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.
Fixing your return date before you book
Before anything else, settle on the shape of your return trip. If you know the day the car must go back, note it alongside your collection date so the two form a single booking window rather than a guess. Where the return might slip — an extra night away, a change of plans, a later start than expected — decide in advance whether to build a spare day into the dates or keep them tight. It also helps to record where the car will be handed back, since a drop-off point different from the pick-up may affect what the team can arrange. Writing down the dates, the driver details and both locations gives you a clear brief to check against any quote before you commit.
Questions worth asking for a quote
When you contact the team, the questions you ask can shape the whole hire. Start with the vehicle groups available for your dates: whether an automatic is on the list, whether an estate or SUV suits your luggage, or whether an executive saloon or people carrier matches the occasion. Ask how delivery and collection would work at your address, and what each driver needs to provide when booking. If your plans depend on a particular feature, say so early rather than assuming it is included. It is also worth asking what happens if the dates shift, and who to contact on the day itself. A short written list of these questions keeps the conversation focused and gives you a record of the answers to compare.
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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.