Policy pack

Rental Terms & Conditions

1. About us and these terms

1.1 These terms apply to every vehicle rental from sixtrentcar, a trading name of SIXT RENT A CAR SL LTD, a company registered in England and Wales under company number 17561835, with its registered office at 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom, WC2H 9JQ ("we", "us", "our").

1.2 You can contact us on +44 7862 611228, by email at bookings@sixtrentcar.co.uk or by post at our registered office.

1.3 Your rental agreement is made up of these terms, the booking confirmation, the rental agreement you sign at pick-up (which records the vehicle, dates, condition and fuel level) and the policies these terms refer to. The booking confirmation records the price and services agreed before payment. Handover paperwork records the vehicle and its condition; it does not remove rights or add undisclosed charges. Any change to an agreed booking must be clearly explained and expressly agreed by you. Your statutory rights always apply.

1.4 Please read these terms carefully before you book. If you don't understand anything, please ask us.

2. Words we use

• "You" or the "hirer": the person named as the main driver on the booking, who signs the rental agreement.
• "Authorised driver": you, and any additional driver named on the rental agreement whom we have approved.
• "Vehicle": the car or van we rent to you, including its keys, documents, tyres, tools, accessories and any equipment we supply.
• "Rental period": the time from when you collect the vehicle (or we deliver it) until you return it and its keys in accordance with the agreed return instructions. A delayed inspection does not extend your rental or make you responsible for events after a proper return.
• "Rental day": each 24-hour period from the pick-up time.
• "Excess": the most you pay towards loss of or damage to the vehicle under the included cover, as set out in our Insurance & Protection policy.

3. Booking and when the contract starts

3.1 When you send a booking request through our website, by email, you are asking to rent a vehicle. Submitting a request does not reserve a vehicle or take payment. After checking availability and eligibility, we send you a written offer showing the total price, deposit, excess, collection arrangements and these terms. A contract is formed when you accept that offer and the agreed payment is received; we then send confirmation and a copy of the applicable terms by email for you to keep. If we cannot accept a payment already received, we refund it in full.

3.2 We confirm a vehicle category, not a particular make or model. If the category you booked isn't available, we will offer you a vehicle from the same or a higher category at no extra cost. If we can't, you can cancel for a full refund.

3.3 Please check your booking confirmation and tell us straight away if anything is wrong.

3.4 We may refuse a booking or a handover if the driver doesn't meet our Driver Requirements, can't produce the required documents, or appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If we refuse at handover for one of these reasons, our Cancellation & Refund Policy applies as if you had cancelled on the day.

4. Prices and payment

4.1 Prices are in pounds sterling and include all applicable taxes. The price shown on your booking confirmation is the price you pay for the vehicle, the rental period and the extras you chose.

4.2 The rental price includes third-party liability insurance, a collision damage waiver and theft protection (each subject to an excess), roadside breakdown assistance, and 250 miles per rental day.

4.3 You pay the full rental price when you book, by credit or debit card through our payment provider's secure payment page. We do not see or store your full card details.

4.4 Other charges can arise during or after your rental, for example for fuel, extra mileage, late return, damage, fines or cleaning. These are listed in the schedule of charges at the end of these terms. We will never charge you for anything not listed there or allowed under these terms, and we will always send you an itemised invoice explaining any charge.

4.5 A booking does not give us unlimited authority to charge your card. Any later card charge must be supported by your payment authorisation and the payment provider’s rules. We send an itemised explanation and supporting evidence before taking a disputed or damage-related payment, allow at least 14 days to respond, and pause collection of that charge while we review a timely dispute. We release any undisputed balance of the deposit promptly. See our Security Deposit & Damage Policy. You retain your rights to dispute a payment with your card issuer.

5. Security deposit

5.1 At pick-up we place a pre-authorisation for the security deposit for your vehicle category on a credit card in the main driver's name. The amount for each category is shown on our fleet page and in the Security Deposit & Damage Policy.

5.2 The deposit is not a payment. We release it after the vehicle has been returned and checked in, less any amounts you owe us under these terms, which we will explain to you in writing.

6. Who can drive

6.1 Only authorised drivers may drive the vehicle. Every authorised driver must meet our Driver Requirements, including the age limits (23–75) and holding a full, valid driving licence for at least 2 years.

6.2 You are responsible for making sure that only authorised drivers drive the vehicle. Allowing an unauthorised driver may result in liability for losses caused by that breach. This does not limit compulsory third-party insurance rights under applicable law.

7. Collection, delivery and handover

7.1 You can collect the vehicle from our branch during opening hours, or we can deliver it to an address in Greater London (inside the M25) for the delivery charge shown when you book.

7.2 At handover we will inspect the vehicle with you, record its condition, mileage and fuel or charge level on the rental agreement, and take date-stamped photographs. Please point out any damage we haven't recorded before you drive away.

7.3 We supply the vehicle roadworthy, clean, with a valid MOT (where needed), road tax and insurance, and serviced to the manufacturer's schedule.

7.4 Our Collection & Return Policy has more detail on collection, delivery and returns.

8. Using the vehicle

8.1 You must look after the vehicle, keep it locked when you're not using it, keep the keys safe, and use it only on public roads in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), unless we have agreed otherwise in writing.

8.2 You and every authorised driver must not:

• drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that affects your ability to drive;
• use the vehicle for hire or reward (for example as a taxi, for ride-hailing or for paid deliveries), unless we have agreed to this in writing for a business account;
• use the vehicle for any illegal purpose, for racing, rallying, speed tests or off-road driving, or to give driving lessons;
• tow anything, or carry more passengers or a heavier load than the vehicle is designed for;
• carry dangerous, flammable or illegal goods;
• smoke or vape in the vehicle, or carry animals other than assistance dogs, unless agreed in advance;
• take the vehicle outside the UK, onto a ferry or through the Channel Tunnel without our prior written permission;
• make any changes to the vehicle, or let anyone else repair it, without our permission;
• sublet the vehicle or let anyone else take possession of it.

8.3 You must check the vehicle's warning lights, and keep the tyres at the correct pressure, during the rental. If a warning light comes on, stop as soon as it is safe and use the assistance contact details supplied with your rental agreement.

9. Insurance and excess

9.1 The vehicle is insured for third-party liability as required by the Road Traffic Act 1988. The rental price also includes a collision damage waiver and theft protection. These limit what you pay if the vehicle is damaged or stolen to the excess for your vehicle category, as long as you have kept to these terms.

9.2 Some types of loss or damage are not covered, and you will be liable for their full cost. Our Insurance & Protection policy explains the cover, the excess, the exclusions and the optional Excess Reduction.

10. Accidents, breakdown and theft

10.1 If there is an accident, make sure everyone is safe, call the emergency services if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked, and use the accident-assistance contact details supplied with your rental agreement.

10.2 Don't admit liability. Collect the names, addresses, vehicle registrations and insurance details of everyone involved and any witnesses. Take photos if it's safe to do so. Report the accident to us in writing within 24 hours, and to the police where the law requires it.

10.3 If the vehicle breaks down, use the assistance contact details supplied with your rental agreement. Don't arrange repairs yourself. If the breakdown isn't caused by you, we will repair or replace the vehicle as soon as reasonably possible, or refund the unused rental days.

10.4 If the vehicle or its keys are lost or stolen, report it to the police straight away, get a crime reference number and tell us within 24 hours.

11. Fuel, charging, mileage and cleanliness

11.1 Return the vehicle with at least the same fuel or charge level recorded at pick-up. Use only the correct fuel for the vehicle.

11.2 Each rental day includes 250 miles, added up over the whole rental period. We charge £0.20 per mile above the total allowance.

11.3 Return the vehicle in a reasonably clean condition. Normal use is fine. We charge a valeting fee only if the vehicle needs specialist cleaning.

11.4 Our Collection & Return Policy sets out the related charges.

12. Congestion Charge, tolls and fines

12.1 During the rental period you are responsible for paying, on time, the London Congestion Charge, the Dartford Crossing charge, any other road user or toll charges, parking charges, and any fines or penalties incurred while the vehicle is in your care.

12.2 If we receive a penalty charge notice or fine, we may transfer liability to you as the hirer where the law allows it, and give your details to the issuing authority. Where we have to pay it, we will recharge you the amount paid plus an administration fee of £30 per notice.

12.3 Check the actual vehicle registration against the relevant charging-zone rules before travel. We will provide the registration and any known applicable vehicle charges before handover; no fleet-wide exemption is promised.

13. Returning the vehicle

13.1 Return the vehicle, with its keys and everything we supplied, to the agreed place by the date and time on your rental agreement. We will inspect it with you, if you are there, and take date-stamped photographs.

13.2 There is a 59-minute grace period. After that, we charge one extra rental day at your booking's daily rate for each rental day, or part of a day, that you are late. If you need to keep the vehicle longer, contact us before the end of your rental. We will extend it if the vehicle is available.

13.3 If you don't return the vehicle and don't contact us, we will try to reach you. After 24 hours we may report the vehicle to the police as stolen and recover it. You will be liable for our reasonable recovery costs.

14. Cancellation and changes

14.1 Our Cancellation & Refund Policy sets out how you can change or cancel a booking, and what refund you get.

14.2 Under regulation 28(1)(h) of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, the 14-day cancellation period does not apply to vehicle rental for specific dates. Our cancellation policy gives you a free cancellation right instead.

14.3 If we have to cancel your booking for a reason within our control, we will refund everything you have paid in full.

15. Damage and charges after the rental

15.1 You are responsible for loss of or damage to the vehicle during the rental period, up to the excess, or in full where an exclusion applies. Fair wear and tear is not damage.

15.2 Our Security Deposit & Damage Policy explains how we assess damage, provide evidence and estimates, take payment, and how you can challenge a charge.

16. Our responsibilities to you

16.1 We will provide our services with reasonable care and skill, as the Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires.

16.2 We are responsible for loss or damage you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breaking these terms or failing to use reasonable care and skill. We are not responsible for loss or damage that is not foreseeable, or for business losses (such as loss of profit) where you rent as a consumer.

16.3 Nothing in these terms limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud, or for anything else that cannot be limited by law. Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights.

16.4 We are not responsible for personal belongings left in the vehicle, unless the loss is caused by our negligence.

17. Your responsibilities

17.1 You are responsible for the vehicle during the rental period and for complying with these terms. You are also responsible for the acts of any authorised driver as if they were your own.

17.2 If you break these terms you will be responsible for our reasonable, foreseeable losses that result, subject to the agreed waiver and excess limits. We must take reasonable steps to minimise loss, deduct costs saved and third-party recoveries, and cannot recover twice for the same loss. A breach unrelated to the loss does not automatically remove your protection.

18. Ending the agreement early

18.1 We may end the rental and take the vehicle back if you seriously break these terms. This includes driving under the influence, allowing an unauthorised person to drive, or using the vehicle for an illegal purpose. We will refund unused rental days, less any amounts you owe us.

18.2 If you return the vehicle early, we will refund unused full rental days if we are able to re-rent the vehicle for those days. We also deduct costs saved from any amount retained and will not retain more than our reasonable net loss. This does not restrict remedies where we are at fault.

19. Your personal data

19.1 We use your personal data as described in our Privacy Policy, including to check driving licences, prevent fraud, and deal with accidents, claims and penalty notices.

20. Complaints

20.1 If you're unhappy with anything, please tell us. Our Complaints Procedure explains how we handle complaints and the options you have if we can't resolve yours.

21. General

21.1 We may transfer our rights and obligations only if your contractual rights and guarantees are not reduced, and will tell you beforehand. If a transfer would materially disadvantage you, you may cancel the unperformed part for a refund. You may not transfer your rights or obligations without our written consent.

21.2 If a court decides that any part of these terms is invalid, the rest will still apply.

21.3 If we don't enforce a right straight away, we can still enforce it later.

21.4 Only you and we have rights under these terms. Nobody else can enforce them under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

21.5 We may update these terms from time to time. The version supplied with and accepted for your booking applies throughout that rental. Later website changes do not retrospectively change your agreement.

22. Governing law

22.1 These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales. You can bring legal proceedings in the courts of England and Wales. If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can also bring proceedings there.

Schedule of charges

All amounts include applicable taxes. Daily rates, deposits and excess for each vehicle category are shown in the table at the end of this schedule.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

1. Scope

This policy applies to bookings made with sixtrentcar (SIXT RENT A CAR SL LTD) on our website, by email. It forms part of our Rental Terms & Conditions.

2. Your legal rights

Car rental for specific dates is exempt from the 14-day cancellation period under regulation 28(1)(h) of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. Instead, we give you the cancellation rights below, which are in addition to your statutory rights.

3. How to cancel

Email bookings@sixtrentcar.co.uk quoting your booking reference. Your cancellation takes effect at the time we receive your email. We will confirm your cancellation and refund amount by email.

4. What refund you get

Cancellation fees compensate for loss; they are not penalties. We take reasonable steps to re-rent the vehicle. No cancellation fee applies if we are responsible for being unable to supply the agreed rental, or if a refusal results from a requirement we did not disclose before you booked. A request withdrawn before contract formation carries no cancellation fee. All times are local UK time at the collection location.

5. Changing your booking

5.1 You can ask to change your dates, times, vehicle category or extras at any time before pick-up. Changes depend on availability.

5.2 If a change makes your booking more expensive, we will ask you to pay the difference before the change is confirmed. If it makes it cheaper and the change is made at least 48 hours before pick-up, we will refund the difference. Changes made less than 48 hours that reduce the rental length are treated as a partial cancellation under section 4.

6. Early returns and extensions

6.1 If you return the vehicle early, we will refund any unused full rental days if we are able to re-rent the vehicle for those days. We also refund costs saved and do not retain more than our reasonable net loss. Your remedies for our breach are unaffected.

6.2 To extend a rental, contact us before your return time. Extensions are charged at your booking's daily rate, if the vehicle is available.

7. If we cancel

7.1 If we cancel your booking, or cannot provide a vehicle in the booked category or a higher one, we will initiate a full refund within 2 working days; your card issuer usually takes 5 to 10 working days to credit your account.

7.2 If a vehicle breaks down during your rental through no fault of yours and we can't replace it, we will refund the unused rental days.

8. How refunds are paid

8.1 We refund to the card you paid with. We process refunds within 2 working days of the cancellation or of agreeing the refund. Your card issuer usually takes 5 to 10 working days to show the refund in your account.

If the original card has expired or been replaced, contact us so we can arrange a verified refund with our payment provider. We do not redirect refunds to an unrelated third party. These processing estimates do not extend a statutory refund deadline where one applies.

8.2 We do not charge any fee for processing a refund.

8.3 Security deposit holds are not payments. They are released, not refunded, as explained in our Security Deposit & Damage Policy.

9. Payment disputes

If you think you've been charged incorrectly, please contact us first at bookings@sixtrentcar.co.uk. We'll look into it and reply within 5 working days. This is usually the quickest way to put things right. Contacting us doesn't affect your right to raise a dispute with your card issuer.

Security Deposit & Damage Policy

1. Deposit amounts

The security deposit depends on the vehicle category:

2. How the deposit is taken

2.1 At pick-up we place a pre-authorisation for the deposit amount on a credit card in the main driver's name. Debit cards, prepaid cards and cash are not accepted for the deposit.

2.2 A pre-authorisation reserves the amount on your card, so it reduces your available credit, but no money is taken. We can only take money from the hold for amounts you owe under our Rental Terms & Conditions, subject to the notice, evidence, dispute and payment-authorisation safeguards in section 4.5 of those terms.

2.3 If the pre-authorisation fails, we can't release the vehicle. In that case our Cancellation & Refund Policy applies.

3. When the deposit is released

3.1 If the vehicle is returned on time, with the right fuel or charge level and no new damage, we release the full hold on the day of return, or the next working day.

3.2 If charges are due, for example fuel, extra mileage or late return, we send an itemised statement, follow the notice and dispute safeguards in section 4.5 of the Rental Terms, and release the undisputed remainder promptly.

3.3 If new damage needs to be assessed, we may retain only the existing authorised hold, no more than the deposit amount and the reasonably estimated loss until the assessment is complete, and for no longer than 14 days. If the assessment isn't finished by then, we release the hold and charge you separately if anything is owed.

3.4 After we release the hold, your card issuer usually takes 7 to 10 working days to make the funds available again. We can't speed this up, but we can send you confirmation of the release to show your bank.

4. Recording the vehicle's condition

4.1 At pick-up we go round the vehicle with you, mark existing damage on the rental agreement and take date-stamped photos. Please check the record and tell us about anything we've missed before you drive away.

4.2 At return we inspect the vehicle again, with you if you're there, and take date-stamped photos. If you return the vehicle outside opening hours, or we collect it from you, we inspect it as soon as we can and send you the photos if we find new damage.

5. Wear and tear

We don't charge for fair wear and tear from normal use, such as:

• light surface scratches that can be polished out, and stone chips under 3 mm that don't need paint;
• normal tyre wear;
• light marks on the interior from normal use.

Damage includes dents, scratches through the paint, scuffed or kerbed alloy wheels, cracked or chipped glass, torn or burnt upholstery, and damage to tyres other than normal wear.

6. How damage is charged

6.1 If we find new damage, we will send you, within 14 days of the return:

• the photos from pick-up and return showing the damage;
• an itemised repair estimate or invoice from an independent repairer, or our standard repair rates if the vehicle is repaired in-house;
• the amount we propose to charge.

6.2 What you pay is capped at the excess for your vehicle category, or at £250 if you bought Excess Reduction, including any damage handling fee of £50 within that cap, not in addition to it. If an exclusion in our Insurance & Protection policy applies, you may pay the full cost.

6.3 Where the damage is minor and we choose not to repair it straight away, we will charge only a fair amount for the reduced value of the vehicle, never more than the estimate for repair.

6.4 We may also charge reasonable loss of use for the days the vehicle can't be rented while being repaired. This is charged only for proven loss caused by you that falls outside the agreed waiver, after reasonable mitigation and deduction of costs saved. We provide the repair period and calculation, do not charge twice for the same period or loss, and do not remove the excess cap for an unrelated breach.

6.5 We charge damage only once. If a third party or their insurer pays us for the damage, we refund what you paid.

7. Challenging a charge

7.1 If you disagree with a damage charge, please reply to the email we sent within 14 days, explaining why. We allow at least that time before collecting a damage charge. Missing this response window does not remove your statutory rights or your right to challenge a charge later. Include any photos or evidence you have.

7.2 We will review the evidence and reply within 14 days. While we review it, we won't take any further payment for that charge. If we can't resolve the disagreement, you can use our Complaints Procedure.

Insurance & Protection

1. What's included

The collision damage waiver and theft protection are contractual waivers that we provide. They are not insurance policies. They limit what we can ask you to pay for loss of or damage to our vehicle.

2. Excess by vehicle category

Only one excess applies per incident. If damage is caused by a third party who is identified and whose insurer pays the claim, we refund any excess you have paid.

3. Excess Reduction (optional)

For £15 a day, Excess Reduction lowers your excess to £250 for each incident covered by the collision damage waiver or theft protection. You can add it when you book or at pick-up, but not after the rental has started. The exclusions in section 4 still apply.

4. What is not covered

The collision damage waiver, theft protection and Excess Reduction do not apply, and you may have to pay the full cost of loss or damage, if:

• the vehicle was driven by someone who is not an authorised driver;
• the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or was convicted of dangerous or careless driving in relation to the incident;
• the damage was caused deliberately or by gross negligence, for example leaving the vehicle unlocked or the keys inside it;
• the vehicle was used in breach of the prohibited uses in our Rental Terms, for example off-road, for racing, for towing or outside the UK without permission;
• the wrong fuel was used (misfuelling);
• the damage was to the roof, undercarriage or interior, or was caused by driving under a low bridge or barrier;
• tyres or wheels were damaged by kerbing or by driving on a flat tyre;
• keys were lost or damaged, or the vehicle was stolen without the keys being returned;
• the accident or theft was not reported to us within 24 hours, or to the police where required.

We apply exclusions only to loss caused by, or directly connected with, the relevant excluded event. A late report or missing key does not automatically remove protection where you could not reasonably comply and this did not cause or increase our loss. We explain and evidence any exclusion relied on. Nothing in these contractual waivers limits compulsory third-party insurance rights.

Personal belongings in the vehicle are not covered by our insurance. We recommend you check your own travel or home insurance.

5. Your own insurance

Some credit cards, travel policies and standalone excess insurance products cover rental excess. If you have one of these, you can choose not to buy Excess Reduction. You will then pay any excess to us first and claim it back from your own provider. We will give you the documents you need for your claim.

6. If something happens

Follow the steps in section 10 of our Rental Terms. Use the assistance contact details supplied with your rental agreement, and report any accident or theft to us within 24 hours.

Driver Requirements

1. Age

1.1 Every driver must be aged between 23 and 75 at the start of the rental.

1.2 Drivers aged 23 to 24 pay a young driver fee of £15 a day. They can't rent vehicles in the Premium Saloon category.

2. Driving licence

2.1 Every driver must have a full, valid driving licence for the type of vehicle, held for at least 2 years. Provisional licences are not accepted.

2.2 We accept a driver with up to 6 penalty points for minor offences. We don't accept a driver with a conviction in the last 5 years for drink or drug driving (DR codes), dangerous driving (DD), causing death or serious injury (CD), driving without insurance (IN) or driving while disqualified (BA), or a driver who has been disqualified in the last 5 years.

2.3 You must hold valid entitlement to drive and comply with any licence restrictions and DVLA/DVA reporting duties. Do not send us medical diagnoses; contact us if you need an accessibility adjustment or to clarify eligibility.

3. Documents to bring

Licences issued in Great Britain

• Your photocard driving licence.
• A DVLA check code, generated within 21 days before pick-up at gov.uk/view-driving-licence, which lets us check your entitlement and penalty points.
• Two proofs of your current home address, dated within the last 3 months, such as a utility bill, council tax bill or bank statement. Paper or PDF copies are fine. They must not be from the same source.
• A credit card in your name for the security deposit.

Licences issued in Northern Ireland

As above. Instead of a DVLA check code, we may ask to see your counterpart record or confirm your record with the DVA.

Licences issued outside the UK

• Your full driving licence and your passport.
• An International Driving Permit (IDP) if your licence is not in English or does not use the Latin alphabet.
• Proof of your home address, and the address where you are staying in the UK.
• A return travel ticket or proof of your UK stay may be requested.
• A credit card in your name for the security deposit.

Visitors can usually drive in Great Britain on a valid licence from their home country for up to 12 months from their last entry to the UK.

4. Additional drivers

Additional drivers must meet the same requirements, show their own documents at pick-up (or before an extension), and be named on the rental agreement. The additional driver fee is £10 a day per driver. Anyone not named on the agreement is not insured to drive.

5. Identity checks and refusals

5.1 We check documents to prevent fraud and to make sure drivers are insured. We may use an identity verification service, as explained in our Privacy Policy.

5.2 We may refuse a rental if documents are missing, out of date or inconsistent, or if a driver doesn't meet these requirements. Our Cancellation & Refund Policy explains what happens to your payment.

5.3 If you're unsure whether you meet these requirements, contact us before you book. We're happy to check.

Collection, Return, Fuel & Mileage

1. Collecting the vehicle

1.1 Collections are available from our branch at 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom, WC2H 9JQ during opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 18:00; Saturday, 09:00 to 16:00; Sunday, 10:00 to 14:00.

1.2 Please arrive at your booked time with the documents listed in our Driver Requirements. Allow about 20 minutes for the handover. If you're running late, email us at bookings@sixtrentcar.co.uk. We'll hold your vehicle for up to 2 hours after your booked time. After that, the booking may be treated as a no-show unless you have told us you are running late.

2. Delivery and collection service

2.1 We can deliver the vehicle to, and collect it from, any address in Greater London (inside the M25) for £25 each way. Delivery slots are in the opening hours above. Out-of-hours slots may be available on request.

2.2 The main driver must be at the address at the agreed time, with their documents, to complete the handover. If nobody is available, we'll wait for 30 minutes and then return the vehicle to the branch. You can rebook the delivery for a further delivery charge.

2.3 At a collection from your address, you must stay with the vehicle until our driver arrives and the return check is complete, unless we've agreed otherwise in writing.

3. Handover inspection

At pick-up and return we record the vehicle's condition, mileage and fuel or charge level, and take date-stamped photos. Our Security Deposit & Damage Policy explains how this is used.

4. Returning the vehicle

4.1 Return the vehicle to the agreed place by the date and time on your rental agreement, with its keys, documents and any equipment we supplied.

4.2 Grace period: you can return up to 59 minutes late at no charge.

4.3 Late returns: after the grace period, we charge one extra rental day at your booking's daily rate for each rental day, or part of one, that the vehicle is late. If another customer's booking is affected because you are late without telling us, we may also charge our reasonable costs of providing them with a replacement vehicle.

4.4 Extensions: email us before your return time. If the vehicle is available, we'll extend your rental at your daily rate and take payment for the extra days.

4.5 Out-of-hours returns: only by prior arrangement. Follow the agreed parking, locking and key-return instructions and keep evidence of the return time and condition. Your responsibility ends when you correctly complete those steps. We inspect at the next opening period and must establish that any charged damage occurred while the vehicle was your responsibility.

5. Fuel

5.1 Our fuel policy is full to full. Vehicles are supplied with a full tank and should be returned with a full tank. If we supply a vehicle with less than a full tank, the level is recorded on the rental agreement and you return it with the same level.

5.2 If the vehicle is returned with less fuel, we charge the cost of the missing fuel at the local pump price plus a refuelling service fee of £20. Please keep your fuel receipt from a filling station near the return location.

5.3 Only use the fuel type shown on the fuel cap. Misfuelling is not covered by the damage waiver, and you'll be charged the actual cost of draining and repairing the vehicle.

6. Electric vehicles

6.1 Electric vehicles are supplied with at least 80% charge, and the level is recorded at pick-up. Return the vehicle with at least the same charge level.

6.2 If the charge level is lower, we charge a recharge fee of £25. We supply a charging cable for public charge points. You pay for any public charging during the rental.

7. Mileage

7.1 Each rental day includes 250 miles, added up over the whole rental. For example, a 3-day rental includes 750 miles.

7.2 We charge £0.20 per mile above the total allowance, based on the odometer readings recorded at pick-up and return.

8. Cleanliness

8.1 Vehicles are cleaned inside and out before every rental. Please return the vehicle in a reasonably clean condition. Normal use is fine.

8.2 We charge a specialist valeting fee of £60 if the vehicle needs extra cleaning, for example because of excessive dirt, sand, pet hair or spillages. We charge £150 if there is evidence of smoking or vaping. We'll send photos with any cleaning charge.

9. Items left in the vehicle

Please check the vehicle before you return it. We'll keep any items we find for 30 days and contact you to arrange collection. We can post them to you at cost.

Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

SIXT RENT A CAR SL LTD (trading as sixtrentcar), company number 17561835, registered office 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom, WC2H 9JQ, is the controller of your personal data.

For any privacy question or request, contact us at privacy@sixtrentcar.co.uk or by post at our registered office, marked "Data Protection".

2. The data we collect

We obtain information directly from you, from a person making a booking for you, and where relevant from DVLA/DVA, insurers, payment services and authorities. We do not ask you to send medical diagnoses or full card details through our website or email. Before collecting criminal-offence information or health data, we must identify and document the applicable additional legal condition and safeguards, and explain the specific processing to you. A general contractual purpose alone does not authorise processing of that data.

3. How we use your data and our legal basis

Identity, contact and driving-entitlement information is necessary to assess and fulfil a rental; without it we may be unable to accept a booking. Marketing consent is optional and has no effect on rental eligibility. Where we rely on legitimate interests, you may object and ask us to explain our balancing assessment. We use human review for booking eligibility and disputed charges; this website does not make solely automated decisions with legal or similarly significant effects.

4. Who we share your data with

We share only what each recipient needs:

• Payment provider: processes card payments, deposit holds and refunds, and carries out fraud screening.
• Insurers and claims handlers: to provide cover and deal with accidents and claims.
• DVLA / DVA: to check driving licence records, using the check code you give us.
• Identity verification and fraud prevention services: to confirm your identity and prevent fraud.
• Police, local authorities, Transport for London and other enforcement bodies: where we are required to by law, or to transfer liability for penalty charges and fines to the hirer.
• Breakdown and repair providers: to help you during your rental.
• IT, email, hosting and booking system providers: who process data on our behalf under contract.
• Professional advisers (lawyers, accountants), and debt recovery agents where an amount owed is not paid.

We never sell your personal data.

5. International transfers

Some of our service providers may process data outside the UK. When they do, we make sure there is an adequacy decision or appropriate safeguards in place, such as the UK International Data Transfer Agreement or Addendum.

You can contact our privacy email to request details of the safeguards and a copy, subject to necessary redactions. Any vehicle tracking will be disclosed before handover, including its purpose and access arrangements.

6. How long we keep your data

• Rental agreements, invoices and payment records: 6 years after the end of the rental (tax and limitation periods).
• Copies of licences, ID and proof of address: 12 months after the end of the rental, unless needed for an open claim or penalty notice.
• Accident and claim records: 6 years after the claim is closed, or longer where an injury claim may still be brought.
• Telematics data: 90 days, unless needed for an incident or theft.
• Enquiries from people who don't book: 12 months.
• Marketing preferences: until you unsubscribe, and then a suppression record so we don't contact you again.

7. Your rights

Under UK data protection law you have the right to:

• get a copy of your personal data;
• have inaccurate data corrected;
• have your data deleted, where we don't need to keep it;
• restrict or object to how we use your data, including objecting to marketing at any time;
• receive your data in a portable format;
• withdraw consent where we rely on it.

To make a request, email privacy@sixtrentcar.co.uk. We normally respond within one month. Where a lawful extension or pause applies, we explain the reason and relevant deadline. We may ask for proportionate identity verification. Withdrawing consent does not affect processing already carried out lawfully. We don't charge a fee unless a request is clearly unfounded or excessive.

8. Security

We use encrypted connections (HTTPS) on our website, limit access to personal data to staff who need it, and require our service providers to keep data secure. Do not send full card numbers or security codes by email or through our enquiry forms. Payment processing arrangements and accepted methods are disclosed before payment.

9. Cookies and website data

Our website uses only the storage it needs to work. Our Cookie Policy has details. Our website loads its typeface from Google Fonts. When it does, Google receives your IP address, as with any website request.

10. Complaints

If you're unhappy with how we've handled your data, please contact us first. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office: ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint. You do not have to exhaust our complaints process before contacting the regulator.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy. The latest version is always on this page, with the date it was last updated.

Cookie Policy

1. What cookies are

Cookies are small files a website stores on your device. Similar technologies, such as your browser's local storage, work in a similar way. The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) require us to tell you what we use and to obtain consent unless a relevant legal exemption applies. This website currently uses only the preference storage described below.

2. What we use

We do not use advertising or tracking cookies. We use only the following:

Our payment provider may set its own strictly necessary cookies on its secure payment page, for security and fraud prevention. Our website loads its typeface from Google Fonts, which does not set cookies but does receive your IP address. See our Privacy Policy.

3. Optional cookies

We don't currently use analytics or marketing cookies. If we add any in future, we will update this policy and request a fresh, specific choice before activating any that require consent. A choice recorded today does not consent to future analytics or marketing technologies.

4. Managing your preferences

You can change your choice at any time. Select Cookie settings, which is also in the footer of every page. You can also delete or block cookies in your browser settings. If you block strictly necessary storage, some parts of the site may not work as expected.

5. Contact

Questions about this policy? Email privacy@sixtrentcar.co.uk.

Complaints Procedure

1. How to complain

• Phone: +44 7862 611228 during our published opening hours.
• Email: complaints@sixtrentcar.co.uk
• Post: Complaints, SIXT RENT A CAR SL LTD, 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom, WC2H 9JQ

Please include your name, booking reference, what went wrong and what you'd like us to do. Include any photos or documents that help.

2. What happens next

1. Acknowledgement: we'll confirm we've received your complaint within 2 working days and tell you who is handling it.
2. Investigation: we'll review the rental records, photos and any evidence you send, and may ask you for more information.
3. Response: we'll send you a full written response within 14 days. If we need longer, for example because we're waiting for a repairer's report, we'll tell you why and when to expect an answer, which will be no later than 8 weeks after you complained.

While we investigate a complaint about a charge, we won't take any further payment for that charge.

3. If you're not satisfied

3.1 You can ask for your complaint to be reviewed by a company director, who will reply within 14 days.

3.2 If we still can't resolve your complaint, you can refer it to an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider. Our final response will identify an appropriate available ADR body and its website where required, and explain whether we are obliged or willing to participate. We do not claim membership of a trade association or ADR scheme unless confirmed.

3.3 You can also get free advice from the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133, and you have the right to take your claim to court. For claims of up to £10,000 in England and Wales, the small claims track is available.

3.4 For complaints about how we use your personal data, you can also contact the Information Commissioner's Office. See our Privacy Policy.

4. Card payment disputes

If your complaint is about a card payment, contacting us first is usually the quickest way to fix it. It doesn't affect your right to raise a dispute with your card issuer.