Matching a hire car to your passengers and luggage
Tell the team how many people will travel and how many cases, buggies or bulky bags you expect. Seating and boot space are separate questions. Say whether you need an automatic or are happy with a manual, and mention any child seat request early so it can be checked before you are quoted. Include details for every driver who may take the wheel.
Picking a suitable car
Start with the journey and pick the car to match it. Smaller cars are suited to city driving and short stays, automatics make local driving easier, estates and SUVs give more room for luggage, and people carriers are a better choice for families or small groups. The range available includes the Fiat 500, VW Golf, Ford Focus Estate, Ford Focus Automatic and Hyundai i10 Automatic, subject to dates, driver details and availability. The precise make, model, transmission, seating, payload and licence position are confirmed when you are quoted, so treat the vehicles listed as a guide to the kind of hire on offer rather than a guaranteed reservation of a particular model.
Leaving Room for a Flexible Day Plan
The first choice to make is how loose or fixed your schedule should be. If your day might shift, perhaps because a visit could run long or a detour appeals, note the earliest possible start time and the latest acceptable finish before you enquire. List the stops you are certain about and mark the optional ones separately, so you can see at a glance which are worth keeping. Count the passengers for each stage of the day and jot down what they will carry, including bag sizes and anything awkward like golf clubs or a folded pushchair. Where an attraction or venue has its own booking line, save that contact for questions about arrival. Keep your date range and open vehicle questions ready for the quote.
Thinking Through the Return Journey
A return trip deserves the same preparation as the outward leg. Decide whether the car comes back on the same day or later, and note both dates in your enquiry so the team can quote accurately. Work out who drops the car off and whether that person differs from whoever collects it, recording each driver's details. List what travels back with you, since purchases, gifts or extra luggage accumulated along the way can change which vehicle group suits you, and measure anything unusually long or tall. If someone at the far end will receive items or meet you, note their name and number. Note your preferred return location too, and raise any unanswered questions about collection or delivery arrangements when you ask for a price.
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Last checks before booking
Before you confirm the hire, check the key details: vehicle availability, driver requirements, mileage, insurance, delivery or collection arrangements and any extras you have asked for, along with driver age, licence history, the deposit, the insurance excess and any travel abroad. A clear request gives the date, the length of hire, the rough route, the delivery or pickup address, the expected passengers or load, and any particular requirements that might affect which vehicle is suitable.