Sixt
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
Sixt receives polarized feedback from travelers, leaning negative due to frequent complaints about aggressive sales tactics and post-rental fees. While some users report fast, professional service in specific European locations, a significant number of reports highlight high-pressure upselling of insurance and questionable damage claims for minor issues like rim scratches or odors.
Pros
- Generally fast service for travelers in a rush
- Considered a reputable major brand by some long-term users
- Positive experiences reported in specific regions like Madeira, Porto, and Malaga
Cons
- Aggressive upselling of 'Smart Protection' and other insurance products
- Frequent reports of questionable or false damage claims after return
- High fees for minor issues such as 3mm scratches or interior odors
- Difficult dispute process once a contract is signed
Caveats
- Reports suggest employees may be heavily incentivized by commissions to push extra coverage
- Users warn that verbal promises by staff may contradict the binding written T&Cs
- Meticulous documentation of the car's condition at both pickup and drop-off is highly recommended
Best for
- Travelers prioritizing speed and brand recognition in Europe
- Renters who are diligent about documenting vehicle condition and reading fine print
Avoid if
- You are uncomfortable with high-pressure sales environments
- You want to avoid potential disputes over minor pre-existing damage
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 18-month half-life. The evidence comes from approximately 30 selected mentions in r/travel with a median age of 186 days.
Sentiment
22 positive (32%) · 6 mixed (9%) · 40 negative (59%)
Trust + time weighted score: -31% · raw score -26%
What redditors said (10 of 68)
Sixt, sorted via booking.com
I'd avoid Sixt, but we've been happy renting from Europcar in the UK.
I think the employee lied to you to get their commission on the insurance, I've never heard anything close to that "per damage". Even their website shows "up to x€"
The sixt office never let me know this was the case, and now I’m afraid I’m stuck for a giant sum of money because nobody bothered to let me know about some obscure and frankly ridiculous rule.
Sixt is absolutely ass. I would rather walk than ever use them again.
I had an ex that worked for sixt in missouri usa. They flew him out to chicago for training and they were big on upselling tf out of the customer. Seems like they were heavily pushing you and made it seem like you had to get something so it makes their metrics look better.
I had rented a car with SIXT in Madeira and had no problems, also found it quiet credible in other places like Porto, Napoli, Malaga, unlike goldcar
Never had an issue with Sixt, in multiple countries. They’ve always gone out of their way to he professional or helpful beyond mere professionalism.
I rented from sixt in Lisbon and returned it in faro. My flight was an early morning Ryan air flight so sixt was closed. I did manage to drop it off at the lot.
Always book directly with a major/reputable company (sixt/enterprise/hertz/avis).
Compare
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