Steve
overall terrible experience with truck despite good service
I picked it up from the Alachua, Florida location on October 11, 2026. The truck was unsafe, unsanitary, and not fit to rent. I expected much better. The agent was extremely friendly and helpful. However, we encountered several issues, including severe safety concerns. 1. Shredded tire and a 5-hour delay Just after we got the truck home, We noticed a tire that was starting to dry rot and was low in air. I found that the tire inside of this one was shredded with very large holes. A tire in that condition does not fail without warning and is incredibly unsafe. This strongly suggests the truck was not properly inspected before it was given to me. I had driven it on public roads with my family inside, which put us and other drivers at serious risk. I called the location was told I had to call Budget Roadside. I contacted Roadside Assistance, and we then waited 5 hours for the problem to be fixed. That was a large part of my moving day. It delayed my move and caused lost work time and impacted our ability to work in daylight. The service from Goodyear was excellent - Tristin was professional, friendly, and worked quickly. He also refused a tip. 2. Red ant infestation The truck was infested with red ants in the cargo area. Ants got into our belongings. Fire ants are painful and can cause allergic reactions. They also risk spreading into furniture and boxes, which put both our health and property at risk. We had to fumigate. 3. Dirty cabin and seriously damaged door The cabin was dirty when I picked up the truck, with trash, animal hair, and odor. This shows the vehicle was not cleaned or checked between rentals. Together, these problems show a clear failure in Budget's inspection, cleaning, and maintenance standards. I paid for rental and insurance amounting to almost $400 for a safe, clean, working truck, but did not receive one. The dropoff experience was terrific. The location in Woodstock, GA, has 2 terrific people! I have contacted Budget Truck rental twice via email with my complaints and, no surprise, there is no response. It's been 6 1/2 days (on Oct 20, 2026) since my initial complaint. I have photos of the tire and the door Please do better. I am considering filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and reporting to the Transportation Safety Authority.