When you rent with SIXT, a minimum deposit of $200 plus the rental amount is held on your payment method as a security authorization — funds are released once the rental is complete.
How much is the deposit?
A minimum of $200 plus the total rental amount is held on your payment method. For high-value vehicles, the hold may be higher. These funds won't be available to you during the rental.
For rentals in Canada, see the Rental Information for applicable conditions.
Note: Depending on your bank, the amount may not be immediately debited — it may instead appear as a pending hold on your account until the final rental charge is processed. When you return the vehicle, the invoiced amount is charged to the credit card on file, unless you present another form of payment at that time.
How long does it take for the deposit to be released?
Please allow up to 10 business days after your rental ends for the funds to clear and become available in your account.
What's the difference between an approval and a deposit?
An approval (also called an authorization) is a hold placed on your credit card — it may be used as the deposit. It shows as a pending amount on your card until the rental is completed. Once you return the vehicle, the authorization is released and the final rental charge is applied.
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To rent with SIXT, you'll need a valid, original, and legible driver's license that covers the full rental period — digital licenses, photocopies, Learner's Permits, and licenses with breathalyzer restrictions are not accepted.
License requirements
Age requirements
International driver's licenses
If your license is not in a Roman alphabet — for example, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic — you must present an international driver's license or an official translation alongside your original license. If your country is not part of the international driver's license treaty, an official translation is required. SIXT can assist Chinese customers with translations via the SIXT WeChat Account. Any valid translation must always be presented together with the original license.
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Your SIXT+ car subscription has a few straightforward rules around additional drivers, smoking, and pets — here's what you need to know before you drive.
Additional drivers
You can add drivers to your SIXT+ car subscription during your subscription configuration. An additional driver fee applies per driver to make sure your chosen protection option covers them too. Both the primary driver and any additional driver must be present together at the SIXT location when the driver is added to the contract. If the additional driver isn't there at the same time, we're unable to add them.
You can also register an additional driver at any SIXT station in the US at a later date. Note: if an unregistered driver is involved in an accident, claims may be rejected.
Smoking
SIXT operates a 100% smoke-free fleet across the US. All forms of smoking — cigarettes, cigars, and pipes — are prohibited in every SIXT vehicle. If a car is returned smelling of smoke, an additional cleaning charge will apply.
Pets
Pets are welcome in your SIXT+ car. Just return the vehicle clean and free of pet hair to avoid cleaning and detailing fees.
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