At SIXT check-in, your documents and card are verified, and your rental agreement is reviewed and confirmed together with our team – if you'd like, 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 driving licence, ID and card
Choose any upgrades or extras
Review and confirm the rental agreement together
Receive your keys
At the vehicle
If you'd like, a SIXT staff member will accompany you to the vehicle. Any existing damage is documented in your presence – you confirm it so that it's recorded as pre-existing.
Still need help? Find our contact options below.
The SIXT deposit 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 surcharge was anticipated.
Common reasons
The rental amount is part of the deposit – so rental amount + surcharge
Vehicle category: Premium, Luxury, Sports and minibuses have higher surcharges
Exchange rate or bank display can make the amount appear temporarily higher
Note: You can find the exact deposit amount for your vehicle group in the rental information on the website.
After return
The deposit is released within one working day after the end of the rental. Depending on your bank, the refund (Vpay or Maestro cards) or release of the deposit amount (credit or major debit cards) usually takes 5–10 working 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 tell you the exact daily surcharge before you confirm.
How the upgrade at the branch works
The SIXT staff member checks which higher categories are currently available. If a suitable category is on hand, they'll quote you the daily surcharge – 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 contactless – even outside opening hours. You 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.co.uk/check-in/
Upload your driving licence (front and back)
Upload a selfie
SIXT will check your documents within minutes
Tips for good photos:
Take the photo in good light (daylight, no harsh shadows or reflections)
Place the document flat – don't 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 – around 1 hour before pick-up time
Go to the key box at your SIXT branch
Enter your PIN and take out the key
The 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 in Germany and across the Corporate countries – the number is growing every month. You'll see whether your pick-up is via key box in your booking confirmation, under the note "Your key will be available via self-pickup".
Next step
Upload your documents in advance at sixt.co.uk/check-in/.
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 transport
Unexpected operational issues — for example, 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 transport
Any out-of-pocket expenses you incur while we sort this out are refunded
Next step
Speak to the SIXT branch team on arrival — they will arrange your upgrade or your alternative transport 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.