Rate Budget Car Rental
Our Factsheet
Growing the business since 1958
In Summary: Day after day, Budget employees and operators at approximately 2,700 locations in more than 120 countries help support our vision, mission and values.
Quick History
Budget Rent A Car was founded by Morris Mirkin in 1958 with a $24,000 investment. The company name was chosen to appeal to the “budget-minded” or “value-conscious” renter. In 1959, in an effort to grow the business, Mirkin appealed to a distant relative, Jules Lederer, president of a Chicago-based manufacturer of writing instruments, for additional financing. Lederer formed a leasing company and leased new vehicles to Mirkin. In 1960, Lederer formed Budget Rent A Car Corporation in Chicago. The company then grew rapidly, both nationally and internationally.
In 1986, Gibbons, Green and van Amerongen Ltd. along with management and selected investors purchased Budget from Transamerica Corp. in a LBO transaction. Budget made an initial public offering of 3.2 million shares in 1987.
In 1992, Budget moved downtown Chicago headquarters to Lisle, Ill.
In April 1997, Budget was bought by Team Rental Group, Budget’s largest franchisee in the United States and changed its name to Budget Group, Inc. Budget Group began trading on the NYSE that year.
In 1997, Budget unveiled “Unlimited Budget” a travel agent loyalty program through which members receive a free Unlimited Budget debit MasterCard card and earn points (dollars) for completed bookings.
In 1998, Budget introduced “Fastbreak,” Budget’s express service with paperless transaction.
In 2002, Budget Group was delisted from the NYSE and sold Budget Rent A Car assets in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand to Cendant Corporation. Other worldwide assets were sold to Avis Europe, Plc. Later, Cendant moved Budget headquarters from Lisle, Ill. to Parsippany, N.J.
In 2006, Cendant Corporation separated into four independent companies: Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide, Travelport and Avis Budget Group, Inc. As a result, Budget Rent A Car System, Inc. is now a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group.
In 2011, Avis Budget Group, Inc. acquired Avis Europe plc. The transaction re-unites Avis Budget Group with its licensee for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
About this location:
Location
Sears Auto Center
Additional Travel Information
When you are taking a vacation and are looking for a Panama City rental car deal, we can get you in a vehicle that will make your trip more enjoyable. If you are planning to see the sights along the Gulf Coast, we can provide you with a means of transportation that is dependable and available whenever you need to hit the road. Getting one of our great Panama City car rentals from our Highway 231 location can help you avoid constraints involved in using public transportation.Being in close proximity to West Bay and Upper Grand Lagoon, having the right car will enable you to drive between the two attractions with ease. If the kids want to go to the Miracle Strip at Pier Park for some fun on amusement park rides, all you need to do is hop in one of our cars. You may want to drive out to Tyndall Air Force Base to see the planes or spend a day at Deer Lake State Park.At our Highway 231 Panama City location, we value your time. Whether you want to go back and forth across the Gulf Coast or drive to some Florida destinations that are located inland, our rental cars are the way to go. You can go online and reserve your car from Budget car rental Highway 231 in less than 60 seconds. You can save even more time on toll roads with our e-Toll system. Rather than waiting in line to pay cash to an attendant, you can simply drive right through. For your next Florida trip, make your reservation with us and pick up your car at Budget on Highway 231.
Additional Location Information
Select from a wide variety of vehicles at Budget Sears Auto Center, check out the latest Sears Auto Center Car Rental Deals, and be confident that you are getting the best rental rates in Florida !
Book a Car Rental at Sears Auto Center in 60 seconds!
Own or work here?
Nearby Businesses
