Picking up a rental at PSA for weeklong stay in Chianti in June, and returning at FLR.
have heard mixed bag on Sixt in Italy. Any experiences with them (or others)
Always rent with primerentcar.com and it’s super smooth. Plus you get a nice car.
They always find some BS damage to claim in the car. I pay the extra $50 or whatever for full coverage and don’t worry about it. Other than that has always been smooth.
Personally I always use aggregator sites like Expedia.com. Exact company matters less and you have reviews from others which is a good indicator or possible pain.
The full visibility of coverage is also better and it’s often quite a bit more favorable then renting directly from one rental company.
We just rented with National in and out of FLR. No crazy scanners or BS physical checks.
PS: I always use Chase Sapphire Reserve to rent cars vs Amex because the CSR insurance is primary to my auto insurance. The difference is Amex is secondary to my auto insurance.
So, I really don’t care what they claim to find because it won’t cost me anything.
Which agency was this?
Sixt. Well I’m 1 for 2 but I’ve seen lots of reviews of the sort online.
Not sure if this is also the case with CSR, but I read that Amex Platinum’s car rental coverage is explicitly excluded from their coverage in the T&Cs. Something about Italian law and requiring the coverage to be purchased from the rental carrier
This is exactly the feedback I was seeing in the reviews. I guess if Sixt is my only option, I need to take their coverage
I usually rent from Sixt in Europe. I have Chase Sapphire Preferred, the $95 annual fee version, it is also primary (in case you don’t want to splurge for the Chase Sapphire, reserve). I’ve use them two or three times once for significant damage and while I don’t remember all the details I was made whole in spite of Sixt claiming rather large loss of use damages. It took a couple months to resolve, but I didn’t have to pay the bill from six and get reimbursed.
1 Like
As an Emerald Club and Presidents Circle member, I travel 20-30 weekends a year for work. I am absolutely positive that the part about CSR being primary is 100% the case. I have both cards and have had incidents while renting with both cards. The CSR was primary and took care of it. The Amex was not primary, and I needed to provide my auto policy to the rental agency to satisfy the Amex requirement.
Relevant to Sixt, here’s something surprising . If you purchase it from the tental carrier, Theft waiver is separate from collision damage waiver in Italy and are two separate add-ins. But the add-on for theft excludes Southern Italy ! Don’t know if this means your SOL, but as I’m going to Sicily this spring, glad to know it!
From Sixt’s web site:
YOUR COVERAGE OPTIONS FOR RENTAL CARS IN ITALY
COLLISION DAMAGE WAIVER, THEFT PROTECTION AND THIRD PARTY INSURANCE
In Italy, the collision damage waiver is highly recommended as it limits your liability for vehicle damage. Additionally, the theft waiver removes the driver’s responsibility in case of the vehicle being stolen, although southern Italy is excluded. You can top up this coverage with two available options to reduce your deductible amounts, and please keep in mind that the deductible amount is dependent upon your chosen vehicle category. Third party insurance is also included in Italy and gives you coverage for personal injury and property damage.
TIRE AND GLASS COVERAGE AND ROADSIDE PROTECTION
The tire and glass coverage protects you in case of any damage to these features. Roadside protection means that Sixt will incur costs that arise from a breakdown or other event. Coverage includes incidents like running out of fuel, locking a key in your vehicle, a dead battery, losing keys or a stuck vehicle. In the event of a breakdown, you will need to file a claim directly with Sixt’s roadside assistance and the cause of breakdown will need to fall under the scope of our coverage.
Rome square
LIMITATIONS OF COVERAGE
The transportation of dangerous goods will invalidate your third party insurance, as will driving intoxicated or allowing an unauthorized person to drive the vehicle. The amounts of deductibles depend on your vehicle categories, see a full list of these on the rental information on our website or ask at your branch. There are some territorial restrictions for traveling into other European countries that also depend on your vehicle category. Traveling outside of these areas will invalidate your insurances.
I used Sixt at Catania Airport last September 2025. Had no problems.
Staff at counter was helpful.
My Amex cards all exclude coverage in Italy. Chase Sapphire does not. You can obtain a letter of coverage from Chase.
I also learned it is helpful to have an International Drivers license. Rental companies do not require it. It is useful, however, if stopped by the police.
1 Like
I don’t think it has anything to do with Italian law. There are certain countries excluded by American Express platinum CDW coverage (Italy, New Zealand, Australia), even in the premium add on that you have to buy from Amex (basic is free).
Chase is now worldwide. You can get a letter of coverage easily (once you find it) online , under FAQs for the CSP (towards the bottom). In addition to saying it’s worldwide, it calls out 4 countries, but unfortunately Italy isn’t one of them. Doesn’t effect coverage but it would have been easier at the rental counter if specified.
From the letter that came instantly:
Rental Agency Representative:
This letter confirms the above named person is eligible for Auto Rental Coverage through their Chase credit card, ending in xxxx and is eligible for worldwide coverage. This includes the countries of the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Israel, and Jamaica.
1 Like
Visa automatically provides CDW when using their card.
You’ll need an International Drivers Permit too.
Visa’s normal CDW isn’t primary insurance. They will seek subrogation from your insurer, who will often hit you up for your deductible before paying the balance of the subrogated claim.
Barry & Mark - Thanks for your (as usual) very helpful info re Chase Sapphire Reserve/Visa insurance info. Barry - I just pdf’d that coverage letter, and it is very helpful. I do notice FWIW, that the coverage specifically excludes various vehicles, including those small utility vans, something I’ve been renting in Paris quite a bit over the past few years. Unrelated, do either of you know whether personal vs biz card affects coverage? (I once had a situation w/ Amex platinum saying well, the card is biz, the car rental was vacation, so NO coverage…)
Dave - I rent Sixt cars/trucks in France fairly regularly, and while I’ve never had an issue in Paris, in Dijon just this last November, I night-dropped the car back (with photos, & in perfect condition) after the Hospices de Beaune, before catching the train back to Paris, and they promptly contacted me claiming there was damage to the car… (there certainly was not). When I told them on the phone there was certainly no damage and I had photos of the car, I got a subsequent call in Paris saying, well, they had made a mistake and the car was fine…. (I’m not happy with this little event occurring, and will take precautions in the future…)
Theo
True but moot for outside US since all domestic auto insurance coverage is us only (maybe Canada too?, have to check my policy).
It is a huge difference in US CDW terms.
Correct, business card rentals must be used for business . I believe for personal it excludes cars regularly used in business, (not excluding one business meeting during a mostly personal trip) but I’d check the terms if it applies to you.
I’ve had Avis subtogate a claim for damage to an Italian or French/Swiss rental.