"Sixt's add-on menu runs longer than most mid-range suppliers, but the prices are shown transparently before you confirm — and the online rate is meaningfully lower than what you'll be quoted at the counter. Sort your protection before you arrive."
The base rate on a Sixt booking is rarely the number that surprises people. It's the protection package screen that follows. Sixt presents four tiers before you've chosen a single add-on, and then a second screen with eight more line items. On a 7-day economy booking, that menu runs from around $6/day to over $25/day for protection alone — before tolls, additional drivers, or equipment.
Most of what's on that screen is optional. A handful of charges aren't. On a real LAX booking in August 2026, the add-on total ranged from zero extra (for a traveller with solid personal coverage and no toll roads on their route) to over $40/day for someone who took the full Peace of Mind bundle plus toll pass at the counter. The gap between those two outcomes is mostly information.
What Sixt charges beyond the base rate
Every Sixt airport rental carries a mandatory tax stack — facility charges, concession recovery fees, state levies — that adds $80–$100 to a 7-day booking before a single add-on is selected. Those can't be declined. Everything in the table below can be. Figures are from a booking simulation in August 2026 — exact amounts vary by location.
| Fee | Typical charge | Risk | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security deposit | $200-$500+ hold | High | Can't avoid this one. Held on the credit card used at pickup and released after return — timeline varies by location. Debit cards are not accepted at most Sixt US locations. |
| Cover The Car (LDW) | From $6.57/day online (LAX, Aug 2026) | Medium | You can decline this. Removes your deductible entirely for covered damage and theft. Book online — the counter price is 22-33% higher than the pre-pay rate shown during booking. |
| Cover The Car & Liability | From $15.05/day online (LAX, Aug 2026) | Medium | You can decline this. Adds $300k third-party liability protection on top of the car damage waiver. Required if you have no personal auto policy or travel insurance covering liability. |
| Peace of Mind | From $25.46/day online (LAX, Aug 2026) | Medium | You can decline this. The full bundle — damage, liability, roadside assistance, medical coverage, and personal property. Counter price runs $37-$43/day at these locations. |
| Supplemental Liability Insurance | $13.65/day (LAX, Aug 2026) | Medium | You can decline this. Available as a standalone add-on if you want liability coverage without the full damage waiver. Check whether your personal auto policy already extends to rentals. |
| Toll pass/Express lane | $14.26/day (LAX, Aug 2026) | Medium | You can decline this. If you use a cashless toll without it: actual toll charges plus a $9.99 admin fee per usage day, capped at $90 per rental. Only worth adding if your route crosses toll roads daily. |
| Additional driver | $16.45/day per driver (LAX, Aug 2026) | Medium | You can decline this — only add drivers who will actually drive. SIXT ONE Gold members get one additional driver at no charge. The additional driver must appear in person at pickup. |
| Young driver surcharge | Varies by location | High | Can't avoid this if you're under 25. Sixt rents to drivers 21 and over at most US locations (25+ for some vehicle categories). Confirm the exact surcharge at your pickup location before booking. |
| Personal Accident Coverage | $4.69/day (LAX, Aug 2026) | Low | You can decline this. Covers personal injury to you and your passengers during the rental. Usually duplicates existing health insurance or travel insurance coverage. |
| Prepaid Fuel | $77.70 one-time (LAX, Aug 2026) | Low | You can decline this. Return the tank full and there is no charge. Prepaid fuel only makes financial sense if you are confident you will return the car low on fuel and near a busy airport. |
Sixt published rental conditions and booking simulation at LAX, August 2026. Prices vary by location.
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Protection packages explained
Sixt's protection screen presents four options. The naming in the booking flow — No extra protection, Cover The Car, Cover The Car & Liability, Peace of Mind — is different from the terminology in their help center (Basic, Smart, All-Inclusive), which can create confusion when you're reading their policies. They're the same products.
No extra protection
The base rental includes state-minimum liability coverage only. For damage to or theft of the vehicle, you are responsible for up to the full vehicle value. At corporate US locations this is rarely worth choosing unless you have primary rental coverage through a credit card or a personal auto policy that explicitly covers rental vehicles. Check your card benefits before the booking screen, not at the counter.
Cover The Car (from $6.57/day online)
Removes your deductible for vehicle damage and theft. No third-party liability coverage included. At around $6–$7/day online, this is the most common starting point for travellers whose personal policy or credit card already handles liability. If you're not sure whether your credit card covers rental damage, look for "primary" coverage — secondary coverage typically requires filing against your personal policy first.
Cover The Car & Liability (from $15.05/day online)
Adds $300,000 third-party liability protection on top of the full damage waiver. This is the relevant tier for travellers who have no personal auto insurance, or whose policy won't extend to rental vehicles. It's a cleaner bundle than buying Cover The Car and SLI separately.
Peace of Mind (from $25.46/day online)
The full bundle: damage waiver, liability, 24/7 roadside assistance, personal accident coverage, and protection for personal belongings in the vehicle. In a recent booking simulation the counter price was $37.84/day versus $25.46/day online — a 33% gap, the largest proportional saving in the entire add-on menu. If you're going to take this tier, booking it online is meaningfully worth it.
Toll pass mechanics
Sixt calls its toll product "Toll pass/Express lane." Pricing varies by airport — recent simulations showed $12.99/day in Chicago and $14.26/day in Los Angeles. The charge applies every day of the rental whether you use toll roads or not — it's a flat daily rate, not a per-toll charge.
If you decline it and then drive through a cashless toll lane, Sixt bills the actual toll plus a $9.99 administration fee for each calendar day on which toll usage occurred, capped at $90 per rental. One unplanned toll on one day costs you the toll itself plus that admin fee — it adds up faster than the daily pass rate on any multi-day itinerary with unavoidable toll roads.
Additional driver
At around $16–$19/day per driver depending on location, Sixt's additional driver fee runs higher than most value-tier suppliers. The driver must be present at the counter at pickup with a valid license — they cannot be added remotely. SIXT ONE Gold members get one additional driver at no charge, which is the most immediately useful benefit of the loyalty tier for multi-driver trips. For a full breakdown of what other suppliers charge, see the additional driver fee guide.
Booking online vs at the counter
The online discount only applies if you select a protection tier during the booking flow, before you arrive at the airport. Change your selection at the counter and the discount disappears — you pay the full rack rate. That's the single most actionable fee decision in the Sixt booking process: pick your tier online, and the counter interaction becomes routine.
The saving is meaningful — up to 33% on Peace of Mind in a recent booking simulation versus the counter price. Simulations at other US airports show the same pattern at 22–28%, so the discount isn't specific to one location. The mechanism is consistent: book online, save; wait for the counter, pay full rate.
One pattern worth knowing before you arrive: travellers who declined protection online have later found it re-added to their contract at the counter. Before you sign anything at pickup, scan the contract for any protection tier or add-on you didn't select. If something appears that you declined, ask for it to be removed before signing. Once the contract is signed, reversing it is significantly harder.
The verdict
If you haven't booked yet: Sixt's fee structure is more transparent than most — prices are shown in the booking flow, the tiers are clearly labelled, and the online discount is real. The right preparation is straightforward: check whether your personal auto policy or credit card provides primary rental damage coverage, decide on your protection tier before you arrive, and book it online. If you're not sure about the toll exposure on your route, check whether your destination involves cashless toll roads before you arrive — it's easier to add the pass online than to dispute the admin fees later. For the full picture on fleet quality and location scores, see the Sixt review.
If you're already booked: Check your confirmation for which protection tier is selected. If you want to change it, do it online now — the online rate disappears at the counter. Before pickup, plan your route and decide on the toll pass. At the lot, film every panel before you drive away: all four corners, the roof, the windshield, and the wheel rims. Keep that video.
If you've returned the car and have a question about a charge: For a post-return damage claim, request the damage report in writing with photos. Compare it against your pickup video. If the damage was pre-existing and your footage shows it, dispute in writing with the evidence. For unexpected toll or fuel charges, request an itemised statement. If you booked through a third-party platform, contact them first. After one week without resolution, a credit card chargeback with your signed rental agreement and pickup video as supporting evidence is the next step.
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- Protection prices shown online are 22-33% lower than the counter rate — book protection before you arrive, not at the desk.
- Toll charges are billed after the rental closes, not at return — they can appear on your card weeks later.
- The security deposit hold varies by car class and location. Premium and luxury categories run higher. Confirm before pickup.
- A debit card will not work at pickup at most US Sixt locations — a credit card in the primary renter's name is required.
- Post-return damage claims are Sixt's most consistent complaint pattern. Timestamp every panel on video before leaving the lot.
- Young driver surcharges are not shown prominently during booking at all locations — verify at your specific pickup branch.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in the base Sixt rate?
The base rate covers the vehicle, unlimited miles, and basic state-minimum liability coverage. All protection upgrades, toll services, additional drivers, and equipment are optional add-ons priced separately.
What is the difference between Cover The Car and Peace of Mind?
Cover The Car removes your deductible for damage and theft only. Peace of Mind adds $300k third-party liability, roadside assistance, medical coverage, and protection for personal belongings. The gap between the two is roughly $19/day online — whether that's worth it depends on what your personal auto policy or travel insurance already covers.
Can I add a driver after pickup?
No. The additional driver must appear in person at the counter at pickup with a valid license. You cannot add them later online or by phone. If someone else drives without being listed, they are not covered under the rental agreement.
If I decline the toll pass and accidentally use a toll road, what happens?
Sixt charges the actual toll plus a $9.99 administration fee for each calendar day on which toll usage occurred. The total is capped at $90 per rental. Charges are applied after the rental closes, not at return.
Does Sixt accept debit cards?
Most US Sixt locations require a credit card in the primary renter's name at pickup. A debit card is generally not accepted as the primary payment method, though policies can vary by location. Confirm with your specific branch before arrival.
I declined insurance online but Sixt charged me for it anyway — what can I do?
This happens when a protection tier declined during online booking is re-added at the counter and appears in the rental contract. The contract you signed is Sixt's primary defence. If you believe the coverage was added without your clear agreement, contact Sixt in writing with your booking confirmation showing the declined coverage alongside the rental agreement showing the added charge. If you booked through a third-party platform, contact them first — they have more leverage than you do individually. After one week without resolution, a credit card chargeback with both documents as evidence is the next step.
I already booked Sixt — what should I do before pickup?
Review your booking confirmation and confirm which protection tier you selected. If you want to upgrade protection, do it online before arrival — the online rate is 22-33% lower than the counter price. Plan your route and decide whether toll roads are unavoidable. At pickup, do a timestamped video walkthrough of every panel before leaving the lot — include all four corners, the roof, the windshield, and the wheel rims.
Sixt charged me after I returned the car — what are my options?
If the charge relates to a damage claim, request the damage report in writing with photos. Compare against the video you took at pickup. If the damage was pre-existing and your documentation shows it, dispute in writing with the evidence attached. If booked through a third-party platform, contact them first. After one week without resolution, a credit card chargeback is the next step — your signed rental agreement and timestamped pickup video are the key evidence.
