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Budget was founded in 1958 in Los Angeles, California by Morris Mirkin and his wife. Budget was a small family run business that started with a fleet of 10 cars. To enable Budget to break into an already crowded market the Mirkins decided to operate off airport thus lowering their overheads. This in turn enabled them to rent their cars for $4 dollars a day and 4 cents a mile to appeal to the "budget minded personal renter" - from this the company name was born. Within two years the foundations of the Budget Rent-a-Car we know today were laid and the company continued to grow and grow until it became one of the three truly global brands.
In November 2002, a giant US corporation called Cendant (now known as AvisBudget Group) acquired Budget's operations and franchised locations in the Americas, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand.
In March 2003, Avis Budget EMEA Ltd completes the acquisition of certain assets of Budget Rent-a-Car. This includes the rights to use the trademark and name, together with the existing Budget franchise agreements and royalty streams, throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Budget is renamed Zodiac Europe Ltd and relocates its head office to Bracknell, Berkshire.
Under strong new ownership, Budget continues to operate as a separate brand worldwide. As a customer driven company, Budget's goal is to be the undisputed leader in value for money car and van rental.
Our global network now includes over 3,400 locations, operating a wide range of cars, trucks and vans in 128 countries.
Last year Budget was celebrating 50 years of great value car hire - Find out more
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