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.
Planning a car for a longer stay
If your visit runs for several weeks rather than a few days, it helps to write down the full span of dates before asking for a quote, including any morning you might want the car earlier than first planned or any evening you could return it later. Note who will be listed as a driver and have their details ready, plus whether you would prefer collection or delivery to a particular address. A short outline of your itinerary, covering the arrival day, any mid-stay trips and the final morning, gives the team something concrete to work from when suggesting a group, whether that is a compact city car, an automatic, an estate, an SUV, an executive saloon or a people carrier. Raise any open questions at this stage.
Listing luggage before you enquire
A written packing list removes most of the guesswork from choosing a car. Begin by listing each traveller and their luggage, noting whether each item is a hard suitcase, a soft holdall or something awkward such as golf clubs or a folded pushchair. If two large cases and a set of skis are all coming along, say so when you enquire, because shapes and dimensions matter as much as the number of pieces. You could also jot down which bags need to stay within reach during the journey rather than going in the boot. With the list drafted, ask the team which vehicle group they would suggest for that combination, what delivery or collection options exist, and what the price would be for your dates.
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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.