Car Group Codes
SIPP (Standard Interline Passenger Procedure) codes are four-letter codes that classify vehicles based on size, number of doors, transmission type, and the presence of air conditioning. They serve as an industry standard within the global car rental sector, enabling objective comparisons between models from different manufacturers that fall into the exact same category.
What does a SIPP code consist of?
Each letter in the code corresponds to a specific vehicle characteristic:
- First letter – Vehicle size: Indicates the level of spaciousness and the category (e.g., M for Mini, E for Economy, C for Compact, I for Intermediate, S for Standard).
- Second letter – Body type: Specifies the vehicle's structure (e.g., B/C for 2/3 doors, D for 4/5 doors, W for Station Wagon, V for Van, T for Convertible).
- Third letter – Transmission: Indicates whether the transmission is manual or automatic (M for Manual, A for Automatic).
- Fourth letter – Drivetrain and air conditioning: Represents a combination of systems (e.g., R includes air conditioning with no specific designation for the drivetrain; N indicates no airconditioning).
Is it possible to know in advance which model you will receive?
Not with absolute certainty. When renting a car, bookings are always made based on a vehicle group (category) rather than a specific car model.
The rental company will provide a vehicle that matches the SIPP code you booked; however, the actual model may vary depending on the fleet availability at the rental location on the day of pickup. The vehicles provided may come from different manufacturers, but they will all share similar characteristics (for example, the "compact" category might include a Hyundai i30, a Ford Focus, or a Volkswagen Golf).
