Sixt vs Auto Europe?

Sixt is fine. AE is just a consolidator. But I wouldn't start with either.

Use something like Kayak and go with the best deal. Filter the apparent best deal by steering clear of all consolidators (Holiday Autos is abysmal, don't ever use them) unless a consolidator is way above everybody else when you get to the absolute bottom line.

The problem with consolidators is that you have to pay them up front. When you hit the counter and they don't have what you want, your money's already tied up and you have no leverage to walk over to the next counter and get them to match the deal.

We've rented from both. We have always had a good experience with Sixt and every experience except one with Auto Europe was good. But since Auto Europe just sells the big rental companies - Avis, Hertz, etc - we can't hold it against Auto Europe. We just booked our rental car for a trip this fall and in the end our decision was based on which company had the best rate.

Hi Becky- There have been some real "horror stories" about rental cars posted on this site that you might want to look up, especially about Sixt. But I have never heard any complaints about a company in the US at www.Gemut.com . They are available to help if you have a problem from start to finish. I have used them several times- check their prices ...

Have a great trip!!!

Just a note about GEMUT - we recently rented through Gemut.com and while the experience was fine (good price, straight-forward to deal with and no issues) they use the same consolidators already mentioned.

So even though the reservation was made through Gemut.com the car was reserved through Auto Europe and was actually delivered using an AVIS rental location.

Gemut is a hand-holder for a very simple operation. It also takes too much time if you deal with them - - you go back and forth with this and that, make calls to deal with good old what's-his-name, check to see that they indeed have the best price, finalize the deal . . . . . And after all of that, they're just one more middleman.

AE is a consolidator. The problem with them, and all others of their ilk, is that you have to chunk your money down up front. If whomever they foist you off upon doesn't have what you ordered when you show up at the counter, you've lost your leverage to walk over to the next counter and get them to match the quote - - which they just about always will.

There have been some real "horror stories" about rental cars posted on this site . . . . I'd bet that I read every car rental post on the forums and then only bad stories I've seen (except the recent bad gas deal which is impossible to decipher) involves somebody who didn't know what they were doing or didn't read the fine print. I'm probably the only one that's knocked Sixt - - and the only reason I have is that they don't always have the small cheapos that I like - - the gratuitous upgrade to something larger just won't work for squishing into some of the places I go.

I don't know how many cars I rent during a year - - internationally, it's around a dozen, maybe ten in a slow year. Prices vary by season - - rent one now for next March or rent it the day before you go and for a given date in a given area it's going to have close to the same price and could vary in either direction. The only thing you need to avoid is a walk-up. Standing on the other side of the room from the counter and making the reservation on the internet works,.

The process is so stinking simple and takes so little time that my general practice is to do it at the departure gate when there's no good-looking chicks to eyeball. I've also done it on the roll, during inbound taxi, and (as mentioned) within sight of the counter. I seem to like Kayak but CarRentals works almost as well. With no personal information preloaded on the sites, the process takes less than five minutes.

There are complaints on the web about Sixt, as well as Europcar. And Hertz. And Avis. And virtually every company out there, including the consolidators. Don't discard the complaints entirely, but take them with a grain of salt. They represent only a tiny sliver of the thousands of auto rentals a day in Europe. Satisfied customers don't complain. True, there are some bottom feeders on the margins in the auto rental market, but the major players do a pretty good job overall.

It looks like Ed posted while I was working on my comment. He said it better.

I've only rented from Sixt once and I was very happy with them. I actually booked and prepaid though Orbitz for a better price than direct.

Hi,

We've also used www.gemut.com for our last 4 trips. They are a "hand holder" only if you need one. On our 4 trips using them, they had the best price. Never had a "back and forth" with Andy Bestor. I emailed him, got a quote, ok'd it and paid. IF your trip is cancelled, your money is refunded. Happened to us this year. Another thing, last Nov. we were charged twice (once up front and when we got the bill) for winter tires for our car in Munich. Just one email to Mr. Bestor and it was refunded. Took me about 2 minutes to write the email. This had to be less of my time spent than dealing with the rental company itself.

Paul

Thanks so much for all the info. It's ridiculous how expensive it is to get a GPS and have an extra driver, but my husband and I both want to drive. Gotta drive on the Autobahn in Germany, and I don't feel comfortable without a GPS. I'm leaving tomorrow for the trip but won't get the car until the 11th. Hoping all goes well!