I’ve been getting a lot of requests for those that rent cars from Budget and so what I’ve done is put together a simple compilation to make sure you get the best deals.
In the top section, I’ve highlighted the latest Budget BCD codes and have broken them down between the official codes and the corporate codes. All of them you can use at your discretion. You’d be silly to book a car with Budget without using any codes.
Best of luck and good hunting folks!
In This Article
- What Is A BCD Code?
- So Which Budget BCD Code Is The Best?
- Best BCD Codes For Budget
- How To Apply Budget BCD Codes And Coupon Codes
- Other Tips On Saving Money With Budget
- Are There Codes For Underage Drivers (Under 25)
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Read More Travel Hacking Tips
- Travel Resources For Your Next Trip
What Is A BCD Code?
Best official Budget code
We’ve been able to obtain an exclusive code for Budget that grants readers up to 35% off pre-pay rates and up to 25% off pay-later rates using BCD code D822119.
Best of all, since it’s official, you also don’t need to worry about getting your ID checked!
BCD stands for Budget Customer Discount Code. This is the primary way to save money on car rentals with Budget.
That said, this isn’t the only way you can save money. Budget (formerly Budget Rent A Car) also has Coupon Codes. I know it makes it complicated but this is actually a good thing because you can enter two different codes in conjunction to have potential stacking bonuses.
If you’d rather not use budget coupon codes, make sure to try Discover Cars or RentalCars.com. These are search engines similar to Kayak and Skyscanner but for car rentals. They work as an intermediate and look at all car rental companies and provide the best car rental rates so you don’t have to look at each one, one at a time. They will also show you local car rentals which can sometimes be a lower rate.
The best part about these codes is that you can use them anywhere around the world. For instance, these codes would be great to use for a road trip in Iceland, or perhaps even Ireland?
So Which Budget BCD Code Is The Best?
For those wanting the best deal, the truth is that “it depends”. Some of these codes provide maximum discounts for weekly or longer days rentals, some are geared more towards weekends, some are for advance reservation, and for some of the older codes, it’s hard to tell how the discounts are calculated.
What I do when I look for the best deals on Budget car rentals is to test all the codes against the base rate and see what comes out at the end based on the specific trip I’m looking for. From there, I pick the cheapest one.
I know it’s a bit more work but if you’ve gotten this far and landed on this page, you’re clearly committed to saving money on car rentals so you’re part of the way there to finding cheap car rentals!
Best BCD Codes For Budget
The below are a list of the Budget codes and discounts that you can find on the market. Each one offers renters a different level of discount.
Making life easier
To use the codes, simply click on the button on the right side of the table. This will take you to the page with the BCD and/or Coupon Code already entered. This will also copy the code as well so if you need to paste it in the appropriate field, you’re ready to go and you don’t need to flip back and forth between each tab.
Official Budget BCD Codes
These are a table of legitimate codes that everyone can use. They offer good discounts but might not be as deep as some of the special corporate codes.
BCD Coupon Codes
There are a few useful Budget car rental coupon codes to know about:
Try either one to score a free class upgrade.
How To Apply Budget BCD Codes And Coupon Codes
This is a common question that we get and so to make it super clear, I’ve included a few screenshots of where you can apply these codes to get quotes on how much your Budget car rental will cost.
When you’re on Budget’s website, you’ll see the new reservation window right at the top. This is where you’ll enter your pick up and drop off locations, as well as dates. If you look below those fields, you’ll see Offer Codes. Click on this to reveal the fields to enter your BCD Code and/or Coupon Code. Rate Code sometimes shows up here. You can ignore this.
The nice thing is that even if you enter a coupon code in as a BCD code, it’s smart enough to switch it over for you.
Note that you can only enter one BCD code and one Coupon code.
Don’t forget parking at the airport
Something that’s easy to forget in trip planning is how you’re going to get to the airport and if you’re driving your own car, where you’re going to leave it behind.
That’s where booking platforms like Airport Parking Reservations and Park Sleep Fly come into play. Whether you need to get a hotel package that includes parking or just parking itself, they have you covered.
Use the code AWESOME7 to save up to $7 off of your booking.
Other Tips On Saving Money With Budget
Here are a couple of basic tips on car rental savings with Budget.
- Register for Fastbreak – This is Budget’s loyalty program. It’s a program where the more you rent with them, you’ll accrue for coupon codes that’ll give you Budget discount codes. If you register a new fastbreak member account, Budget Fastbreak will send you $25 Budget Bucks which you’ll be able to use right away on your next rental or save for future rentals.
- Stacking – Remember to try combinations BCD codes and use of Coupon codes so you can get the benefit of two codes instead of just one.
- ‘Pay Now’ if you’re confident – If you know for sure you’re not going to make a change to your booking, save even more money with pay now rates.
- Don’t rent from airport locations – This applies for all car rental companies. Those airport additional surcharges add up. They sneakily call it something ambiguous which is why you’ll see Concession Recovery Fee (11.11%) , Customer Facility Charge ($5/day), and Rental Facility Fee ($3.10 a day). In parenthesis are examples of the fees at SLC airport. In this example you’re looking at $123.47 vs $40.52 in extra fees for a one-week rental. That’s massive!
- Week rentals sometimes cheaper than 5 or 6 days – Discounts often kick in off base rates when you hit a full week so if you’re close to that, try getting a quote for weekly car rentals.
- Their fuel program is never a good idea – Unless you think you’re going to be in a crazy time crunch, always fill up the tank before you return the car. Even if they offer you a temping fuel charges plan, it’ll always be more expensive than refueling by yourself.
Are There Codes For Underage Drivers (Under 25)
Currently, there aren’t any public codes with Budget to remove underage driver fees.
From what we’ve heard, there are some corporate codes that don’t charge underage fees.
If you’re keen on finding a car rental company where you can get this waived, make sure to check it out at the full compilation of corporate car rental codes. Some do still have a minimum age but it is worth checking them for the best low-rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Budget BCD code?
Currently the best Budget BCD (non-corporate) code is D822119 to get up to 35% off pre-pay rates.
Does Budget have discounts for AARP members?
Yes, there’s a specific Budget BCD code Y508501 which entitles members to 30% off.
Does Budget have discounts for AAA or CAA members?
No, there is no affiliation with AAA or CAA.
Does Budget have rental discount codes for veterans?
Yes, there’s a specific Budget BCD code X612500 which entitles U.S. military veterans, active-duty military, National Guard and Reservists, and their families to 20% off. Use this for military discounts and veterans advantage and perks.
Does Budget have codes for underage drivers?
Currently, there are no codes that waive the underage driver fee. You’re better off looking for codes with companies such as Avis.
Does Budget have discounts for Costco members?
Yes, Costco Travel has discounts for Budget for USA and Canada Costco members.
How can guarantee getting the type of Budget rental car I need?
To get the best chance of vehicle availability you need to book as far in advance of your rental date as you can. Budget has compact cars, luxury cars, full size four-door car, and even pickup trucks at some Budget locations. You can find the full selection on their car selection page, and use the name of the car to find your car preference.
Read More Travel Hacking Tips
Travel Resources For Your Next Trip
If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100%.
Credit cards: Don’t get burned by hidden fees on top of terrible exchange rates. When we travel now, we use the Wise Card. Simply load it with the currency you need before you go and use it as a regular VISA or their digital wallet card. Use their free app to track how much you have and top up when you need to.
Flights: Of all the booking search engines, Skyscanner is the most helpful and easy to use thanks to their Everywhere feature. Kayak is also another that’s we will often check as well.
Car Rental: If you’re looking to save money, these car rental coupon codes will be a true game-changer. Otherwise, DiscoverCars and RentalCars are great places to start.
Rideshare: For new Lyft users, use code WILLIAM4825 to get 50% off your first 2 rides (max $10 USD per ride). Offer valid for 14 days after you take your first ride. For new Uber users, use code psuqbjg4d7rn for the same offer except it’s valid for 30 days.
Airport Parking: You’ll need a spot to leave your car at the airport so why not book a spot at a discount. Use code AWESOME7 to get at least $5 off at Airport Parking Reservations or Park Sleep Fly packages.
eSIM: Lately, we’ve really loved using eSIMs. We’ve tested several over the years and we have access to a few special promotions.
- AmigoSIM – Use GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 25% off. Code is re-useable.
- Gigsky – Use TANG149 to get $3 USD when you sign up, then use code GOINGAWESOME to save 20% on all eSIM orders.
- KnowRoaming – Use code GAP10 to save 10%.
- AloSIM – Use code GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 15%.
- Airalo – Use referral code WILLIA9500 to get $3 USD credit on your first purchase.
- Ubigi – AWESOME10 to save 10% on your first order.
Wifi Hotspot: We’ve been a huge fan of wifi hotspot devices such as PokeFi (use code GAP24300) because their rates are are hard to beat and it works globally. Solis is another that we recommend. Pros are that you can share the wifi with your whole group but cons are that you have to invest in a device and you have to charge it every night.
Hotels: Our go-to is Booking.com because they have the best inventory of properties including hotels and B&Bs plus they have their Genius tier discounts. Expedia is also worth using especially with their One Key rewards program which is basically like cash. The exception is Asia where Agoda always has the best prices. Always do a quick check on TripAdvisor as well.
Vacation Rentals: Your first instinct will be to check Airbnb but we always recommend checking VRBO as well if you’re looking for a vacation rental (now eligible for One Key).
Tours and Activities: When planning our trips, we always check both Viator and GetYourGuide to at least see what’s out there in the destination that we’re going to. They often have different offerings and prices so check both.
Travel Insurance: Learn how to buy the best travel insurance for you. This isn’t something you want to travel without.
- HeyMondo – Popular insurance provider for frequent travelers and comes with great coverage and special perks. By booking through our link to get a 15% discount (from June 19-29)!
- RATESDOTCA – Search engine Canadians looking for the cheapest insurance including multi-trip annual policies.
- SafetyWing – A perfect fit for long-term nomads.
- Medjet – Global air medical transportation.
- InsureMyTrip – Best for seniors, families, and those with pre-existing conditions.
If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.
What readers need to be aware of is that many of these BCD/AWD codes are for employees of those companies only and that they will probably be asked for documentation of such. Not having the documentation will result in paying regular price if you want a car. Others require that the vehicle be booked through the website that offers the discount (AARP, AAA, Costco, etc.) And again, not being a member or not being able to show you are a member will disqualify you from the discount.
A very good promo code I use in Budget is S391256. Offers 25%-30% discount on rates worlwide, and usually unlimited free miles.
Thank you for sharing with us!
Does this code needs ID or proof? Can you please name the source? Thank you
It’s always a possibility that when you check in at the counter they might ask for ID.