What Budget does

Budget (legal entity Avis Budget UK Limited) is the UK and EMEA operating arm of the Budget car and van rental brand, itself a wholly-owned subsidiary of the publicly traded Avis Budget Group, Inc. The company provides short-term and extended (up to 90-day) vehicle rental to value-conscious leisure travellers, families, business customers, and commercial van users through approximately 3,150 rental locations across more than 120 countries, including over 800 airport sites and a UK network spanning Bracknell headquarters, London (Battersea, Euston), Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Belfast City Airport. Its fleet averages more than 200,000 cars and vans globally and supports a transaction-based revenue model with attach economics from optional extras.

The core product set is the Budget Car Rental service, complemented by an iOS/Android mobile app, the QuickPass digital pre-registration service (with WhatsApp and DVLA integration for UK licences), an EV and hybrid rental line connected to the Shell Recharge Network and partner charging apps (Chargemap, JuicePass, Electromaps), and commercial van hire operated under the McNicoll brand acquired in 2023. Add-on modules include additional drivers, child seats, GPS, mobile Wi-Fi, winter products, roadside assistance, one-way hire, and tiered insurance cover (Basic, Continental, Additional).

Budget generates revenue through per-day vehicle rental fees and a wide attach of optional extras (e.g. £14.99/day additional driver, £12.99/day child seats in the UK), with both prepaid and pay-at-counter options, free cancellation up to 48 hours pre-rental, and penalty-based late cancellations. Distribution is direct-to-consumer across website, mobile app, call centre (0808 284 4444), and physical rental counters, supported by an affiliate programme. The company has roughly 18,000 employees worldwide and is part of one of the two primary global brands within the Avis Budget Group alongside Avis.

Name

Budget

Legal name

Avis Budget UK Limited

Website

https://budget.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Budget is a global value-tier car and van rental brand (legal entity Avis Budget UK Limited) operating ~3,150 locations across 120+ countries, serving leisure travellers, families, businesses, and commercial van customers through direct online, app, and counter bookings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Car and Van Rental Services

NAICS

Passenger Car Rental (532111), Passenger Car Rental and Leasing (53211), Truck, Utility Trailer, and RV (Recreational Vehicle) Rental and Leasing (532120)

SIC

Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)

akta.pro primary industry

Local City / In-Town Car Rental (THADAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Long-Term Car Rental (Monthly/Extended Hire) (TLABAAAD), Corporate EV Rental Programs & Charging Coordination (THADAOAK)

Keywords

• Car rental services
• Van hire
• Vehicle leasing
• Airport car hire
• Long-term rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Bracknell

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Vehicle Rental: Core revenue from renting vehicles on a daily basis. Customers pay based on vehicle type, rental duration, and optional extras. Both prepaid (pay online) and pay-at-collection options available. Revenue is transaction-based with per-day pricing.
2. Optional Extras: Additional revenue from supplementary products and services including additional drivers (£14.99/day UK), child safety seats (£12.99/day UK), GPS navigation, mobile Wi-Fi, roadside assistance, fuel options, and winter products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Budget rents cars, vans, and commercial vehicles on a daily and long-term basis through online booking, mobile applications, and physical rental branches at airports, railway stations, seaports, and city centres. The company offers a wide range of vehicles from compact cars to people carriers, an EV and hybrid fleet with charging access, and optional add-ons including additional drivers, child seats, GPS, mobile Wi-Fi, insurance upgrades, and winter products.

Product overview

Budget is a global car and van rental company offering a comprehensive portfolio of vehicle rental products and services. The core offering is the Budget Car Rental service, complemented by the iOS/Android mobile app for booking and management, and QuickPass digital pre-registration for faster counter service. Additional add-on modules include Additional Driver, Child Safety Seats, Winter Products (snow tyres, chains, ski racks), One Way Hire, Roadside Assistance Plus, Budget Travel Companion/Partner, Mobile Wi-Fi, Additional Cover, Basic Cover, Continental Cover, Fuel Options, and Travel Companion Tablet. The company also offers EV and Hybrid Car Rental and Long-term Rentals as distinct product lines. Van hire is served through the McNicoll sub-brand acquired in 2023. Budget operates approximately 3,150 locations across more than 120 countries worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Budget Car Rental Core car rental service offering a wide range of vehicles from compact cars to spacious people carriers, available at approximately 3,150 locations in more than 120 countries worldwide, bookable online, via mobile app, or at rental branches.
• Budget Mobile App (iOS and Android) Free mobile application enabling customers to make car and van rental reservations, get real-time price quotes, add extras like GPS and child seats, modify existing bookings, and cancel reservations on iOS and Android devices.
• QuickPass Digital pre-registration service allowing customers to submit rental details in advance via the website, mobile app, or WhatsApp to save time at the rental counter during vehicle collection. UK renters can share their DVLA licence code via WhatsApp.
• EV and Hybrid Car Rental Electric vehicle, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid car rental options available at many Budget locations, with access to the Shell Recharge Network covering 500,000+ European public charging points and additional apps such as Chargemap, JuicePass, and Electromaps.
• Long-term Rentals Flexible vehicle rental options for extended periods, allowing customers to rent vehicles for up to 90 days at discounted rates, suitable for relocations, extended stays, or temporary vehicle replacement.
• Van Hire (McNicoll) Van and commercial vehicle rental service operated under the McNicoll brand, offering tippers, dropside vans, and specialty commercial vehicles for hire throughout the UK with platinum service backing.
• Additional Driver Service allowing an additional driver to be added to a rental agreement so they are covered under the same insurance terms as the primary driver, priced at £14.99 per day per driver in the UK.
• Child Safety Seats UK law-compliant child restraint seats available in four types (Baby Seat, Infant Seat, Child Seat, Booster Seat) for children from birth to approximately 11 years, priced at £12.99 per day in the UK.
• Winter Products Seasonal products including snow tyres, snow chains and ski racks designed for safe driving in snowy or icy conditions and ski holidays, available at selected stations.
• One Way Hire Rental option allowing customers to pick up a vehicle at one Budget location and return it to a different location, providing flexibility for one-way journeys.
• Roadside Assistance Plus Enhanced roadside assistance service providing additional support and coverage beyond standard roadside assistance for peace of mind during rentals.
• Mobile Wi-Fi Portable wireless internet device available as an optional extra for staying connected during the rental journey.
• Additional Cover Supplemental insurance coverage options providing additional protection beyond basic cover, including coverage upgrades and excess reduction.
• Basic Cover Standard insurance coverage included with rentals explaining the basic protection levels and any excess charges that may apply.
• Continental Cover Insurance coverage for cross-border travel within continental Europe, allowing customers to take rental vehicles across international boundaries.
• Fuel Options Prepaid fuel options allowing customers to return vehicles with less fuel without incurring refuelling charges.
• Budget Travel Companion Travel assistance service providing support and guidance during the rental journey.
• Budget Travel Partner Partner service offering travel-related benefits and assistance for rental customers.
• Travel Companion Tablet Tablet device with travel information and guidance available as an optional extra during rentals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free cancellation available up to 48 hours before rental for prepaid bookings
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• McNicoll Van HirecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023McNicoll Vehicle Hire was acquired by Avis Budget Group in 2023 to complement the existing van rental offering. Operating as a premier choice for rental vans and commercial van hire in the UK, McNicoll offers a wide range of vehicles including tippers and dropside vans with platinum service backing.
• Shell Recharge NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Shell Recharge Network providing Budget EV rental customers access to 500,000+ public charging points across Europe and beyond. The network offers near real-time availability, pricing, charger types, and charging speeds. Partnership enables seamless EV rental experience with multiple charging options including 7kW, 22kW, 50kW DC, and 150kW ultra-rapid chargers at Shell forecourts.
• Avis Budget GroupflagshipOthersBudget is owned by Avis Budget Group, Inc., one of the world's largest car rental companies. Avis Budget Group acquired Budget EMEA Limited and its subsidiary Zodiac Europe Limited in 2011. This parent-subsidiary relationship provides Budget with the backing of a major global corporation while maintaining its distinct brand identity focused on value-conscious travelers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car: Enterprise is the world's largest car rental company with over 1 million vehicles and a dominant position in the off-airport neighborhood segment. It directly competes with Budget across both consumer and corporate customers with similar daily rental products and online booking.
• Hertz Global Holdings: Hertz is a publicly-traded global car rental operator with extensive airport and city locations. It competes head-to-head with Budget at major airports and serves similar business and leisure customers with comparable vehicle classes.
• Sixt SE: Sixt is a leading European car rental and leasing company with strong digital capabilities and premium positioning. It competes directly with Budget across European markets and increasingly in the US, with overlapping customer bases in business and leisure travel.
• Avis: Avis is Budget's sister brand under Avis Budget Group, targeting premium and business segments. It directly competes for the same corporate accounts and airport customers as Budget, with overlapping global networks and shared fleet infrastructure.
• Europcar: Europcar is a major European car rental operator serving leisure and business customers at airports and city locations. It competes directly with Budget in the UK and continental Europe with similar vehicle classes and pricing models.
• National Car Rental: National is part of Enterprise Holdings and serves the corporate and premium rental segment at airports in the US and internationally. It overlaps with Budget's corporate customer base and competes at the same airport rental counters.
• Thrifty Car Rental: Thrifty is a value-oriented car rental brand operating globally as part of The Hertz Corporation. It competes directly with Budget in the price-sensitive leisure and consumer segment at airports and city locations.

Emerging players

• Turo: Turo is a peer-to-peer car sharing platform that allows private vehicle owners to rent out their cars. It competes with Budget for leisure travelers seeking alternatives to traditional rental, particularly for unique or local vehicle experiences.
• Zipcar: Zipcar is a car-sharing service owned by Avis Budget Group that provides short-term hourly vehicle access in urban areas. It represents an alternative mobility model that competes with Budget's city-center rental locations for urban consumers.

Regional players

• Green Motion: Green Motion is a UK-headquartered car and van rental brand with strong presence in Europe and an eco-friendly fleet positioning. It competes with Budget in the UK and European markets, particularly for environmentally conscious travelers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BudgetEuro
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwfEqSfKQE7rgT45OMnE0mg
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/budgeteuro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/avis-budget-uk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Budget