When renting a car for your next trip or vacation, two major national rental companies you’re likely to encounter are Alamo and Sixt. But if you’re trying to decide between Alamo vs Sixt, how do you choose?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare Alamo and Sixt on key factors like pricing, vehicle selection, locations, rewards programs and customer service.
By seeing how Alamo and Sixt stack up, you can determine which rental car provider is a better fit for your specific needs.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Alamo | Sixt |
| Locations | 1,200+ locations across North America | 100+ locations, mainly airports |
| Fleet | Economy to full-size vehicles from major brands | Luxury, sports, and convertibles from premium brands |
| Pricing | Affordable rates for basic rentals | Higher everyday pricing, deals on exotic cars |
| Rewards Program | Standard point-based loyalty program | Perks focused program with free and paid tiers |
| Customer Service | Efficient but can feel pressured into add-ons | Luxury experience with focus on high-end service |
| Best For | Large network, affordable prices | Access to exotic luxury and sports cars |
Overview of Alamo
Alamo Rent a Car was founded in 1974 in Florida and today is one of the largest rental car providers in the United States. Headquartered in Missouri, Alamo operates over 1,200 locations worldwide.
Alamo is owned by Enterprise Holdings, which also owns Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental. As part of this large corporation, Alamo has the size and scope to offer widespread availability along with low rental rates.
Alamo prides itself on offering a fast rental experience with great customer service. Their fleet includes a range of compact sedans up to full-size SUVs and vans from major brands like Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota and more.
Key Pros
- Large nationwide network of convenient locations
- Often lower prices than competitors
- Straightforward reservation process
- Popular loyalty program for frequent renters
Potential Cons
- Vehicles may have more miles and wear & tear
- Add-on fees can increase final pricing
- Limited exotic/luxury car selection
Also Read: Comparison Between Sixt and Turo
Overview of Sixt
Founded in Germany in 1912, Sixt has grown into one of the largest luxury car rental companies in the world. Sixt operates over 2,200 rental locations in over 100 countries.
While Sixt started in Europe, it has been aggressively expanding in the United States and Canada since 2011. Sixt focuses on high-end luxury and sports cars like BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and Porsche. However, they do offer standard economy cars too.
Sixt aims to deliver a best-in-class rental experience from the vehicle selection to the customer service. As a German company, their reputation is for precision, technology, and attention to detail.
Key Pros
- Large selection of luxury, sports, and convertible cars
- Focus on high-quality vehicles from premium brands
- App-based rental process for speed and convenience
- Competitive prices on exotic car rentals
Potential Cons:
- Limited domestic U.S. locations compared to Alamo
- No widespread loyalty program for frequent renters
- Add-on fees and deposits can increase pricing
Comparison Between Alamo And Sixt
Location Availability
One of the most important aspects of choosing a rental car company is whether they have convenient pickup and dropoff locations in the areas you need.
Alamo maintains an expansive network of branches across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, and parts of Europe. As part of Enterprise Holdings, Alamo can leverage thousands of regional Enterprise locations when needed to ensure widespread coverage.
Sixt has around 100 U.S. and Canada locations concentrated in major airports and urban areas like Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and more.
However, their geographic footprint is much smaller than Alamo’s. Sixt focuses heavily on downtown branches in Europe where they dominate the upscale rental market.
Winner: Alamo offers vastly more rental locations across North America giving them the advantage for domestic travelers. Sixt is positioned better for European rentals focused on luxury vehicles.
Vehicle Options and Selection
Another key differentiator between Alamo and Sixt is the types of vehicles available.
The Alamo fleet includes everything from subcompact cars to full-size SUVs and 15-passenger vans from brands like Toyota, Nissan, Ford, and Chevrolet. However, they have limited options for luxury or sports cars outside of Cadillac. You’ll find mainly high-mileage, standard vehicles.
Sixt shines when it comes to premium vehicle selection. They offer an extensive range of luxury sedans, sports cars, convertibles, and SUVs from marques like Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Jaguar, and Land Rover. Sixt also offers economy cars, but caters heavily towards high-end brands.
If you just need an affordable, standard rental vehicle, Alamo can serve that need. But Sixt truly excels for exotic, luxury, sports, and convertible rentals you won’t find at other companies.
Also Read: Differences Between Alamo And Thrifty.
Rewards Programs Comparison
Both Alamo and Sixt offer rewards programs for frequent renters, but there are major differences in the details.
Alamo’s program is called Alamo Insiders. You earn 10% of your base rental cost back in credits for future rentals. Status tiers provide bonus earnings, expedited service, and free upgrades. It’s a standard rental car loyalty program similar to most competitors.
Sixt has two membership tiers. The basic Sixt Express level is free and allows you to bypass the counter and go straight to choosing your vehicle.
The premium Sixt Unlimited program for €249 annually provides additional benefits like unlimited skips of rental lines, guaranteed upgrades, and more.
Sixt’s program focuses on an enhanced, expedited rental experience rather than accumulating points or miles. Alamo’s loyalty program follows a more traditional structure used by most rental car companies. For the most generous benefits, Sixt has the advantage.
Average Cost and Discounts
Pricing is sure to be a major factor as you compare Alamo and Sixt. Here’s an overview of how the two companies price rentals:
In general, Alamo offers lower costs for basic economy and midsize car rentals, especially when booked in advance online. Their prices are competitive with leading budget brands like Dollar or Budget. Add-on fees can bring the total price up considerably however.
Sixt advertises premium vehicles at affordable rates, though their everyday pricing is higher than Alamo for the same type of basic car. Yet Sixt really shines for exotic car rentals – their rates for luxury vehicles can be hundreds less per day than high-end competitors.
Both companies offer discounts like member pricing, weekend specials, and prepaid plans. Alamo has more variable pricing while Sixt promotions emphasize fixed-rate prepaid packages.
For routine affordable rentals, Alamo usually has the cheaper starting prices. For luxurious aspirational cars, Sixt offers huge savings versus other luxury rental companies.
Customer Service Reputation
Providing quality customer service is a key priority for any rental car brand. Here is how Alamo and Sixt compare when it comes to serving customers:
Alamo prides itself on fast, convenient airport rentals aided by their focus on technology like frictionless electronic payments and online check-ins. However, some reviewers complain of feeling pressured into unnecessary add-ons or upgrades at pickup.
Sixt earns consistent praise for going the extra mile at their premium airport branches. Their Luxury Lounge and services cater to high-end clientele. Sixt aims to make every customer feel like a VIP. They put focus on the overall rental experience versus just efficiency.
Based on customer feedback, Sixt rates higher in terms of service experience. Alamo provides competent service, but Sixt does a better job exceeding expectations and making renters feel valued.
Also Read: Differences Between Europcar And Sixt.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes, Alamo is one of the best car rental companies due to their widespread locations, affordable pricing, streamlined reservations, and a large fleet of vehicles to choose from. They are a great option for basic, no-frills rentals.
Alamo and Enterprise are both owned by Enterprise Holdings, so they are comparable brands. Overall, Enterprise may be slightly better for customer service while Alamo offers faster airport rentals. Pricing and vehicle options are similar. It’s a close matchup.
No, Sixt is not owned by Avis. Sixt is a German-based international luxury and sports car rental company with operations around the world. Avis Budget Group owns the Avis, Budget, and Payless brands.
Alamo and Enterprise are sister companies under the same parent corporation, Enterprise Holdings. While they share some corporate overlap, Alamo and Enterprise operate as distinct brands with separate offerings. Enterprise focuses more on the insurance replacement market.
The Verdict
So when weighing all the key factors that matter for renting a car, how do Alamo and Sixt compare?
Here is a quick breakdown of our verdict:
Alamo Pros
- Far more locations across North America
- Affordable pricing for basic economy car rentals
- Easy reservations with quick airport pickup
Sixt Pros
- Extensive fleet of luxury, sports, and convertible vehicles
- First-class service experience befitting their luxury image
- Competitive exotic car rental pricing and packages
For most routine, standard car rentals focused on price and availability, Alamo is the best choice. Their huge network of locations and reasonable rates on basic vehicles give them a clear advantage.
However, if you desire access to premium luxury cars like Mercedes, BMW and Porsche or sporty convertibles unavailable elsewhere, then Sixt is by far the winner. Their inventory of exotic vehicles combined with a luxury-focused customer experience make them hard to beat for renting an aspirational, high-end vehicle.
The bottom line? Choose Alamo for everyday affordable rentals. Go with Sixt next time you want to experience the thrill of cruising around in a convertible Mustang or luxurious Range Rover without the huge long-term costs.
Either way, you really can’t go wrong with these industry leading rental car companies.