Budget Rent a Car

Full-day rentals start on-airport with Budget at Meadows Field

Budget Rent a Car operates directly at Meadows Field Airport (BFL), so you pick up and drop off on airport property instead of taking an off-site shuttle. The counter serves the Main terminal, which is the only terminal at BFL, so you won’t be guessing which building to walk to after landing.

The Budget desk sits in the Main terminal’s arrivals area, a short walk from baggage claim, so you can go from aircraft door to counter without leaving the building. Because BFL is a small field with one main concourse, walking time from the single security checkpoint to Budget is usually under 5 minutes.

Budget Rent a Car at BFL lists itself as a traditional rental operation, not a car-share or hourly product, so think in terms of 24-hour or multi-day rentals instead of quick 30-minute runs. Since the only terminal code in use is “Main,” every commercial flight into Bakersfield drops you in the same place for pickup and return.

Being on-airport at Meadows Field means your return is simple: follow airport signs for rental car return to the Main terminal area and park in the marked Budget stalls before your flight. At small airports like BFL, rental car return to the Main terminal usually runs under 10 minutes from highway exit to the counter, but you still want a buffer for fueling and paperwork.

• Step 1: Land at Meadows Field (BFL) and walk to baggage claim in the Main terminal.
• Step 2: After collecting bags, follow signs for “Rental Cars” to the Budget Rent a Car counter.
• Step 3: Present your driver’s license and credit card, then complete the rental agreement at the counter.
• Step 4: Walk to the adjacent rental car lot and locate your assigned Budget vehicle number.
• Step 5: On departure day, return the car to the marked Budget area, note the fuel level and mileage, then walk back into the Main terminal for check-in.

Tip: build a 20–30 minute buffer before departure at BFL for fuel, rental return, and the short walk back into the Main terminal, even if your drive back to the airport looks quick on the map.