Budget Car Rental Introduce
Introduction / Overview
For Virginia residents and visitors traveling through the scenic Shenandoah Valley, securing reliable ground transportation is a crucial first step. Budget Car Rental, a widely recognized name in the vehicle rental industry, operates an essential branch right at the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD) in Weyers Cave, VA. As a dedicated car and van rental agency, this location serves as a primary hub for travelers arriving in or departing from the central Shenandoah Valley region. The accessibility of having a major national rental brand directly on-site at the airport simplifies the travel process for anyone needing a vehicle to navigate the region's historic sites, business centers, or outdoor attractions.
The Weyers Cave Budget branch offers a spectrum of vehicles designed to meet various needs, from fuel-efficient economy cars for short local trips to spacious passenger vans and SUVs perfect for family vacations across Virginia. Their on-site service model focuses on making the transition from air travel to road travel as smooth as possible for customers, whether they are corporate clients, military personnel, or vacationers.
It is important for local Virginia users to know that, like all major rental agencies, this branch operates under strict corporate policies regarding payment, vehicle availability, and reservations. While Budget aims to provide excellent customer service and convenient booking, public feedback suggests that customers should be proactive in confirming their reservations, understanding the exact payment policies for deposits and rental charges—especially when using debit cards—and preparing for the possibility of vehicle class substitutions, which can sometimes occur at busy airport locations, as highlighted by other users' experiences. However, for those seeking the familiarity and broad fleet options of a national brand with the convenience of an airport pickup in the Valley, this Budget location remains a top choice.
Location and Accessibility
The Budget Car Rental location is ideally situated for air travelers at the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD).
The official address is: 93 Aviation Cir, Weyers Cave, VA 24486, USA.
This location is not a standalone off-site lot; the rental counter is conveniently located within the airport terminal itself, typically found in the baggage claim area. For customers flying into SHD, this means a short, protected walk from their flight gate to the rental desk, minimizing exposure to weather and simplifying baggage handling. Once the contract is finalized, the rental cars are parked just outside the terminal, ensuring an easy transition to the vehicle. This on-site model is highly preferred by travelers, as it eliminates the need for shuttle buses or taxis to an external rental facility.
Accessibility is a key feature of this location. The facility offers a wheelchair accessible entrance, ensuring that all customers, regardless of mobility, can easily reach the rental counter within the terminal. Furthermore, designated wheelchair accessible parking is provided, which is a critical convenience for both pickup and return of the rental vehicle. The hours of operation generally align with the commercial flight schedule, though customers are advised to check current operating times, as they may vary slightly, especially on holidays. After-hours returns are typically permitted, with designated procedures for parking the vehicle and dropping keys and completed contracts in a secure drop box near the Avis Budget Counter.
Services Offered
The Budget Car Rental agency at SHD provides a comprehensive array of rental solutions for travelers and local residents in the Shenandoah Valley:
- Diverse Vehicle Fleet: The agency maintains a wide-ranging inventory that includes everything from economical compact cars (e.g., Kia Rio, Toyota Corolla) to full-size sedans (e.g., Toyota Camry) and luxury vehicles.
- Van Rental Agency Services: A focus on larger capacity vehicles, offering minivans (e.g., Chrysler Pacifica) and passenger vans (e.g., 12-passenger Ford Transit) to accommodate group travel, a frequent need for Virginia families and touring groups.
- SUV and Crossover Rentals: A variety of SUVs, including intermediate (e.g., Toyota RAV4), standard (e.g., Ford Edge), and premium/full-size models (e.g., Chevrolet Suburban), are available for customers needing extra space for luggage or outdoor gear while exploring Virginia.
- Specialty Vehicle Rentals: Options sometimes include pickup trucks, convertibles, and hybrid or electric vehicles (e.g., Tesla Model 3 or Kia EV6, or similar), catering to specific driving preferences or environmental concerns.
- On-Site Services: The rental counter is located inside the airport terminal, allowing for convenient processing of rentals upon arrival.
- Flexible Payment Options: The location accepts a variety of common payment methods, including major credit cards, debit cards (subject to specific rental and deposit policies), and NFC mobile payments for modern, quick transactions.
- Value-Added Services: Customers can add extras such as GPS navigation, roadside assistance plans, and child safety seats (infant, toddler, and booster) for a customized rental package tailored to their travel needs through Virginia.
Features / Highlights
Key features that make the Budget Car Rental at SHD stand out for Virginia users:
- Active Military Discounts: Budget proudly offers discounts, sometimes up to 35% off base rates, for active military personnel and veterans, often through programs like WeSalute (Veterans Advantage). This is a valuable highlight for the many military families and veterans residing in and visiting Virginia.
- Airport Terminal Location: The counter is conveniently situated in the baggage claim area of the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD), offering immediate access to the rental fleet located just outside the terminal.
- Wheelchair Accessibility: The facility ensures ease of access for all customers, with a wheelchair accessible entrance and designated wheelchair accessible parking lot spaces.
- NFC Mobile Payments Accepted: For a modern, contactless payment experience, customers can utilize NFC mobile payments in addition to traditional credit and debit cards.
- Fastbreak Program: Enrollment in the free Budget Fastbreak program allows members to bypass the counter line, show their license, grab their keys, and go, streamlining the pickup process, which is especially beneficial for frequent travelers.
- One-Way Rental Availability: Customers often have the option to pick up the vehicle at SHD and drop it off at another Budget location across Virginia or the country (subject to applicable fees and availability).
Contact Information
To make a reservation or inquire about services at this Virginia location:
Address: 93 Aviation Cir, Weyers Cave, VA 24486, USA
Phone: (540) 234-9961 (Local Office)
Mobile Phone: +1 540-234-9961
Toll-Free Reservations: (800) 527-0700
What is Worth Choosing
For Virginia residents and incoming travelers, what is worth choosing at the Budget Car Rental in Weyers Cave is the sheer convenience and the valuable savings for specific groups. The primary value proposition lies in its on-site airport location at SHD. This direct terminal access eliminates the time, effort, and potential cost of dealing with off-site shuttles, making it an exceptionally smooth choice for those flying into the Shenandoah Valley. Furthermore, the explicit offering of active military discounts makes this a particularly smart choice for service members and veterans residing in or visiting the numerous military installations across Virginia, offering significant savings on the base rate of their rental.
However, while the range of services—from economy cars to 15-passenger vans—provides flexibility, local users should choose this agency only after a careful review of their policies. The provided customer feedback indicates significant issues with the online reservation guarantee and in-person payment processing, especially concerning debit card use and deposit requirements. Therefore, the choice is worth it for those who book well in advance, preferably use a major credit card for the deposit and final payment to avoid bank-specific denials, and call the local office to verbally reconfirm the exact vehicle availability and payment hold policies a day before pickup. By taking these proactive steps, Virginia users can effectively leverage the location's strengths—airport convenience, robust military discounts, and a diverse fleet—while mitigating the risks associated with the reported operational and customer service inconsistencies. For a large national brand in a critical regional airport, the convenience factor is undeniable, but it requires the customer to be an informed and diligent advocate for their booking.
Budget Car Rental Details
Service options
- Onsite services
Highlights
- Active military discounts
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Budget Car Rental Photos




Budget Car Rental Location
Budget Car Rental
93 Aviation Cir, Weyers Cave, VA 24486, USA
Budget Car Rental Reviews
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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1Budget is terrible! I booked and PAID for a vehicle online to be picked up at the Shenandoah Airport. We had a 45 minute drive to pick up the car, we're five minutes away and we get a call from a young man that tells me, they don't have any vehicles. Needless to say I am upset, no cursing or anything like that but I let him know how terrible this situation was and instead of showing any empathy, he hung up on me. Long story short, there are a lot of problems with Budget and their reservation system. And then, when I cancel the reservation they tell me it'll be 5-7 business days to refund our $1,000 plus payment. Called the reservation system and get ZERO help, "sorry there isn't anything we can do". Overall just terrible customer service.
March 01 · Tom FoustThis place is a JOKE. I booked a mini van for a 4 day trip, paid the deposit, and paid the insurance. Just had to pay the remaining amount upon picking up the van. When we go to pick up the van we are then told we have to pay $800 in total. We go to hand them our card and they tell us they do not accept our bank! They took the deposit and insurance fee off the same card I tried handing them in person! I do not have more than one bank. So we had to cancel everything. I then try and go to get my money back and I am denied any money back. They took money off the card online, denied the SAME card in person, then refused any type of refund back on said card. DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY.
November 05 · Rachael McdanielTo be clear, I am rating the people at this location 5/5 and not Budget as a company, they get a 1/5.After a truly terrible customer service experience on the phone, I went in to see if they could help me. They did all that they could to accommodate my bad situation and were pleasant throughout the interaction. I very much dislike Budget rentals as a company, but the people that are working the desk at this location are trying their best to be kind, compassionate, and accomodating! The company needs more like you!
February 18 · ClayAwful customer experience at this location. We had reserved a cargo van a couple weeks in advance to move furniture. When we arrived to the counter the attendant said “oh that’s weird, I gave away your cargo van this morning to some customer that asked to switch”. He admitted that it was his fault and he had “goofed” but made our lives more difficult when trying to find a resolution. He offered us a 16’ van which we did not want due to size, parking, gas mileage etc. It ended up being twice the price and he was not able to fix that because “the system won’t let me”. We ended up calling Budget customer service to fix our own problem and apparently Budget is going to apply a discount after we pay. All the while he helped other customers and had similar issues with every single person, others waited over an hour as well. We ended up spending 2.5 hours, walked out with a truck we did not book/want, paid twice the price, and got no help from customer service.I would highly recommend looking elsewhere, or at least calling this location the morning of to make sure they don’t accidentally give away your car.
May 24 · Nick PerkinsThe lady at the desk did her job as best she could I guess but I reserved a full-size SUV for my family trip but when I show up to Avis they didn't have any full-size SUVs. And I had to wait almost 2 hours to get a standard size suv without the options that I had requested. So now I have to figure out how to fit 7 passengers and all of their luggage in to this vehicle that will cost me $850. I understand it's not the clerk's fault but it's still disappointing none the less.
July 23 · Jay Taylor
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