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Best Companies for One-Way Car Rentals in Europe

🔍 Our Testing Methodology
🚗 Car Rental · Updated March 2026 · 1 min read

One-way car rentals — picking up in one city and dropping off in another — unlock the best European road trips. But one-way fees can range from free to over $500, and not every company allows cross-border one-way drops. We compared the major rental companies on their one-way policies, fees, and route availability to find which ones make point-to-point driving affordable.

Comparison Table

ProviderOne-Way FeeRoute AvailabilityCross-Border PolicyFleet QualityOverall Value
Sixt★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
Europcar★★★☆☆★★★★★★★★★☆★★★☆☆★★★☆☆
Hertz★★★☆☆★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★☆☆
Enterprise/National★★★★★★★★☆☆★★★☆☆★★★★☆★★★★☆
ℹ️ Good to Know

Scores are based on our hands-on testing, user reviews, and price monitoring across multiple European countries.

1. Sixt

Pros

  • No one-way fee on many popular routes within the same country (e.g., Munich to Berlin)
  • Cross-border one-way drops allowed across 20+ European countries
  • Premium fleet — mostly BMW, Mercedes, and Audi, often newer than competitors
  • Extensive airport and city center coverage across Western and Central Europe

Cons

  • Cross-border one-way fees can reach $150-300 on less popular routes
  • Base rental rates 10-20% higher than budget competitors
  • Young driver surcharge ($10-20/day) for renters under 25
Visit Sixt →

2. Europcar

Pros

  • Widest European network — 3,500+ locations including smaller cities and towns
  • One-way drops available between most major European airports
  • Privilege loyalty program offers free one-way fees at higher tiers
  • Good availability of manual transmission cars for budget-conscious renters

Cons

  • One-way fees of $100-250 standard on most cross-border routes
  • Fleet age tends to be older than Sixt or Hertz — more wear visible
  • Counter upselling for insurance can be aggressive at some locations
Visit Europcar →

3. Hertz

Pros

  • Gold Plus Rewards members get reduced or waived one-way fees on select routes
  • Strong presence at major airports with dedicated fast-track lanes
  • Reliable fleet quality with newer vehicles and good maintenance
  • Clear cross-border policy with straightforward documentation requirements

Cons

  • Standard one-way fees of $75-200 even within the same country
  • Fewer locations in Southern and Eastern Europe compared to Europcar
  • Premium pricing — rarely the cheapest option on aggregator searches
Visit Hertz →

4. Enterprise/National

Pros

  • Frequently offers free domestic one-way drops — best in class for within-country trips
  • Emerald Club loyalty members get free upgrades and priority pickup
  • Competitive base rates that often undercut Sixt and Hertz
  • Good fleet variety including SUVs and minivans for family trips

Cons

  • Smaller European network — fewer locations outside major cities and airports
  • Cross-border one-way drops limited to select country pairs
  • Eastern European coverage is minimal compared to competitors
Visit Enterprise/National →

Our Verdict

For one-way rentals within a single European country, Enterprise/National offers the best value with frequent free one-way drops. For cross-border point-to-point trips (e.g., picking up in Munich and dropping off in Rome), Sixt is the clear winner — they allow cross-border drops in the most countries and their fees are competitive. Book through an aggregator like DiscoverCars to compare one-way fees across all providers simultaneously, as pricing varies dramatically by route and date.

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BTS

BestTravelScout Editorial Team

Our editorial team researches and tests travel products hands-on, comparing prices and policies across dozens of providers to bring you honest, data-backed recommendations.

✅ Fact-checked 🔄 Updated quarterly 🔍 Our methodology
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