As of April 2025, Sixt Rent a Car is confronting multiple legal actions in the United States, including class action lawsuits concerning unauthorized charges and a significant data breach.
Allegations of Unauthorized Charges
In August 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit reversed a previous summary judgment in favor of Sixt, allowing a class action lawsuit to proceed. The plaintiffs allege that Sixt charged customers for vehicle damages not covered under their rental agreements. The court determined that Sixts terms and conditions were incorporated into customer agreements under the laws of Arizona, Florida, and Colorado, thus enabling the breach of contract claims to move forward. citeturn0search1turn0search3
Data Breach and Privacy Concerns
In 2022, Sixt experienced a cyberattack that compromised sensitive personal information of thousands of current and former employees. The breach occurred between April 27 and May 1, 2022, but Sixt did not discover the compromise until June 2 and began notifying affected individuals on July 6. The compromised data included names, dates of birth, healthrelated information, and various identification numbers. A class action lawsuit filed in August 2022 alleges that Sixt stored this sensitive data in a reckless manner, leaving it vulnerable to cyberattacks. citeturn0search2turn0search6
Consumer Complaints and International Scrutiny
Beyond the U.S., Sixt has faced criticism in Europe. In Italy, consumer associations have initiated legal actions against Sixt, alleging abusive clauses in rental agreements and unfair fees imposed on consumers. citeturn0search9
In the U.S., consumers have reported issues such as being charged for damages they did not cause, excessive fees, and poor customer service. Some customers have taken to platforms like Change.org to petition for investigations into Sixts practices. citeturn0search5turn0search8
Conclusion
Sixt Rent a Car is currently navigating a series of legal challenges related to its billing practices and data security measures. The outcomes of these cases may have significant implications for the companys operations and customer trust.