Which Car Type Suits Your Journey?
Whether you're road-tripping through California, city-hopping in Spain, or touring Italy with the family, you'll always find a rental car that suits your journey at Alamo.nl.
You Always Rent a Category
When booking a rental car, you choose a car category, not a specific brand or model. The website may show an example car, but in practice, you’ll receive a car with similar characteristics: size, type, transmission, and features. The exact car depends on availability at the rental location.
Good to know: in some destinations, like Florida, it's possible to rent a convertible. Perfect for cruising under the sun! But remember, this is also a car category, not a guarantee of a specific model or brand.
The Car Categories
When booking your car, and on your invoice and voucher, you'll see a four-letter code. This is called a SIPP code—an international standard that describes the type of car you can expect.
The four letters represent:
1st letter – Size:
M = Mini · E = Economy · C = Compact · I = Intermediate · S = Standard · F = Fullsize
2nd letter – Body type:
C = 2/4-door · D = 4/5-door · V = Passenger Van · F = SUV
3rd letter – Transmission/Drive:
M = Manual · A = Automatic · N/B = 4WD or AWD
4th letter – Features:
N = No air conditioning · R = Air conditioning · H = Hybrid · E = Electric
For example: ICAR means an intermediate car, 4/5-door, with automatic transmission and air conditioning.
Differences by Country and Region
Availability varies by location. In the U.S., cars are generally larger, as are the roads. So choose a car that fits both your destination and travel group.
Tip: In countries like Italy or France, compact cars are more convenient in small towns and cities. In Canada, a roomier vehicle might be preferred.
Adapted Vehicles in North America
Everyone deserves a safe and comfortable journey—even if you need special assistance while driving. In the U.S. and Canada, you can request Adaptive Driving Devices free of charge, including:
Hand controls, left foot accelerator, spinner knobs, pedal extenders
These features are available at no extra cost but must be requested in advance. Contact us in time so we can arrange everything for you.