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.
\n\nHow long must I have held my licence?
\nAll drivers — including any additional drivers — must have held a full, valid driving licence for a minimum of 12 months.
\n\nMinimum age and vehicle category rules
\nThe following rules apply for hires in Great Britain:
\nCan I hire a car if I have points on my licence?
\nSIXT 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:
\nIf 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.
\n\nDocuments to bring when you collect your car
\nHow to get your DVLA Check Code
\nThe DVLA Check Code replaces the old paper counterpart for licences issued in Great Britain. To generate one, visit the DVLA website and enter your:
\nThe 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.
\nIf 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.
\n\nDo I need an International Driving Licence to hire abroad?
\nA 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.
\n\n| Albania | \nAndorra | \nArmenia | \nAzerbaijan | \n
| Ethiopia | \nBahamas | \nBahrain | \nBelarus | \n
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | \nBrazil | \nCôte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | \nGeorgia | \n
| Guyana | \nHonduras | \nHong Kong | \nIsrael | \n
| Kazakhstan | \nCape Verde | \nQatar | \nKenya | \n
| Kyrgyzstan | \nCongo (Kinshasa) | \nCuba | \nKuwait | \n
| Liberia | \nMorocco | \nMoldova | \nMonaco | \n
| Mongolia | \nMontenegro | \nMyanmar | \nNew Zealand | \n
| Niger | \nNigeria | \nNorth Macedonia | \nOman | \n
| Pakistan | \nPeru | \nPhilippines | \nRussia | \n
| San Marino | \nSaudi Arabia | \nSwitzerland | \nSenegal | \n
| Serbia | \nSeychelles | \nZimbabwe | \nSouth Africa | \n
| Tajikistan | \nThailand | \nTunisia | \nTurkey | \n
| Turkmenistan | \nUkraine | \nUruguay | \nUzbekistan | \n
| United Arab Emirates | \nGreat Britain (including Gibraltar, Guernsey, and Jersey) | \nVietnam | \nCentral African Republic | \n
Still need help? Find our contact options below.
"},{"text":"How much deposit do I need to pay for a SIXT hire car?","href":"/plus/help-center/articles/deposits-and-approvals/","articleId":"199","content":"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.
\n\nPaying by debit card
\nA 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.
\n\nPaying by credit card
\nA 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.
\n\nWhat is the difference between a deposit and an approval?
\nHow long does it take for funds to be returned?
\nThe time varies depending on your bank. Please contact your bank directly if you have questions about the timescale.
\n\nStill need help? Find our contact options below.
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