"The cars are genuinely better. The damage claim process is the one place the premium experience doesn't hold. Two minutes of video at pickup is the difference between those two outcomes."
Sixt built their reputation in Europe on a simple idea: give travellers a better car for roughly the same money. A BMW where competitors offer a Nissan Sentra. A Mercedes where others field a Hyundai Elantra. That premise landed in the US market and, for the most part, it holds. The fleet is newer and the cars are more interesting than what you'll find at most US airport counters.
What the premium experience doesn't include is immunity from the one issue that follows Sixt more consistently than any other: post-return damage billing. Charges that arrive days or weeks after return, sometimes for damage renters dispute ever occurred. It's a well-documented pattern — and one with a straightforward defence. The pickup walkthrough is the most important two minutes of a Sixt rental.
What Sixt charges at the counter
Most of what Sixt presents at the counter is optional. The deposit hold and the airport concession fee are the two items that aren't. Everything else — the LDW, the toll pass, the additional driver — you can say no to with the right preparation.
| Fee | Typical charge | Risk | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) | Varies by location and vehicle class | Medium | You can decline this if your credit card provides primary coverage or you have personal auto insurance that extends to rentals. Confirm before arriving at the counter. |
| Deposit hold | $200-$500+ depending on vehicle class | Medium | Can't avoid this one. A hold is authorised on your credit card at pickup and released within 10 business days of return. Higher-value vehicles carry larger holds. |
| Young driver surcharge | Varies by state and vehicle class | Medium | Applies to all drivers under 25 at every US Sixt location. Shown upfront during booking. Drivers under 25 are also restricted from luxury and exotic vehicle categories. |
| Additional driver | $10-$15/day | Medium | You can decline this if only one person will drive. Gold status and above in SIXT ONE includes one free additional driver. The additional driver must be present at pickup with their licence. |
| Toll pass (PlatePass or equivalent) | Varies by location | Medium | You can decline this and pay tolls directly. Confirm at the counter whether the vehicle has a transponder and whether you have opted out. |
| Airport concession recovery fee | Included in quoted price at airport locations | Low | Can't avoid this at airport locations. It's a mandatory surcharge collected by the airport authority through the supplier and included in any quoted airport rate. |
Sixt USA published rental conditions and help centre. Accessed June 2026.
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The LDW decision
Sixt's Loss Damage Waiver works the same way as at any major supplier — it waives your financial liability for vehicle damage during the rental. The rate varies by vehicle class and location, so the only reliable figure is the one shown at the time of booking. If your credit card provides primary rental coverage, you can decline it. If your personal auto insurance extends to rentals, check the exclusions first — some policies cap coverage at a vehicle value below what Sixt's premium fleet carries.
The deposit
Sixt authorises a hold of at least $200 on your credit card at pickup, with higher amounts for premium or luxury vehicles. This isn't a charge — it's a temporary hold that releases within 10 business days of return. The hold does reduce your available credit for the duration of the rental, which matters if you're travelling on a card with a lower limit. Debit cards are accepted at some locations, but the hold amount is typically larger.
Young driver surcharge
Drivers under 25 pay a surcharge at every US Sixt location. The amount varies by state and vehicle class and is shown upfront during booking — it's not a counter surprise. What's worth knowing is the vehicle restriction: under-25 drivers can't rent luxury or exotic categories regardless of surcharge payment. Economy, compact, midsize, SUV, and minivan are accessible. Sedans and passenger vans require age 25 or older per Sixt's published US terms.
Additional driver
Sixt charges $10–$15 per day for additional drivers, with some locations applying a per-rental cap. The additional driver must be present at the counter at pickup — you can't add them later online without them appearing in person. SIXT ONE Gold members get one additional driver at no charge, which is one of the more immediately useful loyalty benefits in the programme. For a full breakdown of what every major supplier charges, see the additional driver fee guide.
How Sixt locations compare
LAX and Denver are the standouts — the scores there are among the strongest of any major supplier in this review series. Miami and San Francisco hold up consistently with large review samples. Atlanta is the one location in the network that trails, though with only 18 reviews it's a limited picture. Orlando and Fort Lauderdale sit in the middle: reliable enough, with the high review counts at both to make those scores trustworthy.
| Airport | State / Region | DiscoverCars score | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta (ATL) | Georgia | 7.4 | 18 | Average |
| Orlando (MCO) | Florida | 7.9 | 304 | Good |
| Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | Florida | 8.0 | 304 | Good |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | Nevada | 8.3 | 61 | Good |
| Miami (MIA) | Florida | 8.6 | 304 | Very good |
| San Francisco (SFO) | California | 8.6 | 159 | Very good |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | California | 9.1 | 159 | Very good |
| Denver (DEN) | Colorado | 9.2 | 18 | Very good |
Sixt US airport locations by DiscoverCars rating, lowest to highest. Source: DiscoverCars, accessed June 2026.
DiscoverCars scores reflect travellers who compared suppliers, read the conditions, and booked with a specific location in mind. They're a floor for a prepared traveller, not an average across all renters. At Atlanta — the one location in single-digit review territory — treat the score as directional rather than definitive until more reviews accumulate. At LAX, Miami, SFO, and MCO, the sample sizes are large enough to be reliable.
The damage claim pattern
The most consistent complaint in Sixt's review record isn't the counter upsell, the deposit, or the price. It's post-return damage billing — charges that appear days or weeks after the car was returned, sometimes for damage the renter disputes ever existed. The pattern is well-documented and specific enough to take seriously.
What's instructive is what happens when renters push back with evidence. When a renter produces a timestamped video from pickup, a signed rental agreement noting pre-existing marks, and a check-in receipt stating no new damage was found — Sixt drops the charge. Consistently. That tells you two things: the claim process has weaknesses, and the defence is entirely within your control before you leave the lot.
The travellers who end up in a prolonged billing dispute are overwhelmingly the ones who didn't document the pickup condition. Two minutes at the lot changes the position you're in if anything is disputed later.
SIXT ONE loyalty programme
Sixt replaced their previous Advantage Circle programme with SIXT ONE in late 2025. The new programme is spending-based, free to join, and gives Silver status immediately on enrolment.
The practical benefit from day one is skip-the-counter access at eligible locations through the SIXT app — you pick up the keys without going through the standard counter process. For anyone who's read this far, that has an obvious secondary benefit: less time in the counter environment where add-on decisions get made quickly.
Gold status, reached at 2,000 status points, includes one free additional driver per rental. At $10–$15 per day, a week-long rental with a second driver recovers a meaningful portion of the spending required to reach Gold. Platinum and Diamond unlock further discounts and priority access, with Diamond adding lounge access at LAX and several European airports.
Status match is available from competing car rental programmes, airlines, and hotel chains — you submit proof of your existing status and receive a decision within around two weeks. If you hold status with Hertz, National, or a major hotel programme, it's worth applying before your first Sixt rental. See our rental car loyalty programs guide for how SIXT ONE compares to the rest of the field.
Is Sixt worth booking?
If you haven't booked yet: Sixt is worth considering seriously, especially at LAX, Miami, SFO, and Denver — pickup experience and vehicle condition at those locations are rated well above the industry average. The fleet is newer and more varied than most US competitors, and prices are frequently competitive with mid-range suppliers for a meaningfully better car. Join SIXT ONE before booking; skip-the-counter access at Silver is immediate, free, and keeps you out of the counter environment where add-on decisions tend to happen fast.
If you're already booked: Three things before you pick up. First, check your credit card's rental coverage terms and confirm it covers the vehicle class you've booked. Second, download the SIXT app and set up skip-the-counter if it's available at your location. Third — and most important — build five minutes into your pickup for a complete video walkthrough of the vehicle before you leave the lot. Timestamp it. Note every existing mark on the agreement before signing.
If you've returned the car and have a question about a charge: Respond in writing using your timestamped documentation — video walkthrough, signed rental agreement, and both your checkout and check-in receipts. If you booked through a third-party platform, contact them first. If Sixt doesn't resolve it within a week, dispute the charge with your credit card issuer and attach your evidence.
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- Document every existing scratch, dent, and scuff before you leave the lot — video, not just photos. Timestamp matters.
- Do not leave the counter until every pre-existing mark you found is noted on the rental agreement.
- Check-out and check-in receipts that say "no damage detected" are your primary dispute evidence — keep both.
- Drivers under 25 cannot rent luxury or exotic vehicles at any US Sixt location regardless of surcharge payment.
- Deposit holds on premium vehicles can exceed $500 — confirm the exact amount for your vehicle class before pickup.
- SIXT ONE status match is available from competing programmes — apply before your rental if you hold status elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sixt a reputable car rental company?
Sixt is one of the largest car rental companies in the world, founded in 1912 and operating in over 100 countries. Their fleet averages some of the newest vehicles in the industry. The main documented concern at US locations is the post-return damage claim process, which has been the subject of formal complaints and a class-action settlement. Travelling prepared — documenting the vehicle at pickup and keeping your checkout receipt — addresses that risk directly.
What is the minimum age to rent from Sixt in the US?
The minimum age at most US Sixt locations is 21. In New York and Michigan, drivers can rent from age 18. A young driver surcharge applies to all drivers under 25 and is shown during the booking process. Drivers under 25 are also restricted from luxury and exotic vehicle categories regardless of location.
Does Sixt charge an additional driver fee?
Sixt charges $10-$15 per day for additional drivers. SIXT ONE Gold members and above get one additional driver included at no charge. The additional driver must be present at the rental counter at pickup with their driver's licence.
What should I do if Sixt charges me for damage I didn't cause?
Respond in writing within the timeframe stated on the damage notice. Provide your timestamped video walkthrough from pickup, your signed rental agreement showing any pre-existing damage notations, and both your checkout and check-in receipts. If the claim was processed through a third-party booking platform, contact them first. If unresolved after one week, dispute the charge with your credit card issuer under Section 75 or chargeback rights, attaching your documentation.
I'm already booked with Sixt — what should I do before pickup?
Confirm your booking shows the correct vehicle category and coverage. If you're using credit card coverage instead of Sixt's LDW, check your card's terms in advance — some cards exclude certain vehicle types. At pickup, film a complete walkthrough of the vehicle before driving off the lot, note every existing mark on the rental agreement, and keep the agent's name if possible. Do not leave without your checkout receipt.
Is SIXT ONE worth joining?
SIXT ONE is free to join and Silver status is immediate. The practical benefit from day one is skip-the-counter access at eligible locations via the SIXT app, which removes the counter upsell environment entirely. Gold status adds one free additional driver per rental — that alone saves $10-$15 per day. If you hold status with another car rental programme, airline, or hotel chain, a status match to SIXT ONE is available and takes around two weeks to process.
How does Sixt compare to Hertz or Avis?
Sixt's fleet skews newer and includes more premium brands — BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi appear regularly at prices that match mid-range competitors. Their US location scores on DiscoverCars are consistently higher than Hertz and Avis across comparable airports. The tradeoff is that Sixt has fewer US locations than either, and their damage claim process has more documented complaints than either competitor. For a full side-by-side on fleet, price, and airport scores, see the Sixt vs Hertz comparison.
