I recently had a rental car experience with Sixt at Perth Airport, from August 3 to 6, 2025. Everything seemed fine when I returned the car in perfect condition. The guy who took the keys assured me that there were no issues, so I didn’t bother taking any photos. Little did I know, trouble was brewing.
Just as I was boarding my flight home at 8:15 PM, I received an email from Sixt confirming there was “No new damage.” I was relieved and thought everything was sorted. But, surprise surprise, an hour later, at 9:38 PM, I received another email from Sixt claiming that I had cracked the windscreen and slapped me with a hefty $1,744 bill. Talk about a buzzkill!
I immediately requested proof of the alleged damage. The photo they sent me was timestamped at 9:31 PM, after they had already confirmed that there was no damage. I smelled something fishy and decided to take action. Sixt kept pressuring me to pay up and even threatened “further action.” Not one to back down, I decided to stand my ground.
I took matters into my own hands and filed complaints with the WA Consumer Protection and AFIA, their industry body. I made sure to provide all the evidence I had — my boarding pass, the “no damage” email, the photo timestamps, and the rental agreement. It was a tedious back-and-forth process, but I was determined to prove my innocence.
After weeks of persistence and not giving in to their demands, AFIA informed me that Sixt had dropped the case entirely “in good faith.” I couldn’t believe it — I didn’t have to pay a single cent. It was a victory for standing up against unjust claims and not letting myself be bullied into submission.
From this experience, I learned some valuable lessons that I want to share with others. Always remember to take timestamped photos when picking up and returning a rental car. Keep your boarding pass handy, especially if you’re returning the car before catching a flight. And most importantly, don’t let yourself be intimidated or bullied into paying for damages you didn’t cause. Dispute it with legal authorities and Consumer Protection — persistence pays off!
So, next time you find yourself in a similar situation, remember my story and don’t hesitate to fight for your rights. Don’t let anyone push you around — stand your ground and keep pushing until you get the