What driving licence and documents do I need to hire a car with SIXT?

To hire a car with SIXT in Great Britain, all drivers must hold a full, valid driving licence for at least 12 months. Additional age and vehicle-category rules apply, and you'll need to bring specific documents when you collect your car.

How long must I have held my licence?

All drivers — including any additional drivers — must have held a full, valid driving licence for a minimum of 12 months.

Minimum age and vehicle category rules

The following rules apply for hires in Great Britain:

• 21 years old, licence held for at least 1 year — compact and economy vehicles (groups M***, E***, CD**, CL**, CW**, CF**)
• 23 years old, licence held for at least 1 year — groups ID**, IW**, IV**, IT**, IF**
• 25 years old, licence held for at least 1 year — groups CC**, IL**, S***, F***, P***, L***
• 30 years old, licence held for at least 3 years — group X***
• Non-EU citizens may drive vehicles with up to 9 passenger seats (FVMR)
• A Young Driver Surcharge applies for drivers under 28

Can I hire a car if I have points on my licence?

SIXT generally accepts licences with up to 6 penalty points. Acceptance depends on the endorsement code and whether you're a young driver. Some codes — particularly those for serious offences — will prevent you from hiring. As a guide:

• For certain non-severe offences (for example, SP30), drivers aged 24 and over may have a maximum of 2 offences totalling no more than 6 points in the past 4 years
• If you have more than 6 points, or a DD, DR, or BA endorsement within the past 5 years, you are not able to hire from SIXT

If you're unsure whether your licence is accepted, please contact our Reservations team before your hire. Full details are available on our Rental Information page.

Documents to bring when you collect your car

1. Full, valid driving licence for all named drivers — either a photocard licence, or the old-style paper licence (issued before 1998) accompanied by a separate photo ID. Licences printed in a non-Roman alphabet (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Cyrillic, and so on) must be accompanied by an International Driving Licence.
2. DVLA Check Code (Great Britain licences) — replaces the paper counterpart, which has not been valid since June 2015. See below for how to generate one. For licences issued in Northern Ireland, the paper counterpart is still required alongside the photocard.
3. Valid payment method in the name of the main driver. See the Rental Information page for accepted methods.
4. Proof of address — Great Britain residents: two proofs of address dated within the last 3 months. Non-Great Britain residents: a valid passport or national ID card.

How to get your DVLA Check Code

The DVLA Check Code replaces the old paper counterpart for licences issued in Great Britain. To generate one, visit the DVLA website and enter your:

• Driving licence number
• National Insurance (NI) number
• Home postcode

The code is valid for 21 days and can be viewed once before it expires. You can generate up to 5 codes within a 24-hour period. Present the code to the SIXT team member at the desk so they can check your driving entitlements and any endorsements.

If you arrive without a code, you'll be asked to generate one on your mobile or tablet. Alternatively, SIXT can contact the DVLA on your behalf, subject to a fee. If we're unable to obtain your details online, we may be able to verify them by telephone.

Do I need an International Driving Licence to hire abroad?

A Great Britain licence is generally accepted for hires within the EU without an International Permit. No additional translation is required for valid licences from EU and EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), or from the countries listed below. For full details on the hiring country's requirements, visit our Rental Information page.

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SIXT requires a minimum deposit of £300 on top of your hire cost — the exact amount and how it is handled depends on whether you pay by debit or credit card.

Paying by debit card

A minimum deposit of £300, plus the full hire cost and any additional charges, is required. This amount is debited from your bank account immediately and held until your hire agreement ends and all charges are settled.

Paying by credit card

A minimum approval of £300, plus the hire charges, is placed on your credit card. This shows as a pending transaction — the funds are not debited straight away. When you return the vehicle, the final amount is charged to your card and the approval is released.

What is the difference between a deposit and an approval?

• Deposit (debit card): funds are taken from your account immediately and returned after the hire is complete
• Approval (credit card): funds are ring-fenced as a pending transaction and released once the final charge is processed

How long does it take for funds to be returned?

The time varies depending on your bank. Please contact your bank directly if you have questions about the timescale.

Still need help? Find our contact options below.