FINN vs. Sixt: Which Should You Get a Car From?

FINN launched in Munich, Germany in 2019 and following its European success expanded into the U.S. in 2022 as the “better way to drive”.

The company wanted to make procuring a car just like any other retail experience, introducing a unique online subscription model that includes “everything except for fuel”. Greater flexibility, maintenance, roadside assistance, and insurance for around the same price as a lease. 

Unlike some other so-called subscription companies, FINN specializes only in car subscriptions. Communities of car subscribers have appeared in many states in the northeast, including New York, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Virginia, and most of New England. The growth rate in the U.S. is now twice as fast as in Germany, with over 4,000 cars, trucks, and SUVs projected for its U.S. fleet by the end of 2023. 

FINN is, in many ways, the “new guy on the block” but this has helped it remain nimble in a competitive space. As an indication of its progressive stance and commitment to “sustainable mobility”, 30 percent of its global fleet are fully electric vehicles while another 20 percent are plug-in hybrid vehicles. FINN will continue to introduce new ideas and digitalization features to its car subscription model in the U.S. as the market matures. 

Sixt is a veteran of the worldwide automotive industry, created when Martin Sixt founded the company with three vehicles in Munich, Germany in 1912. The company has been known as an innovator for more than a century, introducing the first radio cabs in Europe, rental cars at airports in Germany and one of the first European car leasing companies.

So, it’s no surprise to see Sixt also at the forefront of the innovative car subscription model introduced to the US in recent years. With its US headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Sixt bills itself as “the better way of owning a car”.

One of the main focuses of the modern-day Sixt company is its new sustainability program. The company has been electrifying its fleet of cars in recent years and its premium fleet features many of the latest models of practical compact cars up to roomy, luxurious SUVs. While there is a heavy German auto manufacturer presence in its fleet (BMW is very prominent), it also offers a range of more affordable Japanese models as well as US favorites like Chevrolet.

How easy is it to arrange a subscription with these companies?

To book a subscription with FINN, you’ll need to:

• Be at least 25 years of age
• Have a valid US driver’s license you’ve held for at least two years
• Have a credit score of at least 640
• Have a good driving record

With Sixt, you’ll need to:

• Be at least 21 years of age (except in New York, where you need to be at least 18)
• Have a valid US driver’s license or (as an international driver) a valid passport

Anyone under the age of 25 with Sixt must pay a young driver fee and can only rent an economy, sedan or SUV vehicle.

With FINN, no deposit is necessary if you have a credit score of at least 680 (FICO 9). For drivers with a credit score of 640-679 (FICO 9), the deposit is equal to the cost of two months subscription.

Sixt doesn’t check your credit score but there is a minimum deposit of $200 and rental fees are paid upfront.

Both FINN and Sixt operate an online booking model for car subscriptions. With Sixt, the minimum booking time is 24 hours in advance, whereas FINN has a minimum delivery time of 10 days.

With Sixt you don’t find out the vehicle you’re getting until the day you pick it up or it’s delivered to a “designated delivery location”. 

With FINN, subscribers have the ability to schedule a delivery date convenient directly to their doorstep. Choose from a range of brand-new vehicles with your choice of exterior color.

FINN offers 6 to 12-month deals (12 or 24 months for EVs) while Sixt offers shorter-term 30-day deals, which are extended for another 30 days unless you cancel.

Cancellation fees apply if you cancel after FINN’s “risk-free” period. With Sixt, you simply return the vehicle to the specified location and the subscription ends once the 30-day period has expired.

With FINN, 850 miles are included in the base monthly package and additional mileage is charged using increments for 1,000, 1,250 and 1,500 miles.

The Sixt base package includes 1,000 miles per month with options of up to 2,000 miles and overage charges per mile.

Insurance is included in the monthly fee with FINN but there is a deductible of up to $1,000 per incident. Flat tires and lost keys are not covered.

Sixt offers three different packages: light, medium and full protection. Each package is an additional monthly charge with varying coverage amounts (glass damage and flat tires not covered).

With FINN, what you see in the monthly charge is what you’ll pay. 

Sixt has a few added extras besides insurance. You’ll pay between $5 and $14 per day for an additional driver and a $199 enrollment fee (both are free with FINN). IRoadside assistance is available for an extra fee of $19.99/month. If you want to add a replacement car guarantee, that’s another added extra.