 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Mixed6.5/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 25 reports · medium confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Mixed7.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 35 reports · medium confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 3.7 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 2.4 · counts 30%
  • 15 of 216 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, duplicates, other locations…). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 13% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (103 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 (4)

  • Many recent reviews report damage charges after return, often for small scratches, under-bumper marks or wheel marks that customers say were already on the car or documented by their own photos or video. Some say the car was signed off at return and the charge came later.tripadvisor.comavis.com
  • Repeated reports of fuel charges despite returning the car full (or a quoted fixed fuel price that turned out higher), with refunds slow, partial or missing. One traveller did get a refund after sending a fuel receipt.
  • Frequent reports of pressure at the counter to buy the desk's own insurance, upgrades or extras. Insurance is quoted at roughly 50-70 euros a day, and customers say cover bought online or through brokers was not accepted.
  • Deposit holds or extra charges are reported as slow to be released or refunded, with customer-service phone lines and emails hard to reach. Reports include holds taken twice and waits of several weeks or months.

Green flags (3)

  • Many recent reviews describe quick, friendly pickups and returns, sometimes with little or no queue, especially when check-in was done in advance.
  • Many reviewers report new, clean cars, and several report free or same-price upgrades to a larger car.
  • A few recent reviews report the car inspected together with the customer at return, immediate confirmation of no extra charges, and the deposit released the same day or within days.

Practical facts

LocationDesk inside the terminalsource
Opening hoursMon–Fri 08:00–23:45; Sat–Sun 08:30–22:15source
Credit card requiredYes, in the main driver’s namesource
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 201 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.)

Budget at other airports and stations

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

Budget at Valencia Airport: questions and answers

Is Budget at Valencia Airport any good?

Budget at Valencia Airport has a Counterwise Score of 3.5/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 15 of 17 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Many recent reviews describe quick, friendly pickups and returns, sometimes with little or no queue, especially when check-in was done in advance.. Main red flag: Many recent reviews report damage charges after return, often for small scratches, under-bumper marks or wheel marks that customers say were already on the car or documented by their own photos or video. Some say the car was signed off at return and the charge came later..

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

Yes. Budget at Valencia Airport requires a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.

How much is the deposit at Budget at Valencia Airport?

The deposit amount at Budget at Valencia Airport is not confirmed yet. Check the rental terms when you book. The lowest confirmed starting deposit at this airport is at Wiber (from €0).

Where is the Budget desk at Valencia Airport?

The Budget desk is inside the terminal at Valencia Airport. It shares the counter with Avis.

What are the opening hours of Budget at Valencia Airport?

Budget at Valencia Airport is open Mon–Fri 08:00–23:45; Sat–Sun 08:30–22:15. Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Valencia Airport

Ranked by Counterwise Score. Compare all 17 desks side by side