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.
How will you share the plans with passengers?
Who needs to know your travel plans before the car arrives? If friends or family are sharing the trip, agree the details early and keep them in one message everyone can see. Note the dates you have in mind, how many people are coming, and roughly how many bags or cases each person will bring. If someone wants an automatic rather than a manual, or prefers extra legroom in an estate or people carrier, record that preference alongside their name. You might also jot down who is collecting the car and who will be at the wheel on each leg. Once your list is complete, send it with your dates, driver details and delivery point when you ask for a quote, and the team can respond with a clear answer.
What does the journey home look like?
A return trip deserves its own notes. Before you request a quote, sketch both legs of the journey rather than only the outward run. Write down the dates and approximate times for each direction, plus any days in between when the car would sit unused. If the return involves different drivers or a different pickup point, note those changes too. Think about how many passengers and bags will travel back, since shopping or luggage from the trip out may change the numbers. It is also worth recording whether an estate or SUV would suit the return load better than the car you started with. Share these notes with the team, and any open questions about timing can be raised before you commit.
Explore other car hire areas
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.















