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.
Finding a car to suit the trip
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.
Travelling With Children and Bags
If you are travelling with children, it helps to write down each passenger's name and age before you request a quote, since seat needs vary from family to family. Note how many child seats you will bring yourself and whether any are booster cushions rather than full-height seats. For luggage, list the number of suitcases, pushchairs and smaller holdalls, along with approximate dimensions for the bulkiest pieces. If a pushchair folds, record its folded size rather than its open size. You might also note whether you would prefer a boot that opens wide or extra cabin storage for snacks and toys. Passing these details on allows the team to confirm which vehicle group matches your list, and you can ask which options remain open on your chosen dates.
Keeping a Flexible Day Plan
Suppose your itinerary might change partway through the hire, perhaps because a visit runs long or a meal booking moves. In that situation, it is worth listing the parts of the day that are fixed and the parts you could drop or rearrange. Write down each stop in order, the contact number for whoever is expecting you, and any arrival windows already agreed. If several passengers share the plan, ask them to confirm which times suit them before the booking is made. You can then tell the team your start and end times plus a little slack either side, and ask whether extending the hire on the day is possible. Keeping the plan written down also makes it simpler to spot any clashes early and adjust the schedule before you set off.
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What to confirm on the phone
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.















