Your One-Way Car Hire in Europe with SIXT
SIXT one way car rental in Europe
If you’re looking for one-way car hire in Europe, SIXT offers a reliable and convenient solution. Our flexible and competitively priced rental options make it easy to find a package that suits your travel plans. Whether you’re setting off on a road trip or simply don’t have time to return the vehicle to its original pick-up location, one-way car hire with SIXT gives you the freedom to travel without unnecessary stress.
With SIXT branches across Europe, including popular destinations in Spain, Italy and France, travelling between countries by hire car is smooth and hassle-free. Explore our ideas for one-way European road trips, and find clear information on applicable one-way fees and any rental restrictions, so you can plan your journey with confidence.
There are plenty of reasons why a one-way car rental in Europe might be the right choice for you. It may be more cost-effective than flying home, you could be relocating to a new destination and need a one-way hire to transport your belongings, or perhaps you’re simply planning an exciting road trip.
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.
SIXT car hire services
SIXT offers a wide selection of vehicles to suit every type of journey, from economical cars and spacious 4x4s to sports cars and convertibles. You can also customise your rental with optional extras such as sat nav, child seats, additional drivers and more, ensuring your trip is comfortable and tailored to your needs.
Find more information about hiring a car in Europe here.
Benefits of a one-way car rental
Why Choose SIXT for One-Way Car Rental?
- Convenient for moving: Use a one-way rental to move to a new city or country without needing to bring the vehicle back to your original location.
- Great flexibility for business trips Fly into one city, attend meetings across regions, and drop the car at another airport or city without losing time returning.
- Fuel savings: Reduce fuel costs by avoiding the need to drive back to your starting point.
- Airport-to-city convenience: Drive directly from the airport to your final destination and leave the car in the city where your stay ends.
- Tailored itineraries: Adjust your travel plans on the go and discover smaller towns or attractions that are hard to reach by train or bus.
With a one-way rental, you have complete freedom to choose your route without the hassle of returning to the original location. To make your trip even more comfortable, you can add useful extras like a sat nav or an additional driver to share the load on longer journeys.
Young Drivers can also take advantage of one-way rentals. For more details, check out our Young Driver page.
FAQs
When you return your SIXT rental car at a different station from where you picked it up — whether within the same country or across European borders — a one-way fee applies. This fee varies by route and vehicle category and will be shown during booking.
Driving through Europe is easy, but tolls, vignettes, and local road rules vary by country. Some highways require toll payments or stickers (e.g., Austria, Switzerland) and low-emission zones have special requirements. Always check SIXT’s Europe travel info and country-specific rules before your trip, and ensure you have permission to cross borders with your rental.
To get the best price on a Europe one-way car hire with SIXT, book early, compare pick-up and drop-off locations, and choose economy or compact categories. The booking engine will show available routes and any one-way fees up front, so planning ahead often avoids high last-minute charges.
SIXT generally requires drivers to be at least 18 years old, but many vehicle categories and countries have higher minimum ages (often 21+ with a year of driving experience) and may include a young driver surcharge for drivers under 25. Always check age rules for your pick-up country and car class before booking.
Europe one way car hire cross boarder driving zones
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 |
Popular car rental locations in Europe
Your next car hire is closer than you think. We are happy to assist you with superior customer service and one of the best car rental fleets in Europe. Pick the country in which you are located and discover our car rental branches near you.
One Way European Road Trip Inspiration
With SIXT, the only road-trip planning you need to make is where to pick up your one-way car hire and where to return the keys. In Europe, with hotels and B&Bs dotted around every city and rural road, it's easy just to embark on a spontaneous drive. If you have not planned your one way road trip yet, SIXT has some great options for you below. Click on each road trip to find out more and be inspired!
The Mille Miglia, which means "Thousand Miles" in Italian, is one of the best ways to explore Northern Italy by rental car, although you don’t have to complete the entire thousand-mile journey. Begin by renting your preferred vehicle at the tour’s starting point, then set off along the stunning Riviera coast. Along the way, you can visit beautiful cities such as Verona, Bologna, and Florence, sampling delicious local cuisine and taking in the sights. Enjoy a coffee by Lake Garda, explore Pozzolengo Castle, and cross the iconic Tiberius Bridge during your memorable road trip. After a breathtaking drive across the Apennine Mountains, your final destination is Rome, where you can return your SIXT rental and immerse yourself in the history and culture of Italy’s vibrant capital.
Claimed to be the best mountain road in the world, the Transfagarasan is a must-experience for all driving enthusiasts. After picking up your rental car at Bucharest Airport, head towards Brasov, near Piteçti, where the road begins. Drive carefully, as the Transfagarasan ascends to an elevation of 2,134 meters and features sharp hairpin turns.The road is closed from October to June due to heavy snowfall, so be sure to check its status before planning your trip. A notable stop along the way is Poenari Castle, once owned by Vlad the Impaler—the real-life inspiration for Dracula. From this fortress, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views.
Your journey continues to Vidraru Lake, a serene and picturesque spot featuring a tunnel that leads to the highest point of the Transfagarasan. The road trip concludes near Sibiu.
Once a medieval trade route, the Romantic Road is now an idyllic tour that takes you through historic villages and towns, passing fairytale castles and towers along the way. Named for a reason, the Romantic Road beautifully showcases traditional Germany and you can experience it all from the comfort of your SIXT rental car.
Begin your journey by picking up your quality rental in Würzburg, where you should not miss the Residenz, one of Germany’s most stunning palaces. From there, drive south to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, often called Germany’s most medieval town and the inspiration for Pinocchio. Spend the night there to fully soak in the town’s enchanting atmosphere. As you continue south through Bavaria, you’ll encounter many more unique and memorable attractions. Near the end of your 260-mile road trip lies Neuschwanstein Castle, one of the most breathtaking castles in Germany, offering panoramic views from its mountainside setting.
Your final destination is Füssen, just a few miles north of the Austrian border. From here, the choice is yours: return your rental car at any nearby branch or continue on into Austria for an action-packed skiing adventure.
This ultimate European road trip is certainly the ideal way to explore Alpine Europe in your SIXT car rental. Pick up your vehicle from your preferred French Riviera destination and begin this cross-country road trip of a lifetime. After navigating this French region, explore Embrun and then make your way north to the Swiss city of Geneva where you can spend a day or two exploring the cafés and shops. As this road trip can be tailored to your interests, you can next head to historic and culture-rich Lucerne, or the adventure-sports capital Interlaken depending on what you prefer. Those looking to see it all can visit both, as each offers extraordinary experiences. For the final leg of the journey in your hire car, be sure to have your camera at the ready as you make the descent south into Italy through the mountains. Steep winding roads will lead you to the stunning shores of Lake Como where you can either relax with some fine food, or try out water-sports like windsurfing. The last stop is Turin, a hidden gem amongst popular Italian cities, where you can enjoy the immense atmosphere at a Juventus F.C. game and hand in your keys to the SIXT Turin central station.
Offering travellers plenty of sun and sea, Spain is an ideal holiday destination for many. However, with a SIXT rental car, you can take the road less travelled and discover the hidden Spain that few get the chance to see.
Start your journey in Barcelona by picking up your car hire and exploring this vibrant city in style. Opt for a convertible rental when driving along the coast (it’s more affordable than you might think!), making the entire road trip experience even more enjoyable. Next, head south towards Valencia, stopping to admire the ancient city of Tarragona, a genuine hidden gem. Once in Valencia, you can enjoy a blend of old and new architecture, from the historic Cathedral to the modern Oceanogràfic aquarium. For the next leg of your journey, enjoy a scenic and peaceful drive over the Sierra Nevada mountain range before arriving in Granada. On the final stretch, you’ll pass the peninsula of Gibraltar, Benahavis, and Ronda, before concluding your trip in Seville.
This road trip is a fantastic alternative to the typical family holiday and can be tailored to suit however long you wish to travel.
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Explore more of our one-way car rental services at SIXT here. Find options tailored to your needs and the perfect vehicle for your trip.