Car rental at
Edinburgh Airport

While this review is constrained to five stars, this industry paragon undoubtedly deserves a sixt. Cliché puns aside, here’s why they should be your top choice. Under the hood of their offices dimly lit in trademark dark orange, the brilliance of Sixt’s service shines brightly through. For the TL;DR crowd: I, a 22yo student, initially planned a three-day rental, which seamlessly turned into ten days with two superb SUVs, accompanied by exceptionally rare customer service for not only this industry, but the entire commercial world. As I pulled away in the sleek Nissan Qashqai, I reveled in its modern amenities and spacious comfort. Taking a brief moment to reflect while at 30mph, I realised a second later, already at 60mph, the true extent of Sixt’s exemplary service. The journey began with Magda, a charismatic and diligent representative who waited past closing due to my delayed arrival. Expecting extra fees or at least a reprimand, I was instead greeted with warmth and efficiency. Magda related to my concerns of being limited in scope and overcharged as a young driver fallen victim to the insurance repercussions of my contemporaries’ driving antics, and confidently upgraded me to a luxury SUV typically reserved for older drivers, at no extra cost. This gesture, which reflected Sixt’s trust, extended my rental to over a week, fueled by my gratitude for the quality vehicle and outstanding service. This positive treatment inspired me to ensure the SUV was returned in immaculate condition after hundreds of miles - a sign of the mutual respect cultivated between Sixt and me. The SUV was built of raw power, aided by its ultra-smooth handling. Never before had I realised how exhilarating it was to time a traffic light start perfectly, accelerating to the appropriate speed before other drivers had even put their foot to the gas. It was a pleasure to drive throughout urban centres, the Highland countryside, motorways, and everywhere in between. It felt like it had the perfect blend of mechanical attributes to best fit all environments encountered. I couldn't help but rationalise to myself "Just one more day!" a little more than once! I promptly discovered I could amend my booking however I liked with the click of a button on the Sixt app, which sports highly intuitive UX. Now I could see why the entirety of my selected cat category was sold out when I arrived for the pick-up. This handy technical quality-of-life slash peace-of-mind feature is one thing, but Sixt’s employees are all equally - if not more so – accommodating. On two occasions, I arrived to the airport a little earlier than my return time and timidly requested if I could return the car the following morning instead, before opening hours. On both occasions, the enthusiastic and generous representatives Lawson and Glacey both granted me this admittedly large ask with warmth. Coming from a previous rental experience where an agency doubled every single charge, tax and insurance payment after I returned their car 32 minutes late due to a queue at the foreign-speaking return desk, then telling me with glee that I was charged for the following 23.5 hours after taking the keys from me, Sixt offers a level of customer care which their competitors cannot hold a candle to. An honourable mention to Olivia, who, alongside her colleague, provided me with useful information in a concise, pleasant and thoughtful manner, when I visited the branch to enquire about the Sixt+ service which piqued my interest after my flawless experience. From pleasant pickup to equitable invoice, Sixt proved that they are not just in the business of renting cars, but building relationships. Their strategic customer-first approach, embodied by every employee I spoke to - bar none - converts first-time renters into loyal customers. A diamond in the rough, Sixt has curated the perfect strategy, offering a positive sum game which will maximise your confidence in not only yourself and your driving ability, but your undying trust in the knowledge that Sixt will exceed your expectations every time.