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.
Packing for a Short Break
One of the first choices to settle is how much you plan to bring. Before enquiring, list what you expect to pack: suitcases, holdalls, a pushchair, cool box or sports gear, and note roughly how large each item is. If you are torn between a compact car and an estate, that list helps you describe your needs when you ask about vehicle groups. Consider whether anything fragile or awkwardly shaped will travel with you, and mention it in your enquiry so it can be taken into account. If you are collecting the car partway through your trip, note the dates and times you would need it, along with where you would like to pick it up or have it delivered. Recording these details early gives you a clear brief for the quote.
Planning the Return Journey
If your break involves coming back on a different day or to a different place, decide early how that leg will work. Write down both the outbound and return dates, the times you expect to travel, and whether the return involves an airport drop-off, a ferry terminal or simply driving home. Check whether the driver details will be the same for both legs, and note any second driver who might take the wheel. If luggage will differ on the return, perhaps because of shopping or gifts, estimate the extra space you might need and mention it when you book. Questions such as whether collection can happen at a different location are worth raising with the team at the outset, so the whole journey is covered in one conversation.
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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.