Budget story from November 17th, 2012

Costly windshield repairs

Budget’s repair facility is right at the Vancouver airport. Go Public watched as mobile glass repair vans came and went. The owner of a major windshield repair company told us it costs rental car fleets far less to replace a windshield than what Budget bills for.

"Regardless of the vehicle, they are getting original equipment manufactured quality products installed into their fleet for prices in the $200 to $300 range," said Glass Doctor owner John Goldsmith.

Mobile glass repair vans are often seen outside Budget's repair facility, which is right at the Vancouver airport. (CBC)

He said that quite often replacements aren’t even needed and that most small stone chips can simply be repaired — to top safety standards — for $50 or less.

"The strength of the windshield is vital. A stone chip repair restores that integrity to the windshield," said Goldsmith.

"We’ve had customers who’ve rented a rental car company car and they will come here first and have the repair done before returning the vehicle so they don’t get dinged with that big bill."

Go Public asked to interview Budget B.C.’s owner Belzberg about all of this, but was told he is not available. When we went to Budget’s head office in Richmond with a camera to try to talk to the general manager, Greg Harrison ordered us out of the building.

"You are going to have to leave the premises," said Harrison. "I am not talking to you."

Harrison later sent a statement, which confirmed that Budget does its own repairs.

"To ensure thorough, efficient repairs and minimal downtime for our fleet, many of our repairs and other mechanical work are done by Inland Transportation, a sister company which is certified and accredited by ICBC," the statement said.

It also indicated Budget charges for any damage it finds that was not noted by the customer initially.

"The customer ... signs off on the vehicle ready report before taking the vehicle. When the vehicle is returned, we inspect it again for any damage using the customer’s signed vehicle ready report as the basis for comparison."