SIXT Car Rental in Madeira 2026 — Airport Desk, Fleet, Prices & Honest Review
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Sixt operates a staffed desk inside Cristiano Ronaldo Airport (FNC) in Madeira, with the largest premium and automatic fleet on the island. Prices start around €31/day for a compact in shoulder season, rising to €58+/day in August. Below is what the Madeira branch actually offers, the fleet you can realistically get, and how the total cost stacks up against Goldcar, Avis and the local operators.
✓ UP TO DATELast updated: 14 June 2026 Verified 2026 Sixt FNC rates, deposit and credit-card rules, fuel prices and that Sixt still operates a staffed desk at Madeira Airport – core facts unchanged; added a rental budget calculator.
Sixt Madeira at a glance
Desk inside arrivals at FNC. Walk-to-car under 5 minutes, no shuttle.
€31–€58/day compact depending on season. Slightly above average for Madeira, well below Hertz and Europcar.
Largest premium fleet on the island. BMW 1-Series, Mercedes A-Class, occasional cabrio and SUVs.
Sé Funchal office for downtown delivery or pickup.
Loyalty perks worth it for repeat customers: Sixt Express skips the queue, Platinum status gets free additional drivers.
See Sixt next to every other Madeira supplier
Compare Sixt's live price against Goldcar, Centauro, Avis and the Madeira locals on a single search.
Open daily 07:00–24:00 (extended for late flights)
Secondary office
Funchal city (Sé) for hotel delivery and downtown pickup
Min driver age
20 (young-driver fee applies 20–24, €10/day)
Payment
Credit card in main driver's name; €800–€2,500 deposit
What Sixt costs in Madeira in 2026
Rates below were checked in May 2026 on Sixt's website and the DiscoverCars meta-search for 7-day rentals collected at FNC airport.
Class
Shoulder (Mar/Oct)
High (Jul/Aug)
Typical model
Mini
€26–€34/day
€42–€58/day
Fiat 500, Kia Picanto
Compact
€31–€42/day
€52–€72/day
VW Polo, Renault Clio
Compact automatic
€42–€56/day
€68–€92/day
VW T-Cross AT, Peugeot 2008 AT
SUV / premium
€55–€85/day
€95–€160/day
BMW X1, Mercedes GLA
Premium automatic
€68–€115/day
€135–€230/day
BMW 1-Series AT, Mercedes A-Class AT
Cabriolet
€95–€140/day
€185–€320/day
BMW 2-Series Cabrio
USD equivalents at €1 ≈ $1.08: a €40/day compact = roughly $43/day; a €100/day BMW 1-Series = roughly $108/day. Rates include unlimited mileage and basic CDW with €1,500 excess; full zero-excess cover is +€18–€25/day at the counter (or €4–€7/day if pre-bought online).
Estimated rental cost by trip length
from €26/day
Illustrative — daily rate × days at the lowest 2026 starting price; real prices vary by season & demand.
Madeira's roads are narrow, steep and tight — what you choose matters more here than on the Algarve. Three useful categories:
Compact (Polo, Clio) — sweet spot for two adults. Easy in Funchal lanes, fine on the Encumeada road.
Compact SUV automatic (T-Cross AT, 2008 AT) — best balance of seat height and city manoeuvrability. Worth the €10/day premium on a Madeira trip.
Premium AT (BMW 1-Series, Mercedes A-Class) — only worth it for genuinely longer trips; for 3–4 days, a compact AT is more enjoyable on Madeira roads than a powerful sedan.
Skip the cabriolet unless you are confident you'll see sunshine — Madeira weather changes by the hour and the BMW 2-Series Cabrio is cramped on these gradients.
Driving from FNC Airport
Sixt's collection point is in the airport covered car park, level 0. The exit lane drops you onto the VR1 (the island's main coast road) within 2 minutes.
Funchal centre — 22 km / 25 minutes via VR1 westbound.
Caniço / Garajau — 5 km / 8 minutes.
Câmara de Lobos — 30 km / 35 minutes.
Porto Moniz — 80 km / 1h30, via VR1 and ER101.
Pico do Arieiro — 45 km / 1h10, via VR1 then mountain road.
Madeira does not have electronic toll roads — the VR1, VR2 and all major routes are toll-free. Fuel in May 2026 averages €1.78/L petrol and €1.65/L diesel, slightly above mainland prices.
Comparing Sixt to other Madeira suppliers
Sixt vs Goldcar/Centauro — Sixt costs €5–€12/day more but has newer cars and far less counter pressure. For 5+ days, the upgrade is worth it.
Sixt vs Avis/Hertz — Sixt is usually €3–€8/day cheaper for equivalent classes, with comparable fleet age. Loyalty perks (Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold) sometimes flip the value.
Sixt vs Bravacar/Madeira Rent — local operators run €5–€15/day cheaper for entry classes but with older cars and no airport desk. Time vs money decision.
FAQ — Sixt Madeira in 2026
Is Sixt's desk inside Madeira Airport?+
Yes. Sixt operates a counter inside the Cristiano Ronaldo Airport (FNC) arrivals hall, with the vehicle pickup in the nearby covered car park (level 0). Walk time from desk to car is around 5 minutes; no shuttle needed.
What does Sixt cost in Madeira in 2026?+
A Renault Clio with full insurance starts around €31/day in shoulder season and around €58/day in August. Automatics cost €10–€18/day more than the equivalent manual. Sixt usually sits in the upper-middle of the Madeira price range — pricier than Goldcar and Centauro, cheaper than premium boutique operators.
Does Sixt have automatics and premium cars in Funchal?+
Yes — Sixt has the largest premium fleet on the island, with BMW 1-Series and Mercedes A-Class automatics, plus the occasional convertible (BMW 2-Series Cabrio) and SUV (Mercedes GLA). Reserve 8+ weeks ahead in summer.
Can I take a Sixt car to Porto Santo by ferry?+
Sixt allows the ferry crossing to Porto Santo on most contracts when declared at pickup, but a one-time fee applies (around €30) and full insurance is mandatory. The ferry (Lobo Marinho) takes 2h15 each way; book the vehicle space well ahead in summer.
What's the deposit Sixt holds?+
Sixt blocks €800–€1,500 on the credit card depending on vehicle category and excess level chosen. Premium classes (BMW, convertibles) can require €2,500+. The hold is released 7–14 days after return.
Are there Sixt offices outside Madeira Airport?+
Sixt also operates a downtown Funchal office in the Sé district, used mainly for cars delivered to hotels or for downtown pickup. For most travellers the airport desk is faster and has more inventory.
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