At SIXT check-in, your documents and card are verified, and your rental agreement is reviewed and confirmed together with our team. A SIXT staff member can then accompany you to your vehicle for a quick condition check and hand over the keys.
At the SIXT counter
Present your driver's license, ID and payment card
Choose any upgrades or extras
Review and confirm the rental agreement
Receive your keys
At the vehicle
A SIXT staff member can accompany you to the vehicle — any existing damage is documented in your presence and confirmed as pre-existing.
Still need help? Find our contact options below.
The authorization amount consists of the rental amount plus a fixed surcharge based on the vehicle group. If it seems higher than expected, this is usually because only the additional fixed amount was anticipated and not the rental amount included in it.
Common reasons
The rental amount is included in the total authorization — so the total is: rental amount + fixed surcharge
Vehicle category: Premium, Luxury, Sports vehicles and minibuses have higher fixed surcharges
Exchange rates or bank display formats can make the amount appear temporarily higher
Note: You can find the exact authorization amount for your vehicle group in the Rental Information on the SIXT website.
After return
The authorization is released within one business day after the end of the rental. Depending on your bank, the refund (Maestro/V PAY cards) or release of the held amount (credit or major debit cards) usually takes 5–10 business days
Still need help? Find our contact options below — please have your booking number ready.
Yes — at your SIXT branch you can upgrade to a higher vehicle category on the day of pick-up, subject to availability. The SIXT staff member will advise you of the exact daily rate before you confirm.
How an upgrade at the branch works
The SIXT staff member checks which higher categories are currently available. If a suitable vehicle is available, you'll be quoted the daily rate difference — you decide before confirming.
Still need help? Find our contact options below — please have your booking number ready.
With SIXT Digital Check-in, you can pick up your vehicle quickly and contactlessly — even after hours. Verify yourself online in advance, receive your PIN by email and collect the key directly from the key box at your branch.
Before your trip — verify online
Open sixt.com/check-in/
Upload your driver's license (front and back)
Upload a selfie
SIXT will verify your documents within minutes
Tips for clear photos:
Take photos in good light — avoid harsh shadows or reflections
Place the document flat on a surface — do not hold it in your hand
All four corners and all details must be fully visible
For the selfie: look straight into the camera, evenly lit, no sunglasses or hat
On the day of pick-up
Receive your PIN by email — approximately 1 hour before your pick-up time
Go to the key box at your SIXT branch
Enter your PIN and retrieve the key
Your digital rental agreement is created automatically when you take the key — you can drive off straight away
Where it's available
Available at many branches across SIXT markets — and growing every month. Your booking confirmation will indicate if your pick-up is via key box, under the note "Your key will be available via self-pickup".
Next step
Complete your Digital Check-in via Open sixt.com/check-in/ before your pick-up.
Still need help? Find our contact options below.
If your booked car class is not available when you arrive at the SIXT branch, you will be upgraded to a larger, suitable vehicle at no extra cost — keeping you on the road without changing what you pay.
The usual outcome: a free upgrade
Our goal is to always have your reserved vehicle ready and waiting
If your specific car class is unavailable on arrival, you are automatically upgraded to a larger, suitable vehicle
You pay the rate of your original booking — the upgrade itself is free
In rare cases: alternative transportation
Unexpected operational issues — such as a sudden maintenance need or a delayed return — can mean only a smaller vehicle is available, or in extreme cases, no vehicle at all
Our branch management team will work with you on the spot to arrange alternative transportation
Any out-of-pocket expenses you incur while we sort this out are refunded
Next step
Talk to the SIXT branch team on arrival — they will arrange your upgrade or your alternative transportation directly
You can also share feedback or follow up at any time via our chat or whatsapp
Still need help? Find our contact options below.