Budget Car Rental Introduce
For residents and visitors navigating the capital of the Badger State, the **Budget Car Rental location on East Washington Avenue** stands out as a reliable and versatile choice for all vehicle needs. Situated centrally in Madison, WI, this local branch caters expertly to both personal and business users, offering a fleet that spans from fuel-efficient sedans for zipping around Downtown Madison to spacious passenger vans for group excursions across Dane County and beyond. More importantly, this location is noted for its high-quality customer service, demonstrated by staff members who go the extra mile to resolve logistical challenges.
Unlike airport-based rental agencies, this downtown location operates with a focus on local accessibility and specific community needs, offering services like van rental and actively promoting discounts for those who serve the nation. The positive customer feedback often highlights the helpfulness of the staff, whether it’s assisting with a last-minute vehicle change for a move or troubleshooting issues with modern amenities like electric vehicles (EVs), demonstrating a commitment to personalized service that resonates well with the Wisconsin customer base.
The flexibility of the fleet—encompassing standard cars, vans, and a selection of electric models like the Kia EV6 or Chevrolet Bolt EV—ensures that whether you are a University of Wisconsin-Madison student moving apartments, a family planning a summer road trip up to Door County, or a local business needing temporary transport, this Budget branch has an option for you. When planning a rental, particularly for specialty vehicles, users are encouraged to utilize the detailed contact information to ensure their exact needs are met.
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### Location and Accessibility
The Budget Car Rental office is conveniently located at a key downtown gateway, making it highly accessible for anyone in the Madison metro area. Its position on East Washington Avenue places it near the Capitol Square and the burgeoning areas of the city’s East Side, a beneficial spot for local pickups and returns that avoid the often-longer processes at the Dane County Regional Airport (MSN).
The physical address is:
Address: 1136 E Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53703, USA
This location operates on a split schedule, which is common for downtown agencies, requiring renters to be mindful of the midday closure:
- **Monday to Friday:** 7:30 AM – 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- **Saturday:** 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- **Sunday:** Closed
For convenience and inclusivity, the facility is equipped with strong accessibility features, offering a **Wheelchair accessible entrance** and **Wheelchair accessible parking lot**, ensuring smooth service for all Wisconsin renters. Additionally, a crucial service for users is the provision of an **After-hours return key drop box**, located on the side of the building next to the garage door, allowing flexibility for returns outside of the listed operating hours.
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### Services Offered
This Madison downtown Budget branch is fully equipped to handle a diverse array of transportation requirements, cementing its role as a versatile **Car rental agency** and **Van rental agency**:
- **Comprehensive Vehicle Fleet:** Customers can choose from a wide range of categories, including economy, compact, intermediate (like the Toyota Corolla), full-size sedans (like the Toyota Camry), and various SUVs (including the Toyota RAV4 and Ford Expedition).
- **Specialty Vehicle Rentals:** The location offers crucial non-standard options such as **Passenger Vans** (up to 12- and 15-seaters), Minivans (like the Chrysler Pacifica), and even **Pickup Trucks** (Midsize like the Toyota Tacoma), making it a reliable source for moving and group travel needs.
- **Electric Vehicle (EV) Rentals:** This branch provides access to modern EV models, such as the Kia EV6 or Chevrolet Bolt EV, catering to Madison’s increasingly electric-friendly environment and offering a low-emission option for local and regional travel.
- **Financial Accessibility:** The location accepts both **Credit cards** and **Debit cards**, providing multiple options for securing a rental and satisfying deposit requirements.
- **Free Pick-up Service:** Budget generally offers a complimentary local pick-up service, a significant convenience for renters living nearby. Customers should call the location directly during business hours to confirm availability and schedule a pick-up time.
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### Features / Highlights
Several distinct features make the Budget on East Washington Avenue a favored spot for Wisconsin customers:
- **Commitment to Military Service:** A key highlight is the availability of **Active military discounts** and offers for veterans, often in partnership with programs like WeSalute (Veterans Advantage), providing savings of up to 35% off Pay Now rates. This is a meaningful benefit for the large veteran and military community throughout Wisconsin.
- **Exceptional Customer Focus:** Customer reviews frequently praise the staff for proactive, problem-solving service. Examples include going “out of their way” to assist with electric vehicle charging issues or reconfiguring rental plans to better suit a customer’s moving requirements—a level of attention that sets the local team apart.
- **Support for Green Travel:** The inclusion of electric vehicles in the rental fleet, and the staff's noted willingness to help renters navigate the EV charging network, positions this branch as a forward-thinking choice for sustainable travel in the Madison area.
- **After-Hours Flexibility:** The existence of a dedicated key drop box allows for a 24-hour return capability, offering necessary flexibility for trips that conclude after the office closes on weekdays or Saturdays.
- **Prime Downtown Access:** Its central location provides fast access to key city arteries and neighborhoods, saving local renters the time and expense of traveling to the airport or distant suburban rental offices.
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### Contact Information
For up-to-date pricing, vehicle availability, or to coordinate a local pick-up service, please use the following direct contact information. Calling during the published split business hours is highly recommended for the most immediate service.
Address: 1136 E Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53703, USA
Phone: (608) 251-2181
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### What is Worth Choosing
The Budget Car Rental on East Washington Avenue is highly recommended for local Wisconsin users—especially those in the Madison region—who prioritize tailored service and versatility. It is worth choosing this branch for several compelling reasons:
- **For Military Personnel and Veterans:** The significant **Active military discounts** and associated benefits, which require presentation of relevant credentials or use of partner BCD codes, make this an economically advantageous choice.
- **When You Need More Than a Car:** As a dual **Car rental agency** and **Van rental agency**, it is the ideal spot for moving, large family outings, or tailgating trips to Lambeau Field or Camp Randall, given the available selection of large SUVs, minivans, and passenger vans.
- **When Personalized Service Matters:** The documented history of staff providing exceptional, problem-solving customer service (such as assisting with vehicle sizing or EV concerns) provides a peace of mind that can be invaluable during the often-stressful process of travel or moving.
- **For EV Enthusiasts:** Being able to rent an electric vehicle and receive hands-on assistance from staff knowledgeable about the specific challenges of EV charging in the area is a major benefit for renters looking to try an EV or minimize their fuel costs.
Given the popularity of this location and its unique vehicle offerings, especially the vans and EVs, Madison residents are encouraged to book their vehicles well in advance, particularly for weekend rentals or holiday periods.
Budget Car Rental Details
Highlights
- Active military discounts
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Credit cards
Budget Car Rental Photos






Budget Car Rental Location
Budget Car Rental
1136 E Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53703, USA
Budget Car Rental Reviews
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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1Rented a 1 way moving truck here recently and the truck size I booked was basically unavailable due to damages and needed repairs. Was upgraded to a larger size, which was actually not needed. Thanks to Justin at this location, we were able to do a local shuffle and we’re set up with a truck that was perfect for my needs. Thank you for making that happen for me, it made all the difference in navigating a new city by having a smaller truck. Thanks Justin!
August 04 · Chelsea DuckworthI had a wonderful experience renting an EV car here (Kia EV6). On my way back, I had trouble finding a rapid charger in Madison. However, Destinee - one of the staff, went out of her way to investigate the problem with the charge points and offered help when I returned the vehicle. Highly recommend the service!
January 03 · Xuan LeOvercharged w/a fuel surcharge, despite the receipt showing that the gas tank was returned full.Budget customer service maintains that there is no charge on their end per their receipt; however, the receipt emailed to me is different and shows a fuel surcharge. Also, still have the pending charges on my credit card.Still working to get it rectified.That aside, the woman that helped me at the location was fantastic.
July 14 · DC BackpackerBeware, they will try to rob you, too. I returned the car less than 24hrs after I took it and they still charged me for an extra day. I picked up car at ~8am on Friday, dropped it off at ~7:10am on Saturday. I get the bill and they said I had dropped it off at 9:01am (they opened at 9am) and charged me for an extra day. They have a camera and they could have easily verified my return time. I called customer service and got my refund back and filed a complaint with corporate.
March 08 · Tigray MarySCAM SCAM SCAM! Returned car with full tank of gas (even took a picture). I have new charges on my card and upon checking the receipt I was charged $75 for gas. Budget clearly says $14.99 flat fee under 75 miles. I drove 50.Just filled out a dispute and chargeback. More than enough proof supplied for me to win the case.Disputes result in fee penalties for the merchant.
August 15 · Allan Chen
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