I’m Using Sixt Car Rental in 2020. Here’s Why.

Sixt, a European car rental company, has gained a lot of my business in this 2020 pandemic year… for one very good reason.

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Until 2020, I’d never rented a car from Sixt. You may have seen their orange and black signs at a few airports, but Americans would be forgiven for not knowing much about this car rental company.

What is Sixt?

Sixt is a German car rental brand that’s been around for more than one hundred years. And since its founding by Martin Sixt in 1912, the company remains a family business. Erich Sixt is the company’s current Chairman of the Board.

Sixt has locations in more than 105 countries, according to its website, but it lists locations in only 16 U.S. states.

Sixt is a global brand, but not a major U.S. brand. And yet, that is exactly why it’s been easy to choose Sixt for my car rentals during this 2020 pandemic year.

International Travel is Way Down

Since the coronavirus pandemic turned the world upside down, international travel has become a rare thing. Americans are restricted or banned from visiting most of the world, with just a small list of exceptions. Nor can Europeans, including residents of Great Britain and Ireland, visit the United States. Ireland has made travel so difficult for its residents that I’ve argued their restrictions have “jumped the shark.”

These restrictions on travel are making things difficult across all sectors of the travel industry. Car rentals are no exception. In the United States, Sixt faces a unique challenge. It has operated in the United States only since 2011 and is anything but a household name.

In addition, Sixt is continuing with its U.S. growth plans and recently acquired 10 new airport locations from the financially troubled Advantage Car Rental.

But for Sixt to be successful in the United States, they need customers. And the customers who know Sixt well… are in Europe.

Seeking Familiar Brands in Travel

It’s not uncommon to seek out what we know. With travel, that might mean an American books hotel rooms at Hilton or Marriott — both familiar names that we’re used to. Americans might stick with Hertz and Avis for car rentals, even when traveling globally.

But what Hertz represents to American travelers, Sixt represents to European travelers. For Sixt to grow in the United States, it only makes sense for them to build their presence in locations that Europeans — i.e., their main customers — visit regularly.

In a normal year, that’s a great strategy. They can count on a stream of European visitors to build up their U.S. business while they slowly work their way into the consciousness of American travelers.

Sixt Car Rentals Are Cheaper

But what happens when there are no European visitors?

The main reason I’m using Sixt for my car rentals in 2020 is price. Without Europeans traveling to the United States, Sixt has little choice but to fight for what little business exists. They need Americans to rent more cars from their U.S. locations, and they are offering some great deals.

In August, I’d planned a six-day rental from Avis. Total cost would have been $356 for a “Volkswagen Jetta or similar” vehicle. You know, a typical rental car.

But I kept looking around for a better deal and found Sixt. The cars at Sixt were available for much less than what any other American company was offering. In fact, prices were so low that I upgraded to a car in their “premium limousine” category and still spent less money.

I found the same result again in October. But this time I saved the money for a premium upgrade and instead rented a Subaru Legacy from Sixt. Still, a much nicer car than your typical rental.

Final Thoughts

I didn’t intend to make Sixt my car rental company of choice in 2020. I’d never used them before and had not looked at them closely. But their low prices and high-quality vehicles made Sixt an easy decision. I’m mostly a free agent in my car rental choices. I like National and Hertz, because both allow me to quickly hop in the car and go. But I don’t reliably rent from one company.

Sixt was a bit slower at check-out, in part because I’m not a member of their loyalty program. Sixt apparently has a loyalty program, but it’s geared to corporate customers and not widely promoted. Business customers can get a Sixt Express card that stores all their details and will speed them through the rental process.

Right now, I prefer Sixt over all the others. Their prices are currently among the lowest in the industry. Once international travel starts up again, I expect a Sixt car rental to get more expensive. But in my brief experience, the vehicles they provide are top-notch. That’s a great reason to continue renting from Sixt regardless.