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.
Keeping a flexible day plan
Pinning down which days you genuinely need the car is a decision worth making early. If your itinerary includes a couple of fixed appointments but otherwise open days, note the times you must be somewhere and mark the remaining slots as flexible. Write down each stop in the order you expect to visit, then consider whether any could shift if plans change. It also helps to record how long you plan to stay at each place, plus any buffer you would like between appointments. When you ask for a quote, share these dates and rough timings so the team can confirm availability for the whole period. Any questions about parking or entry arrangements at a particular stop are best directed to that venue's own contact.
Coordinating more than one passenger
When several people share the car, gathering everyone's details before the booking saves confusion later. Start with a simple list of names, noting who holds a driving licence if you expect to share the wheel, and ask each passenger to confirm their pick-up point and preferred drop-off. Baggage deserves equal attention: ask everyone to state how many cases or bags they will bring and whether any item is oversized, such as a musical instrument or a folded pushchair. If children are travelling, note their ages and seat requirements. Share this passenger and luggage summary when requesting a quote, and raise any questions about whether a particular vehicle group suits your group. Anything a passenger needs answering about their own schedule can be sorted directly with them.
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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.