Your One-Way Rental Car with SIXT
With a one-way car rental from SIXT, you can explore at your own leisure and with more freedom. When you rent a car in Germany, you also have the option to drive your car rental to a surrounding country in Europe and drop it off at a different station. Take advantage of our affordable rates, and enjoy your road trip, family vacation, or relocation without worry about returning the rental vehicle to the same station. Before you book your one-way rental, you probably have some questions. On this page, we outline available vehicles, route suggestions, and rules and restrictions.
How to Reserve a Car Rental One Way
Booking a car rental one-way with SIXT is quick and easy:
1. Start your booking by entering your pick-up and drop-off locations.
2. Choose your rental dates and select the vehicle category that suits your needs.
3. SIXT will automatically show you availability details.
4. Complete your booking online and get ready for a smooth pick-up and drop-off experience.
Why choose a specific car category?
One-Way Convertible Rental
There is no better way to explore Germany and beyond than in a convertible. SIXT offers excellent deals on convertible rentals to make your journey unforgettable. Whether cruising through the Black Forest or heading to the French Riviera, SIXT lets you enjoy the open road in style.
One-Way SUV Rental
Traveling with family or friends across Europe? SIXT offers a wide range of SUVs for your drive from Munich to Berlin or beyond. Travel in comfort and ease while discovering stunning Alpine landscapes or historic cities. SIXT has the perfect SUV rental for any one-way adventure.
One-Way Luxury Car Rental
Looking to travel in premium style across Germany and Europe? SIXT has a large fleet of luxury car rentals to fit your needs. Whether you want extra performance or an elegant experience, SIXT makes your drive from Hamburg to Vienna or Frankfurt to Zurich anything but ordinary.
FAQs
Yes, one-way fees may apply, but you'll see all costs upfront during booking. The one-way fee within the same country or across borders always depends on the destination and vehicle. SIXT displays total pricing in the "Price details" section when you enter pickup and drop-off locations—no surprises at checkout.
The best car type depends on your specific trip, but for most one-way road trips in Germany, a mid-size sedan, SUV, or station wagon (estate) offers the ideal balance of comfort, luggage space, and versatility. According to SIXT's road trip experts, your choice of vehicle can make a big impact on your vacation with leg room, luggage space and features all playing a big role, so consider your route, number of passengers, and luggage needs before booking.
Yes, SIXT allows cross-border one-way rentals from Germany to Austria, France, and Italy. Most standard vehicles (economy through full-size cars, standard SUVs, minivans) are permitted for cross-border travel. However, luxury and sport vehicles generally cannot cross borders outside Zone 1 countries (see pick-up zone table below for detailed country information). Your rental agreement must include cross-border authorization, and you'll need a valid driver's license and credit card.
Suggested Driving Routes from Germany to Surrounding Countries
Maybe you are flying into Frankfurt and need a one-way car rental from Germany to Switzerland. Or you would like to take a train one way and need a car rental from Germany to France. We even give you the option to take a SIXT car rental from Germany to the UK if you don’t mind crossing a little water. If you need some inspiration, here are some route suggestions to various countries from Germany.
Traveling between these two cities of commerce is easy with a one-way rental. The drive from Frankfurt takes about 4.5 hours and takes you through beautiful Heidelberg and Freiburg. You can also take a slight detour through Basel if time permits.
Take the scenic route by driving from Berlin to Vienna. You will pass through historic Dresden, and also through Prague and Brno in the Czech Republic. At the end of the approximately 7.5-hour drive, you can look forward to staring in wonder at all of the architecture in Vienna and, of course, enjoy a slice of Sacher torte.
If you’ve ever wanted to drive through Belgium, the route from Cologne to Paris is for you. The 5.5-hour drive will take you through Liege, famous for its waffles, and you will also see some lesser-known parts of northeastern France.
Germany and Europe one way car rental
Vehicle Restrictions by Zone
We provide vehicles for travel across Europe with specific entry restrictions based on vehicle categories and destination zones:
- Luxury Class Elite, Special Class, Upper Class Elite Vans, Premium Class Elite Vans, Special Cars from Luxury Class Elite, and all Sports & Luxury Cars can travel only to countries in Zone I (See the table for a detailed breakdown of country zones).
- Premium, Premium Elite, and Luxury Class passenger cars, Special Cars up to and including Premium Elite class, as well as all vans and trucks can travel to countries in Zones 1 and 2.
- All other vehicle categories can travel to countries in Zones 1, 2, and 3.
- Entry into Zone 4 countries is not permitted with any SIXT vehicle.
- Leaving the European continent is prohibited, including travel to the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
Local transport of the vehicle by ferry is permitted, subject to the aforementioned entry restrictions. For questions about qualifying vehicles and travel restrictions, contact the branch where you wish to pick up your rental car.
| PICK-UP ZONE | CAN DRIVE IN |
|---|---|
Zone 1 | Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain and Vatican City |
Zone 2 | Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia |
Zone 3 | Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania |
Zone 4 | All countries not in Zones 1, 2, or 3 |
Available SIXT Rent a Car in Germany
We offer a wide variety of premium vehicles in every category for a one-way rental. No matter if you need a car rental from Germany to Italy, a car rental from Germany to Austria, or to another nearby country in Europe, we have a car for you. Those on a budget can rent an economy or compact car. Thrill seekers can rent a convertible or sports car (Zone 1 only). We also offer SUVs and larger vehicles, with travel zones varying by vehicle class, if you need to transport something larger. And we can also offer you GPS, child seats, additional drivers and other extras. Just be sure to add what you need to your one-way rental when booking.
One-Way Rental Rules and Restrictions
Due to insurance regulations and costs for returning vehicles, sometimes there are fees or restrictions with one-way car rental. However, at SIXT we will always let you know while booking if there are any fees or other charges. The one-way fee within the same country or across borders always depends on the destination and vehicle. Simply enter your desired pick-up and drop-off locations in the booking engine at the top of the page and if a one-way rental between the two stations is not possible, you will be notified with a pop-up message. The one-way rental fee (if any) will be added to the total amount payable at the end of the process. For unplanned one-way rentals, we reserve the right to charge an additional fee.
For more information about one-way restrictions, please see the rental information for your desired pick-up country.
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