Budget Car Rental at Greece Ridge Mall, Rochester, NY: Your Local Guide

Budget Car Rental Introduce

Welcome to your comprehensive guide on Budget Car Rental, conveniently located at the Greece Ridge Mall in Rochester, New York. For New York-based users in the Greater Rochester area, finding a reliable vehicle for a weekend getaway, a major move, or a business trip is a necessity. This location serves as a key neighborhood branch, offering essential car and van rental services to the local community, distinguishing itself from the busy airport terminals. Whether you need a compact car for navigating the city or a spacious van for family travel or moving cargo, understanding the details of your local rental partner is the first step toward a seamless experience.

Budget Car Rental is a well-known national brand, and this local office focuses on providing vehicles for those who need a rental outside of air travel, such as when their personal car is in the shop or for specific vehicle needs like van rentals. The location aims to offer flexibility and a range of vehicles, catering to various travel or transportation requirements right in your community.

Understanding the local operation is crucial for New York residents. While the Budget brand is recognized for its competitive pricing, the service quality, vehicle cleanliness, and staff professionalism at individual branches can vary. Prospective renters should note that, according to some customer feedback, there have been reported issues at this specific branch regarding vehicle cleanliness, maintenance status (such as bald tires or warning lights), and staff punctuality/customer service. These points highlight the importance of thoroughly inspecting any rental vehicle before leaving the lot and being prepared to communicate clearly with the staff about any concerns to ensure a safe and satisfactory rental experience, especially for long-distance travel.

Location and Accessibility

The Budget Car Rental office is situated at a highly accessible, suburban retail hub in Monroe County.

Address: 316 Greece Ridge Center Dr, Rochester, NY 14626, USA.
Local Landmark: This location is inside the Greece Ridge Mall, often accessible near entrance 5, which typically faces Long Pond Road. Renters should confirm the exact office location upon arrival, as mall layouts can be complex.
Accessibility: The facility is noted for its commitment to accessibility, offering a wheelchair accessible entrance and a wheelchair accessible parking lot. Budget also offers disability services such as hand controls, spinner knobs, transfer boards, swivel seats, and panoramic mirrors at no extra cost, though these often require advance booking.
Pickup and Returns: Vehicles are typically kept on-site. The procedure for after-hours returns at neighborhood locations like this one often involves a specific key drop box, but renters should always confirm the current policy when picking up the vehicle to avoid being held responsible for the vehicle until the next business day.

Services Offered

As a dual-function agency, Budget Car Rental at Greece Ridge Mall offers a comprehensive set of services to meet various local transportation and moving needs.

Car Rental Agency: A full spectrum of passenger vehicles, from economy and compact cars perfect for local errands to SUVs and premium cars for extended travel. This caters to diverse driving needs across New York State and beyond.
Van Rental Agency: Specializing in larger vehicle rentals, including passenger vans (such as 12- or 15-seaters) and minivans, which are ideal for large families, group outings to local attractions like the Strong Museum or Seneca Park Zoo, or hauling gear.
Service Options: The location provides standard "Onsite services," meaning the rental counter and vehicles are at the same mall location for a relatively convenient process.
Roadside Assistance: Budget typically provides 24/7 roadside assistance, which is a key service for renters embarking on long-distance trips, such as the drive from Rochester to New York City or other far-off destinations.

Features / Highlights

Beyond the core rental offerings, this location and the Budget brand offer specific features and payment options that can benefit New York customers.

Active Military Discounts: A significant highlight is the availability of discounts for active military personnel, veterans, National Guard, Reservists, and their immediate family members, often in partnership with programs like WeSalute+. This provides a valuable cost saving for those who serve.
Payment Flexibility: The location accepts a variety of modern payment methods, making the transaction process smooth. Accepted methods include:
- Credit Cards
- Debit Cards (subject to certain requirements, which renters should always confirm)
- NFC Mobile Payments (for modern, contactless transactions)
Accessibility Focus: The provisions for wheelchair accessibility in terms of entry and parking, alongside the availability of adaptive driving devices (when booked in advance), showcase a commitment to serving all members of the community.
Fastbreak Service: For frequent renters, the Fastbreak loyalty program is designed to expedite the pickup process, allowing members to bypass the regular counter line and get straight to their pre-printed contract and keys.

Contact Information

When preparing for your rental or if you have questions about vehicle availability or specific policies, you can reach out to the Greece Ridge Mall branch directly.

Address: 316 Greece Ridge Center Dr, Rochester, NY 14626, USA

Phone: (585) 368-0138 (Local Number)

Mobile Phone: +1 585-368-0138 (Alternative/Mobile Contact)

Always call ahead to confirm the current hours of operation, as mall locations may have hours that differ from other rental branches, and be aware of potential wait times for service, especially during peak hours or unexpected circumstances like construction.

What Is Worth Choosing

For New York residents, choosing a local car rental agency is often about balancing price, convenience, and reliability. Budget Car Rental at the Greece Ridge Mall presents a competitive option, particularly if you are seeking a neighborhood location rather than an airport one.

This branch is worth considering if your priority is accessing discounted rates, such as the active military discount, or if you specifically need a van rental for moving or group transport, which is a specialty of this location. The convenience of its location within a major retail center in Rochester—the Greece Ridge Mall—means it is easily accessible for people living and working in the surrounding suburbs and is likely a shorter drive than heading to the Greater Rochester International Airport. Additionally, the option to pay via NFC mobile payments, credit cards, and debit cards offers modern transactional ease.

However, potential renters in New York should proceed with caution and a proactive mindset. The negative customer feedback concerning vehicle cleanliness and the functional safety of the vehicles (e.g., extremely bald tires, engine issues) is a serious concern that should not be overlooked. When choosing this location, it is highly recommended to:

Perform a meticulous pre-rental inspection: Before accepting the keys, walk around the entire vehicle, check all tires for wear, ensure all lights are functional, and confirm that no maintenance or check engine lights are illuminated on the dashboard. Document any pre-existing damage, dirt, or mechanical warnings.
Verify the drop-off process: If returning the vehicle outside of regular hours, confirm the exact key-drop procedure in writing with a staff member to prevent being charged for the vehicle overnight.
Confirm reservation details: Given the reports of staff arriving late for scheduled pickups, build in extra time into your travel plans, especially if you have a tight schedule for work or travel.

Ultimately, the value of Budget Car Rental at Greece Ridge Mall lies in its affordability and convenience for neighborhood users in Rochester who need a car or van quickly. By taking personal responsibility for the vehicle inspection and confirming all procedural details with the staff, New Yorkers can increase their chances of a safe, cost-effective, and successful rental experience. For those prioritizing absolute peace of mind regarding vehicle maintenance and guaranteed rapid service, comparing the rates and reviews with other Rochester or New York-area branches, such as the airport location, might be a worthwhile step.

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

New York Monroe County Rochester Greece Ridge Center Drive

316 Greece Ridge Center Dr, Rochester, NY 14626, USA

Budget Car Rental Reviews

An average rating of ★3.3 from 77 user reviews.

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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

I’ve gone through budget multiple times but this previous rental determined it will be my last time going through budget.I rented a van through the Greece Ridge Mall Location in Rochester NY.When i first got there they were doing construction so they had to do everything manually which is fine and i was patient waiting while they figured everything out. The Lady was very kind and apologetic with everything going on.. She got me a van and we went out and checked on it..This van REAKED like weed and was filthy inside, screen was dirty and crumbs everywhere like it wasn’t cleaned. She then gave another one which looked clean but was labeled dirty in her records. i’m Assuming the customer got it cleaned because that one also reaked like weed. I told them to please note it so i did not get charged. I was getting headaches getting used to the smell but that wasn’t the worst of it.Myself, my husband and two kids were traveling from Rochester to Alton IL… when we got to Indiana my husband noticed the tires were completely bald.. The outer edge of the tire was almost to belts.. we took pictures and called budget. Nothing could be done until we got to our location that was an additional 4 hours away still. This was a huge safety concern seeing how i had my two kids in the back going 65+ on highways with bald tires. Once we got to our location the next day we had to drive an additional hour to STL who does exchanges to get a new van. The gentleman that helped us was great and understanding. Process was easy to exchange the vehicle.When he gave us the new one we noticed there was a plug in that tire, again had to be replaced. We finally got one where all the tires were fine beside it had an engine knock but we just dealt with it at this point. Once i returned the van at the end of the week i arrived at my schedule drop off time at 8AM with my daughters and my MIL who was were my ride back. The women at the rochester location (different from the one who gave us the rental) arrived at 820… i was late for work and my daughter was late to school due to this. She seemed bothered that i was even there to drop off the car and never said hello or anything just asked for my name once i told her she goes “you don’t have a rental”… probably because i was dropping off not picking up but she did not want to give the time of day for me to tell her what i was there for..I have rented through budget multiple times, i usually go through the airport location. Due to this past experience i would really go with the option of other rental companies. It is not worth hassle or the SAFETY for yourself and family while traveling. With the price of gas for traveling to different locations to get a new rental and sitting on the phone with customer service it is NOT worth the cheaper price… pay the money and get something reliable.
May 29 · kelci gavigan
When I first got the car I went to go look at it and the inside of the car was dirty. It was not vacuumed, there was juice spilled all over back seat cup holder. Looked like smeared cookies were on the front seat floor and center council. When I turned the car on it said “maintenance required”. I brought the car back in to let the lady at the desk know. She told me maintenance required meant the oil change would be do at 9500 miles. Car was at around 8200. By the end of our trip the oil change light was on. I had to wait another 30-40 minutes for the cleaner to come back and clean the car. After he cleaned it a second time it was still nasty all he did was vacuum it. I ended up going home and wiping everything down inside the car. The middle council storage had wrappers and garbage left in it from the last person who used it. When I brought the rental back to return it I waited 20 minutes as there was not a soul in site to help me at the desk. The lady came back in with chic fil a stating “I’m sorry about that” as she was on her personal phone speaking to someone else. Will never come back here. Going forward I will book a rental through the airport.
August 04 · Jasmine Newton
The absolute worst experience ever renting a car and wasted so much time of our honeymoon. We went to pick up our rental ( a full size pick up truck) on 5/23. (Yes I know, a holiday weekend and it was going to be busy) Was scheduled to be picked up at 1pm. Got a call from a women that the car wouldn’t be at the location until 1:30… okay fine.We arrived at the mall at 1:35, went inside, to be greeted with “I left you a message, he went to get the car from Webster - I don’t know the distance”. 2pm came around and finally the truck arrived. We signed the paperwork and went outside to do the inspection. Opened the door and the truck smelled like weed. The person that drove the car to our location knew it, because the windows were all open. It was in such bad shape, tape freshly removed holding the mirror on, scratches and dents everywhere. We had a 24 hour drive to Florida in this truck. Went back inside and was met with nothing but rudeness from the women working at the counter, telling us there is nothing she can do and we are lucky she traded a car for this truck and can cancel our reservation if we would like. We told her no and that we needed a solution - how about Buffalo or Syracuse? (Not ideal) she said they also don’t have anything. After a lot of back and forth (very unprofessional on her end) she gets on the phone and calls a small shop in Buffalo and they have a pick up truck we can take, but we have to drive the truck from Rochester to Buffalo at this very minute because they would be waiting for us. We were supposed to be leaving for Florida the same night - that’s a lot of driving, but the women at the desk didn’t care. So we went to Buffalo. The lady at the Buffalo Avis/Budget was so wonderful and really took care of us. Let us take a mini van instead of a truck.We stopped for a few nights in Charlotte NC and everything was fine. After getting to Florida, there was an oil change light, service engine light, the check engine light came on one, and my husband noticed the tires were BALD, like down to the belts. He was worried about how we were going to drive another almost 2000 miles home. So we called customer service and they told us to switch it out at any location. We find another location 20 minutes away, and they can’t help us and tell us all their vans are taken. (Even though there were multiple in the lot) So my husband asks if we can have a different type of vehicle- nope can’t do that either - have to drive another 20 minutes to the airport. We get to the airport and my husband goes inside and explains the situation. The people at the desk were very nice and switched the van out no problem. We got into the next van, and as I start to pull away, the check engine light comes on and the dashboard lights up. So I put it back in park, and my husband goes back inside. They give us yet again another van, that was pretty gross (the leather seats were covered in stuff, white stuff on the steering wheel and sand everywhere) but ran fine so we took it.After returning home, we told the lady at the desk all that happened and she advised us to call the customer service number. We were also being charged 9.99 a gallon for gas for the truck that we took to Buffalo for them.I will never recommend budget to anyone - this was such a stressful experience, and for the money we paid it should not have been.
June 05 · Carli Kowalczyk
Arrived at 8 to get my 8am reservation. No one was around. No one showed up until 8:40 and on their cell phone. Not worth the few dollars I saved by avoiding the airport. Updated to add:The car smelled horrible like smoke, to the point we had to leave windows open any chance we could. The floor was torn with pieces flopping around. I went to return the vehicle at the same location, arriving at 8:35 because they open at 8 and shocker- no one was present to have the location open. Someone finally arrived at 8:40. If I could give 0 stars, I would.
July 21 · Jennifer Hart
I am writing to express my extreme dissatisfaction with the van rental experience for our recent family trip to Florida during Spring Break. This has been an incredibly frustrating experience, and I am compelled to share the numerous issues we encountered to ensure no future customers endure the same.Upon picking up the van, we immediately noticed several scrapes and damages that were not documented on the pink slip provided. Most notably, there was a large chunk of paint missing from the front bumper. Despite our attempts to report these damages right away, we were disappointed and frustrated by the absence of anyone available to inspect the vehicle with us during pickup.Additionally, both windshield wipers were entirely worn down to the metal, causing damage to the glass. This required us to purchase new wipers ourselves—a completely unacceptable scenario for a rental vehicle. Furthermore, the vehicle repeatedly displayed flashing codes throughout our trip, including alerts for an overdue oil change, braking system monitor issues, and inexplicable interruptions while refueling. The gas pump would stop prematurely even though the tank was not full, causing further inconvenience.We later discovered the windshield wiper fluid lines were disconnected from the hood, causing the fluid to spray out in front of the vehicle instead of onto the windshield. This posed a significant safety hazard during our travels.After enduring these persistent issues, we attempted to exchange the vehicle. Despite going 30 minutes out of our way, we waited 45 minutes in line only to be informed that no vehicles were available for exchange. We were then directed to the closest airport, which was another 45 minutes away from our vacation destination. This was yet another major disruption to our already compromised trip.To add insult to injury, the staff members at the Rochester location were extremely rude both during check-in and check-out. Their lack of professionalism and empathy for our situation compounded our frustration.These issues are not just minor inconveniences but clear evidence of a lack of proper maintenance, care, and customer service. We are beyond disappointed with this experience and will no longer consider Budget for any future rentals. I sincerely hope you address these concerns seriously to improve your service and prevent similar experiences for others.
April 26 · Courtney Richards