SIXT Rent a Car San Diego Int Airport — Local services in San Diego

Be careful!

I rented a Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5 from here and drove to Los Angeles. Around 3:00 PM, I parked the car at Venice Beach, Los Angeles. When I returned to the around 4:30 PM and tried to start it, the car didn’t respond at all. Even the remote key fob didn’t work. I called customer service and explained that the car wasn’t starting and that none of the electrical systems, including the door locks, were functioning. I then had a 35-minute phone call with customer service, during which they suggested it might be a battery issue and said they would send roadside assistance. They asked for my address and location.

We waited in the car for half an hour. When I opened the car’s hood, I noticed that the battery was not properly secured in its place and realized there was a fundamental safety issue with the vehicle. When I touched the battery cover, the car regained power. I understood that the battery cover was not fastened as it should have been, and the issue stemmed from this. What if it's disconnected while I was driving??? I then realized I had traveled the entire San Diego–Los Angeles route with an unsafe, poorly maintained car.

I told customer service that it was not safe to travel in this car and that I wanted to replace it. I also requested to file a complaint form. But that wasn’t the only issue with the car. Two of the seven seat belts were not functioning, and since it was raining, I had to use the windshield wipers. The wipers had not been replaced when needed, were old, and didn’t provide clear visibility.

Once the car started, I parked it in a safer location and then drove to the Sixt center at Los Angeles Airport. I am not foolish enough to risk my entire passengers life by driving an unsafe, neglected vehicle from Los Angeles back to San Diego. At the airport, I explained the problem. They acted as if this was a completely normal issue and said they would replace the car. They gave me a Mazda.

When I drove the new car out of the covered garage, it was raining, so I turned on the wipers. Oh my god! One of the wipers on this car wasn’t working either. I assume I’ll be receiving another complaint form about this soon(!). I had to replace this car as well. They gave me a Chevrolet, and I finally drove back from Los Angeles to San Diego in this car.

It was a nightmare experience. I will never, ever rent a car from your company again. I am truly amazed at your audacity to rent out unsafe, poorly maintained cars to customers and then try to shift your responsibilities onto them by blaming them for the issues.

Sixt sent me a form stating that they found a problem with the vehicle and that I was responsible for the damage. Kidding? That was the reason why I...

*I've added a star because SIXT offered to refund the insurance I didn't want/need and no other company had tried to resolve an issue for me this way. The rest remains true.

I was hoping SIXT wouldn't live up to its terrible reputation, but when I had to rent here because I used a service that assigned it to me at random, it certainly did.

Upon picking up the car at the SIXT in the San Diego Airport, I asked the agent if I could use my own insurance and he said yes. Then, when I took out my credit card for the hold, I noticed the screen showed $554.60, so I asked what I was paying for and he said "It's just the hold." It turns out he forced me to pay for additional insurance.

He also told me the car I'd be renting was a BMW, but when I picked up the keys at the garage kiosk, I was given a Genesis G80.

Finally, it makes no sense that this company asks for a signature on a blank screen for the rental agreement and you only get it emailed thereafter. Once I received mine (after I'd left the rental garage) I noticed the damages noted on it were far less than what the car actually had, so I called SIXT to ask for other dents and scratches to be added. When I called, the rep said to also tell someone at SIXT upon drop-off, so I did. The woman who helped me then asked if it was my first time renting there and I said yes, so she suggested next time I tell an agent to check for damages with me before leaving the garage. I understand the implication, but overall, it seems like a burden on customers to have to do this so they won't be blamed or charged further. When I've rented with Hertz, agents usually check for existing damage on their own or it's already correctly noted in the rental agreement. Why does SIXT ask you to do their work for them?

Later I realized that SIXT has been sued in a class action before, for charging customers for damages that they didn't cause. As a result, I'd just rather not...

It’s really unfortunate that I have to write there to review because I had high hopes the management team would be able to fix their mistakes unfortunately I was wrong. To make it plain and simple. I put my credit card down for the hold of the reservation and was told that when I come to return the car, then I can switch out my credit card with a debit card to pay for the reservation and the entire hold and charged my credit card would be credited back to my card and my debit card would be used in place for the final charges. I shared with the management team, Oliver and with the front desk associate Justin how imperative it was that I did not want to be charged on my credit card. And I was reassured over and over again by both people this would not happen. Oliver and I even managed to go over my invoice just to verify exactly what would happen and the charges I left feeling like there was no way they could get it wrong. Come to find out two days later all the charges have been finalized on both of my accounts. Sure enough my credit card was charged and my debit card was issued a refund. Not only did I feel like it was a waste of my time to express what I needed and I felt like I was heard, but I feel like I was completely disregarded. I actually believe when I dropped off the car Justin, who checked me out by mistake charged my credit card and knew he had made the mistake and didn’t want to own up to it so he refrain from saying anything and just referred me to the manager. And instead of the manager, owning up to it as well he just reassured me that all the charges will settle where they need to. I also wanna mention if you’re using a debit card and you don’t want to use your credit card for any reservations go to the SIXT location downtown at the Continental. Jessy, the manager there will hook you up and take care of you with ease. Also, the prices are cheaper if you are a resident in...