Sunny Cars: The all-inclusive rental service designed to eliminate surprises
Sunny Cars is not a direct rental agency like Hertz or Europcar. It acts as a specialized broker that selects and negotiates vehicles with local partners, then offers them under its own all-inclusive package. In practice, you book through Sunny Cars, but you pick up your vehicle from a local or international rental agency at your destination.
Founded in 1991 in Munich by Kai Sannwald, the company remains independent and founder-owned. It employs around 140 people across Germany and the Netherlands. For the 2024/2025 fiscal year, Sunny Cars surpassed the milestone of one million bookings for the first time, generating approximately 450 million euros (about $485 million) in revenue.
Coverage and partners
The service operates in more than 120 countries across roughly 8,000 rental locations. The most popular destinations remain Mediterranean classics (Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain) as well as the United States for long-haul travel.
Sunny Cars typically works with three rental providers per destination. Recurring partners include:
- Alamo, Europcar, Budget, Hertz
- Drivalia, Sicily by Car, CarGest
- Local specialists selected based on Sunny Cars quality standards
The name of the local rental agency is provided after your booking is confirmed. This detail is important because you will pick up and return your vehicle directly with that partner on the ground.
The all-inclusive package: What is covered
The main selling point for Sunny Cars is its all-in package applied as a standard to every booking. The goal is to avoid stressful negotiations and upsells at the rental counter.
Insurance and protections included
- Supplemental liability insurance (minimum 7.5 million euros, about $8.1 million, varying by market)
- Collision damage waiver (CDW) with full refund of the deductible
- Theft protection with refund of the deductible
- Coverage for damage to glass, tires, roof, undercarriage, and clutch
- Refund of towing costs in the event of an accident or breakdown
Services included
- Unlimited mileage
- Fair fuel policy (full-to-full)
- Local taxes and airport fees (with few exceptions)
- 24/7 emergency hotline
- Summary of the local rental contract in your language
The company states that all rental vehicles are under 3 years old. Keep in mind that you reserve a vehicle category (compact, SUV, sedan) rather than a specific make or model.
Paid options available
- Additional driver
- Fastlane service (expedited pickup)
- Rental without a security deposit
- Child seat
- Cross-border travel and one-way rentals
- Vehicle delivery to your hotel
Conditions, transparency, and customer feedback
Cancellation and booking
According to the stated terms, cancellation is free up to 24 hours before vehicle pickup. We recommend checking the specific terms for your booking, as they can vary by offer.
Payment is generally made in advance to Sunny Cars. However, the local rental agency may still request a credit card hold for a security deposit when you pick up the car.
The most frequently cited positives are the peace of mind provided by the all-inclusive model, the lack of pressure at the counter to buy extra insurance, and the effective reimbursement of the deductible in case of damage.
Common criticisms primarily involve the behavior of certain local agencies, such as attempts to sell unnecessary extra insurance, vehicles that do not match the reserved category, or reimbursement timelines that some customers find slow. Sunny Cars generally responds to these reviews and confirms that it processes refunds once the necessary documentation is received.
Why use Sunny Cars instead of booking direct?
The primary benefit is insurance coverage that exceeds what most agencies offer in their base rates. When booking directly, the deductible is often between 1,000 and 4,000 euros (about $1,080 to $4,300). With Sunny Cars, this deductible is refunded in the event of an incident, providing a valuable safety net.
The trade-off is that the displayed price is often higher than a base rate found elsewhere. You must compare by factoring in the cost of the extra insurance or deductible coverage that you would otherwise have to add to a seemingly cheaper rate from a competitor.