You do – the driver is responsible for the London Congestion Charge whenever a SIXT hire car enters the zone. Pay TfL direct before midnight the next charging day. If you forget, SIXT settles the PCN and charges you the amount plus an administration fee.
The facts
When: Mon–Fri 07:00–18:00, Sat–Sun 12:00–18:00 (check TfL for latest)
Where: Central London (the TfL-defined Congestion Charge zone)
Pay TfL direct (cheapest)
Go to tfl.gov.uk/congestion-charge
Enter your SIXT hire car’s registration
Pay before midnight the next charging day
Consider TfL Auto Pay if you drive in London often
If you don’t pay
TfL issues a Penalty Charge Notice to SIXT. We settle and charge you the amount plus a SIXT administration fee on a separate invoice 4–8 weeks later. You can appeal the original PCN with TfL.
Still need help? Find our contact options below.
Only if the SIXT car doesn’t meet the London UleZ emission standard. Most modern SIXT vehicles are compliant – check the registration on tfl.gov.uk/ulez before you drive into the zone.
Check your car
Find the registration on your rental agreement or key fob
Go to tfl.gov.uk/ulez
Enter the registration – the tool confirms compliance
If the car is compliant
No UleZ charge applies. You still pay the Congestion Charge if it applies on your day of travel.
If the car is not compliant
Pay by midnight the next charging day on tfl.gov.uk to avoid a penalty. If you don’t, SIXT settles the PCN and charges you the amount plus an administration fee.
Other UK Clean Air Zones
Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and others have their own rules.
Still need help? Find our contact options below.
Pay the Dartford Crossing (DART Charge) and Mersey Gateway toll yourself online by midnight the day after you cross – both tolls are the driver’s responsibility. Paying direct is always cheaper than letting SIXT settle it with an administration fee.
DART Charge – Dartford Crossing
Pay at gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge by midnight the day after. Open a DART account if you use it regularly.
Mersey Gateway toll
Pay at merseyflow.co.uk by midnight the day after. Paying before you drive is smoothest.
If you don’t pay
The operator issues a penalty to SIXT as registered keeper. SIXT settles and passes the amount plus an administration fee to your card. The original penalty can be appealed with the operator.
Other UK tolls
Some smaller tolls are manned and take contactless card at the crossing.
Still need help? Find our contact options below.
London, Birmingham, Bristol, Bath, Portsmouth, Newcastle, Sheffield, Bradford and other UK cities operate Clean Air Zones that charge non-compliant vehicles a daily fee. Most modern SIXT hire cars are compliant – always check your registration against each city’s checker before driving in.
Current UK Clean Air Zones (non-compliant-car charges)
London – Congestion Charge + UleZ
Birmingham (Class D covers cars)
Bristol
Bath – private cars exempt (Class C CAZ)
Portsmouth, Newcastle, Sheffield, Bradford – class-specific charges
Check SIXT vehicle compliance
London: tfl.gov.uk/ulez
Elsewhere: gov.uk/clean-air-zones
How to pay
Each CAZ has its own portal. Pay online before midnight of the day after your visit. Unpaid charges are passed to your card by SIXT with an administration fee.
Still need help? Find our contact options below.
Yes – most SIXT cars collected in Great Britain can enter the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland with our Island Hopper cross-border authorisation. Request it before your rental starts via the SIXT app or WhatsApp with your booking reference. Some premium and specialised vehicles are not eligible.
Three things to do before you cross
Request Island Hopper authorisation before your rental starts
Confirm your protection package – some SIXT protection is Great Britain-only; we’ll extend it where needed
Tell SIXT the ferry or tunnel you’re using so we can prepare paperwork for the carrier and border checks
Which areas are covered
Northern Ireland – allowed with Island Hopper
Republic of Ireland – allowed with Island Hopper
Isle of Man, Channel Islands – allowed on request
Mainland Europe – most groups, with cross-border authorisation
Non-EU Eastern Europe, North Africa – not allowed
Ineligible vehicles
Some premium, luxury, sports and specialised cars can’t leave Great Britain. The booking page shows a “Great Britain only” notice.
Important
Driving outside Great Britain without authorisation invalidates your protection – you’re personally liable for damage, theft and recovery costs.
Still need help? Find our contact options below.
Yes – most SIXT hire cars can travel to mainland Europe with a SIXT cross-border authorisation. Request it before leaving Great Britain; a European breakdown extension may apply depending on your countries.
Allowed countries
France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and other Western EU/EEA states.
Restricted or not allowed
Certain non-EU and Eastern European countries are excluded. For any country off the allowed list, request a specific authorisation – we’ll confirm before your journey.
Get authorisation
Message us
Share dates, countries and ferry/tunnel
We issue written authorisation and confirm any breakdown-cover extension
Vehicle exclusions
Luxury, Sports and some specialised vehicles are excluded from cross-border travel regardless of authorisation.
Still need help? Find our contact options below.
From Great Britain, SIXT allows travel to most Western European countries and Ireland with a cross-border authorisation. Some countries are restricted or prohibited. Always confirm in writing before you travel – we issue the list specific to your vehicle and dates.
Commonly allowed
Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland.
Restricted on some groups
Premium, Luxury and Sports cars may be restricted even in the countries above – always check the vehicle tile at booking.
Usually not allowed
Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo, Turkey, North African states. Examples only and can change.
Get the current answer
When you request cross-border authorisation, we confirm eligible countries for your vehicle and dates in writing.
Still need help? Find our contact options below.